UKDIVING
Painted goby guarding eggs
Legends of the Fal
When diving commenced , we fell into a pattern of alternating visits to the Manacles Reefs and the two local river estuaries , known for their maerl beds and seagrass . We were guests of a group from the Bristol Underwater Photography Group , organised by UK diving veteran David Pratt , who was there with his wife Kathy Richmond in a camper van , the divers ’ status symbol de jour .
Saeed and I were billeted in the bespoke accommodation at Porthkerris , a smart room with tiled floors and the best view on the Lizard . Owners Jo and Michael Anselmi have done great job rebuilding the place after a fire gutted the building some years ago .
I adored the Manacles , especially a newly discovered site known intriguingly as Darren ’ s Crack . The density of jewel anemones approaches that of the Scilly islands , and the reef pulsed with life -
Jewel anemones
The serene Helford River
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