Countess of Erne, 08/21/2012

Observer Name: Matt Knifton
Observation Start Time: 19.30
Observation End Time: 20.15
Weather Conditions: Sunny, large southerly swell
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet):
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (3-6m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: S-N
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Irrelevant
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 18C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: Light bulb sea squirt, phallusia mammillata, ascidia virginea, dead mans fingers, boring sponge, tompot blennies, gurnard, velvet swimming crabs, spiny spider crab, common limpet, king scallop, candy stripe flatworm, beadlet anemones, polycera quadrillineata, nudibranch, pollock
Other Observer Comments:Good visibility considering topside conditions. Wreck unchanged since the last time I dived it. Mooring to the front end of the wreck has been removed.

Countess of Erne, 08/21/2012

Observer Name:  Gerry and Angel White
Observation Start Time: 19.26
Observation End Time: 20.17
Weather Conditions: Low light, strong winds
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 12.5m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (0-3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: S-N
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): N
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 18C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: 4 sea scorpions, 1 pipefish, pollock, black faced blennies, tompot blennies, wrasse, spider crabs, velvet swimmer crabs, violet sea slugs, candy striped flatworm, devonshire cup corals, fried egg anemones, pink sea fans, light bulb sea squirts, dead man's fingers.
Other Observer Comments: (Gerry:) It has been a while since I dived the Countess but there did seem to be a few areas of what looked like bright new rust areas, maybe some areas are coming apart? Very very hard surface swim back to the boat, won't be in any hurry to repeat it!!

Chesil Beach Cove, 08/12/2012

Observer Name: Gerry and Angel White
Observation Start Time: 11.36
Observation End Time: 12.44
Weather Conditions: Sunny and light offshore breeze
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 15m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (3-6m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 17C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna:2 lobsters, 2 cuttlefish, grey mullet, 2 pipefish, 3 nudis, large shoals of sand eels, lots of baby bib, pollock, rock cook, bream, wrasse including one large wrasse, spider, edible and velvet swimmer crabs, sea squirts.
Other Observer Comments:

Chesil Beach Cove, 08/11/2012

Observer Name: Gerry White
Observation Start Time: 11.06
Observation End Time: 11.55
Weather Conditions: Sunny with light onshore breeze
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 16.5m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (3-6m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction:Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): No current
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 17c
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna:Lots of boring cponges, sea orange, elephant hide sponge, potato crisp bryozooon, cuttlefish, 2 pipefish, pollock, sandeels, edible, spider and velvet swimming crabs, bib, wrasse and lobster.
Other Observer Comments:Interesting to see a cuttlefish come past with a pipefish in its mouth! Thought the viz would have started to improve after trying different times of the day but it did not.

Chesil Beach Cove, 08/09/2012

Observer Name:  Gerry and Angel
Observation Start Time: 16:54
Observation End Time: 17:44
Weather Conditions: Sunny and flat calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 10.4m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (3-6m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 17C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna:2 lobsters, 1 of them large. 1 cuttlefish, wrasse and bib.
Other Observer Comments:Stayed over the small piece of wreckage for some time, very pretty in good light.

Chesil Beach Cove, 07/26/2012

Observer Name: Nina Hukkanen (w/Izzy)
Observation Start Time: 16:00
Observation End Time: 17:10
Weather Conditions: Sunny and calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 7-8m (parallel to shore)

Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium avg. 4 m
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium (Particles and plankton)

Water Current Direction: S-N
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low with slight undertow
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 15C
Notable Flora: Seaweed, kelp (& kelp forest)

Notable Fauna: Sea hare populations, pollock, wrasse
Other Observer Comments: Check out the Chesil  Factsheet or Chesil Photo Album


Izzy and I decided to continue to sketch underwater way-points for the two anchor/monitoring sites (Preveza and old pipeline) following an underwater trail towards the South and keeping at a maximum eight metres depth parallel to shore.  Of the marks in the sketch below the boulders seems to have the densest population of sea hare especially where there is strong undertow. The pipeline (to the right of the sketch) is where a genuine kelp forest starts, leading out the length of the pipe (where we are unable to spot any Monkfish although there have been previous reports). There are a lot of spent fishing line at certain point of the pipe which will need a separate dive and some effort to remove. Pollock and the occasional wrasse (did we say sea hare?!) are the main population in this stretch but careful study of the pebbles will reveal baby pipefish. It is probably too shallow for the smaller cuttlefish though. As soon as the kelp forest starts (boulder to the left of the pipe  in the sketch) the wrasse are larger and in many colours from the rainbow to yellow. A more extensive report and video will follow -- as well as a trip to recover and remove the line from the pipe.

