Each month we feature a selection of your letters
We ’ re still looking for a new prize for a Star Letter , so please bear with us for a while longer . It ’ s a difficult time for the diving industry , so sponsorships are a tricky proposition at the moment .
ChatSend your letters to simon @ scubamagazine . co . uk
Hungry for the Wolf
THE ATLANTIC WOLF FISH , ANARHICHAS lupus , is blessed with somewhat contradictory features , at the same time appearing ferocious and goofy !
It ’ s a weird bluey-grey colour , has a crinkly brow and broad dark stripes along its flank , with a hint of green in its googly eyes . It ’ s not usually possible to see the whole beast , as it hides away in holes and cracks in rocky reefs . But if you ’ re in the right place at the right time , it can be seen clearly at the entrance of its gnarly ‘ lair ’. With teeth that mean business , and a
24 gulping jaw , keeping a respectful distance from a wolf fish feels the right thing to do . Nevertheless , it is a spectacular encounter for the UK diver .
So where is it possible to see this fearsome fish ? St Abbs Head in the Scottish Borders , a location of classic , top-quality diving for many years , is home to a reliable population of these must-see bad boys ( and girls ).
So , add together , if you will , the sumptuous dahlia anemones ; fluffy soft corals , wise old angler fish ; confident wrasse , the wriggling mass of brittle stars ; the everywhere lobsters , the seals ; the sea birds ; the architectural topography ; the shoals of fish dancing around the old iron of wrecks . Then , if you are lucky , add a ‘ wolfie ’ to this heady mix and you have a British diving experience to treasure .
So , motivate your fellow members , book a St Abbs or Eyemouth boat ( whose skippers know all ), and two more pieces of advice – watch the weather forecast , and your fingers ! JASON GREGORY