Exploring a sea cave in Cornwall , en-masse
PHOTO : DAAN VERHOEVEN
TORBET ON THE TUBE
Light at the end of the tunnel
Snorkelling into a sea cave is a great adventure , but what are the safety considerations ? Andy Torbet has some advice
PHOTO : RICH STEVENSON
Before anyone gets too excited , this is not a piece encouraging folk to head snorkelling into a true overhead environment . Cave snorkelling is a specialty we will not be undertaking ! Instead , let ’ s bear in mind that the vast majority of sea caves are only semisubmerged subterranean systems ... the obvious example is Fingal ’ s Cave in Staffa , which has been visited by thousands of snorkellers over the years . There are many other rock arches and caves where snorkellers can enter and explore in safety .
Since sea caves need cliffs to exist , they may only be accessible from a boat or after a significant swim from a safe shore entry point . If your method of entry is the latter , then make sure your plan considers the tide so you can ensure you can get to your exit point .
Another consideration is the swell . Most sea caves will narrow the further in you go . This means waves will increase in height and power , so it may still be rough inside when it appears calmer outside . Fortunately , the thickness of neoprene we tend to wear in the UK provides some impact protection against the odd bump , but we still need to plan carefully .
The final point to make is that it ’ s dark ! The degree to which sunlight can penetrate depends on the size of the topside opening , its orientation towards the sun and how deep it goes . If you want to appreciate the true spectacle , and to stay safe , bring a torch .
It ’ s exciting to explore somewhere a bit different , perhaps a part of a well-known shoreline that you ’ ve never considered looking at closely .
Cave water tends to harbour less life than reefs and kelp beds , due to the disruptive forces at work , and of course the lack of light . Light and viz may both deteriorate the
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