Chesil Beach Cove, 07/26/2012

Observer Name: Gerry and Angel White
Observation Start Time: 11:57
Observation End Time:13:10
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Flat Calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 16.8 max
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium 3-6m
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Irrelevant
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low

Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 15C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna:7 cuttlefish including babies, loads of sand eels, 1 ling with a school of small Bib, (only) 3 nudibranches spotted, edible crabs, spider crabs and pollock.
Other Observer Comments: Bearing SW found another piece of wreckage we hadn't seen before. Great to see so many baby cuttlefish about.

Chesil Beach Cove, 07/26/2012

Observer Name: Gerry and Angel White
Observation Start Time: 15:12
Observation End Time: 15:58
Weather Conditions: Sunny and flat calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 14.6 m (Avg.10)
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Non

Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): N/A
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 16C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna:Topnott, 2 lobsters, a John Dory, spidercrabs and sandeels.
Other Observer Comments: A little milky compared to first dive but still good. The piece of wreck in appx. 7 metres is fantastic to see in the bright sunlight.

Chesil Beach Cove, 07/26/2012

Observer Name: Izzy Imset (w/ Andy)
Observation Start Time: 13:00
Observation End Time: 14:10
Weather Conditions: Calm and Sunny
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 10-12m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium 5-6m
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium (Plankton)
Water Current Direction: S to N

Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 15C
Notable Flora: See Cheryl's Log
Notable Fauna: Pollock, wrasse, sea hare populations, 3 lobsters, plenty of sand eels, several (one very large) 'edible' crabs, notably not many velvet swimmers or spider crabs around. In fact, not a single large spider crab - worth looking out for numbers and sightings. On the shore line under the 'green weed' there are smaller crab and baby pipefish hiding (distinguished mainly by their tails that protrude out of the pebbles). There are also a number of baby (curious) cuttlefish about.
Other Observer Comments: Gery and Angel (w/ Nina) spotted a number of cuttlefish on their dives and have taken some very good photographs and video of them.  More of our photos are here.

Chesil Beach Cove, 07/25/2012

Observer Name: Izzy Imset (w/ Nina)
Observation Start Time: 11:40
Observation End Time: 12:45
Weather Conditions: Calm and sunny
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 10-15m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium 5m
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium (Plankton)
Water Current Direction: S to N
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low (+undertow)
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 15C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: A number of baby cuttlefish and sea hares close to the shore, the latter appear to be mainly in mating chains. Large 'edible' crabs and one lobster sighting under the rocks between 10-12 metres. Occasional Pollock and plenty of sand eels over the sand beds. One dogfish (on video). This time no Plaice sighting. Of interest is the observable decline in the nudibranch population (colonies replaced by individuals 'hanging about') but a major increase in the population of predominantly brown-red sea hare. It does appear sea hare especially like where the undertow is strongest, clinging on to branches and weeds as they are 'tossed about'.
Other Observer Comments: Liter underwater in the form of spent fishing lines and lost hooks that have gathered together and much more on the shore line where the tide cuts in. Most of the liter on the beach was gathered in spots -- easier to collect if pickup could be organised.

Chesil Beach Cove, 07/24/2012

Observer Name: Cheryl Lombardo (w/ Nina & Izzy • Start of 3-day PB Chesil dives)
Observation Start Time: 16.39
Observation End Time: 17.52
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 5-9m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium 3-6m
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: Low
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 15C
Notable Flora: Kelp, Sugar Kelp, Aplidium punctum, Boring Sponge, Morchellium Argus, Hydrallmania Falcata, Pot Weed, Sea Mat
Notable Fauna: Sea Hare (many, mostly mating), candy stripe flatworm, compass jelly fish, very large edible crab, school of juvenile bib, ballan wrasse, ling, large plaice, Ling, velvet swimming crab, spider crab, sand eels, Onchidoris Luteocincta (Fried Egg Sea Slug), Mermaids Purse -- Other divers saw 'baby' cuttlefish too.
Other Observer Comments: Dived at low tide in a group (Nina Hukkanen & Izzy Imset). Dropped in on a direct line from the ramp and on a bearing of 220 hit wreckage (the Preveza) at 5m. Large population of Sea Hare would appear to be their mating season. Click for a photo album of the Project Baseline Chesil Beach Dives - July 2012 

Cheryl Lombardo, Underwater Explorers Portland • PB Diver

Chesil Beach Cove, 07/22/2012

Observer Name: Gerry White
Observation Start Time: 11:43
Observation End Time: 12:36
Weather Conditions: Sunny and flat calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 17.1 m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium 3-6m
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 15C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna:1 lobster, 4 edible crabs and a couple of spider crabs in close. Big shoals of sand eels. Only a few pollock though. Leopard spotted blennie and a few wrasse. Other divers saw dogfish too.
Other Observer Comments: Quite a lot of fishing line and a lot of wood has washed up on the beach. There were quite a few clumps of seaweed that had been uprooted. With the big tides the visibility was reduced the further you went out. 

