Our supposedly secret dive site was so simple and shallow , it made Kimmeridge look like St Kilda . Soft sand means you ’ ve got to be fin-aware , but a handy pipeline provided a focus for navigation . It ’ s the sort of place where you can find all manner of tiny animals , but on this evening the wildlife was sparse . A few painted gobies here and there ; a pipefish ; some of the silver fish I had seen at Swanage , now in rest mode . We gave it an hour , then turned around and headed back towards the entry point .
Then , a flicker in my torch light . Not even the animal itself , but a shadow cast on the seabed . Suddenly alert , I scanned the water column , blinking salt from my eyes until finally I pinpointed my quarry . A European squid , some3-5cm in length , with iridescent spots that alternated yellows , reds and browns . A perfect little cephalopod .
Behind me , Paul was flashing his torch for attention , but having established he wasn ’ t actually drowning , I turned my attention to the tiny figure dancing in a circle of light . It seemed sensitive to my camera flash , so I limited myself to two or three shots while tracking it across the seabed . Its wariness was marked by curiosity ; at times it would bob closer to me , sometimes too close for me to take a photo .
Eventually , it melted away into the night and I realised I had lost the group . On such a shallow dive , losing one ’ s buddy isn ’ t exactly a drama , but it was a signal to end the dive . I headed to the surface and looked out across the calm water . Enveloped in stillness and silence , the lights of Portland shone invitingly in the distance . However , the beach was in another direction ; so I turned onto my back and started finning toward that secret shore , watched only by the stars and the night sky . �
Weymouth Essentials
■ Accommodation : Simon Rogerson was a guest of The Gresham Hotel , email enquiries @ greshamhotel . co . uk ; web : greshamhotel-weymouth . co . uk ; tel : 01305 785897 . This stylish , friendly hotel has been under new ownership since 2021 and was recently awarded four stars by VisitEngland . Top tip – reserve parking in advance .
■ Eats and treats : For dinner we can recommend Shalim ’ s Balti House at 24 , Commercial Road shalimsbaltihouse . co . uk for great quality curries . For a prime position along the seafront and lovingly prepared Italian food , check out Almolo at the Pier Bandstand , almolo . co . uk , tel 01305 839888 .
■ Diving services : Weymouth and Portland Sub-Aqua Club www . wapsac . co . uk ; Aquatec dive shop sales @ aquatec . co . uk ; Old Harbour Dive Centre , oldharbourdivecentre . co . uk ; Jurassic Aqua Sports jurassicaquasports . co . uk ; Skin Deep Diving skindeepdiving . co . uk ; O ’ Three custom drysuits othree . co . uk
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