Dredger 07/22/2012

Observer Name: Nina Hukkanen

Observation Start Time: 13:30
Observation End Time: 14:20
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 7M

Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (6M)

Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low

Water Current Direction: None
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): None

Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 16C

Notable Flora: -
Notable Fauna: Bass, large snakelock anemones, several schools of baby bib

Other Observer Comments: No spider crabs

Chesil Beach Cove, 07/21/2012

Observer Name: Christine Grosart
Observation Start Time:16:00
Observation End Time: N/A (Surface Observation)
Weather Conditions:Cloudy, warm, light breeze
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): Surface - Chesil Cove
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): N/A
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): N/A
Notable Flora: N/A
Notable Fauna: N/A
Other Observer Comments: Visit to the Cove (Surface). 2/3rd of the way down the beach is a tideline of driftwood and an immense amount of litter. Anything from food wrappers to fishing debris, plastic and a broken diving fin! Photographs taken.

Countess of Erne, 07/15/2012

Observer Name: Matthew House
Observation Start Time: 18.01
Observation End Time:18.28
Weather Conditions:Overcast, <4 mph wind
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 10m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (3-6m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction:Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 15C
Notable Fauna: Spider crabs, Pollock, Wrasse and Anemone
Other Observer Comments: First dive on the Countess of Erne. Visibility was about 6 metres, lovely dive. Swimming through cargo holds really tested my buoyancy control!...Also saw 2 different schools of fish!

Dredger 07/08/2012

Observer Name: Nina Hukkanen

Observation Start Time: 11:30
Observation End Time: 12:10
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 10M

Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (5M)

Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low

Water Current Direction: None
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): None

Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 14C

Notable Flora: -
Notable Fauna: Small spider crabs, lobster

Other Observer Comments: Some of red algea next to rocks

Dredger 06/24/2012

Observer Name: Nina Hukkanen

Observation Start Time: 13:20
Observation End Time: 14:00
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 8M

Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (3M)

Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium

Water Current Direction: West-East
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low

Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 14C

Notable Flora: -
Notable Fauna: Sand eels, small wrasse, small spider crabs

Other Observer Comments: Lots of red algea next to rocks

Countess of Erne 06/10/2012

Observer Name: Giles Graves
Observation Start Time: 1210
Observation End Time: 1240
Weather Conditions:Overcast, Easterly winds
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 9m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: N/A
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): N/A
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 13-14C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: Long plankton strands in the water. Schools of fish at the stern. 
Other Observer Comments:

Countess of Erne, 06/01/2012

Observer Name: Christine Grosart
Observation Start Time: 14.00
Observation End Time: 14.50
Weather Conditions: Sunny, some cloud
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 9-11m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (3-6m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: No Current
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 14C
Notable Fauna: Anemone (white fluffy), 2 blue male cuckoo wrasse, black headed blennies, spider crab, wrasse.
Other Observer Comments: Shot line broke, currently coiled up on the bow. Pink rope.

Countess of Erne, 05/31/2012

Observer Name: Mark Ninnim

Observation Start Time: 12:54
Observation End Time: 13:53
Weather Conditions: Good with westerly wind
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 14m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (0-3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: North to South
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 12C

Notable Fauna: Several Spider Crabs, Gobi's, a Ballan Wrasse, a couple of male Cuckoo Wrasse.Other Observer Comments: 
Fairly windy, after mooring on the shot line, the shackle broke and the boat came free. On return to the shot line I found the main chain lose on the stern, I then placed in through the mooring eye for later attachment.On surfacing the wind was blowing into the wall, which meant to surface swim into the harbour for a pick up.

Countess of Erne, 05/31/2012

Observer Name: Christine Grosart
Observation Start Time: 13.00
Observation End Time: 14.00
Weather Conditions: Sunny, some cloud, light breeze
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 9-11m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (0-3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Don't know / Irrelevent
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 14C
Notable Fauna: Wrasse, Cuckoo wrasse (Male Blue and female), one crab, black headed blennies x 5, nudibranch
Other Observer Comments: Large male cuckoo wrasse on stern and quite a few black headed blennies.

Countess of Erne, 05/26/2012

Observer Name: Mark Ninnim

Observation Start Time: 10.27
Observation End Time: 11.27
Weather Conditions: Hot but windy
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 14m

Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (0-3m)

Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium

Water Current Direction: No Current
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 12C

Notable Fauna: Cuckoo Wrasse, Spiders Crabs. Not sure what it's called but it's 3-4 inches long with a blue/black head and orange tail
Other Observer Comments: Very silty and low vis' due to the fact that there was a lot of divers on the wreck. I had noticed however that a lot of line has been removed from the swim through at the bow of the wreck, possibly making it safer.

Chesil Beach Cove 05/21/2012

Observer Name: Gerry & Angel White
Observation Start Time: 18.25
Observation End Time: 19.10
Weather Conditions: Sunny, light onshore breeze
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 16.8m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 12C
Notable Flora: 
Notable Fauna: Snake pipefish, 15+ nudi's, 4 Dogfish, 1 Cuttlefish, several large spider crabs, 1 small lobster, small shoals of little Sandeels and a few Pollock.
Other Observer Comments: Although the vis wasn't that good again it made a nice change going in a bit later than normal for us and it was worthwhile.

Chesil Beach Cove 05/19/2012

Observer Name: Gerry
Observation Start Time: 07.12
Observation End Time: 07.32
Weather Conditions: Cloudy with light rain
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 15.5m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (0-3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: No Current
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): N/A
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 11
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna:N udi's including, Orange clubbed sea slug, Polycera, Crimora, about a dozen.
First Dogfishs of the year, 5 in total 3 large and 2 smaller. Spider crabs.
Other Observer Comments: Good to see the dogfish back but again little fish life. i think i only saw a couple of Pollock, no sand eels again but the vis was pretty terrible and there was a large swell.

Chesil Beach Cove 05/18/2012

Observer Name: Christine Grosart
Observation Start Time: 12.30
Observation End Time: 13.14
Weather Conditions: Cloudy, light breeze, no swell
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 6-10m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (0-3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): High
Water Current Direction: North to South
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 11C
Notable Flora: Kelp, bladderwrack(?), yellow sponges with holes in (sorry, don't know!)
Notable Fauna: Snakelock anemone, tube worms, wrasse, cuckoo wrasse-juvenile and adult, lesser spotted dogfish, spider crab x4, velvet swimming crab x 4, edible crab x 1, small lobster x 1, pipefish x 2
Other Observer Comments: 
 Collected 1 large crisp packet - removed. Minor fishing tackle found. 2 x divers on single 15s. Calm sea state. Dive straight from Ramp bearing 270 degrees. Max depth 12m.

Portland Harbour 05/17/2012

Observer Name: Jack Vliegendhart
Observation Start Time: 19.07
Observation End Time: 20.10
Weather Conditions: Dry but windy
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 15-17m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (3-6m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): High
Water Current Direction: N/A
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: Squid eggs were still there where the rope is between the landing craft and the Bombardon unit. I also saw squid eggs somewhere on the other side of the landing craft. Someone else of our dive boat saw a cuttle fish.
Other Observer Comments: The Landing Craft (Secondary Site). Was my first Portland dive this year. Sun was still up so it wasn't a real night dive. Visibility was around 3.5 meters

Chesil Beach Cove 05/13/2012

Observer Name: Gerry & Angel White
Observation Start Time: 12.03
Observation End Time: 12.51
Weather Conditions: Sunny no wind
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 14.3
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 11C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: The most nudi's ever, 60+ mainly Polycera f all different sizes. 1 tompot, alot of large Spider crabs. Very few fish, a couple of wrasse at the start of the dive and that was it. No Pollock or sand eels at all!?

Other Observer Comments:We have never seen so many nudi's on one dive at Chesil, maybe it was because it was so calm after a period of high winds or maybe due to the lack of fish life?

Dredger 04/21/2012

Observer Name:Matt Knifton
Observation Start Time:10:40
Observation End Time:11:26
Weather Conditions: Slight
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 9.3m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (0-3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: North to South
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna:Candy stripe flatworm, nudibranch (white with yellow gills, 1cm long), spider carbs, squid, anemone, (half eaten spider crab!)
Other Observer Comments:Notable wear and tear on the buoy attachment on the wreck, broken chain. Rubbish in and around the rock wall to the side of the wreck.

Countess of Erne 04/15/2012

Observer Name: Izzy Imset
Observation Start Time: 11.35
Observation End Time: 12.35
Weather Conditions: Slight to Moderate
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 8-14m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (<3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): High
Water Current Direction: North to South
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: Wrasse, Flat Worms (spaced out), 20mm purple-blue Nudibranch, blue (bell/mini) colonies of Sea Squirt on side of hull, Oyster
Other Observer Comments:

Chesil Beach Cove 04/15/2012

Observer Name: Gerry and Angel
Observation Start Time:15.45
Observation End Time:16.31
Weather Conditions: Onshore wind
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 15m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (3-6m) 
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction:Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): Non
Notable Flora: Lots of colorful see weed returning
Notable Fauna: Several pipefish, 1 Cuttlefish, Small sandeels, Pollock, Spidercrabs, Nudi egg rose, Mermaids purse, Lots of Green worm eggs, 1 small edible crab(infant portion), 20+ nudi's including one we hadn't seen there before which we think was a Coryphella Browni? There was again a general increase in the normal wrasse species we see there.
Other Observer Comments:Unusual to be able to dive Chesil with an onshore wind.

Countess of Erne 04/14/2012

Observer Name: Rene Van Erven
Observation Start Time: 14.40
Observation End Time: 15.40
Weather Conditions: Calm, sunny
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 12m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (<3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: North to South
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: Wrasse (occasional), light-bulb sea squirts (patches of)
Other Observer Comments: School of pollock at the stern of the wreck during descent

Dredger 04/14/2012

Observer Name: Rene Van Erven
Observation Start Time: 11.30
Observation End Time: 12.25
Weather Conditions: Sunny, Calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 10m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (<3m)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: N/A
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): N/A
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Flora: Sea weed, red algae (patches of), [lack of kelp]
Notable Fauna: Wrass (small), occasional crabs
Other Observer Comments: Not much sea life or fish but a lot of plankton in the water

Dredger 04/13/2012

Observer Name: Izzy Imset
Observation Start Time: 11.30
Observation End Time: 12.30
Weather Conditions: Sunny, calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 15m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): High
Water Current Direction: NE to SW
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Flora: Sea weed
Notable Fauna: Spider Crabs (mainly male and not in groups), Leach's Spider Crabs (scattered), Common Hermit Crabs, Wrasse, Sea Hare
Other Observer Comments: East of the Dredger inside the bay itself down to 15 metres, light drift. Groups of Sea Hare on rocks, from about 30mm to 70mm in size, appear to be forming a mating chain. Will be worth looking for larger of the species on follow-up dives around the rocks at 12m.

Countess of Erne, 04/08/2012

Observer Name: Graham Wimble
Observation Start Time: 09:10
Observation End Time: 10:00
Weather Conditions: Breezy but calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 15m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): High to Med - 10m
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Med
Water Current Direction: Nil
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Nil
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Fauna: Black Faced Blennies, Nudibranch, Cuckoo Wrasse
Other Observer Comments: Great visibility

Chesil Beach Cove 04/08/2012

Observer Name: Gerry and Angel
Observation Start Time: 13.08
Observation End Time: 13.52
Weather Conditions: Overcast with onshore winds
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 13.7m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Non
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Non
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Flora: A lot more coloured sea weed
Notable Fauna: Pipefish, Plaice, 6 nudibranches, large cuttlefish, large sandeel, Pollock, Tompot blenny
Other Observer Comments: Water very bitty although the colour is returning to everything. A lot of spider crabs and a lot more fish in general. The large number of nudi's we saw on the last dive were not present this time. Great to see our first cuttlefish, a large one at that but very skittish and shot off straight away. Hard exit due to very low tide!

Chesil Beach Cove 04/07/2012

Observer Name: Brian David & Jackie Howe
Observation Start Time: 12.30
Observation End Time: 16.30
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 8-13.5m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium 6m
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: N/A
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): N/A
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: Butterfish, wrasse, greater pipe fish, sand eels, scorpion fish, bib, pollock, sea cucumber, common starfish, orange clubbed sea slug, candystripe flaw worm, ross coral
Other Observer Comments: Lots of life returning to the beach, good visibility and conditions.

Chesil Beach Cove 04/05/2012

Observer Name: Graham Blackmore
Observation Start Time: 18.30
Observation End Time: 19.20
Weather Conditions: Calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 12m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: West
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 9C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: Pollack, Wrasse (Ballan and Corkwing) Pipe Fish, Anemone
Other Observer Comments: Summer fauna returning. Water greenish - (algal bloom on way as water warms up).

Chesil Beach Cove 04/01/2012

Observer Name: Gerry and Angel
Observation Start Time: 13:49
Observation End Time: 14:34
Weather Conditions: Sunny, light onshore breeze
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 15 m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: N/A
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 10C
Notable Flora: Sea weed
Notable Fauna: Crimora, Gonidoris Nodosa, Polycera, Orange Clubbed Sea Slug, Candy Striped Flatworm
Other Observer Comments: We saw over thirty (30) of these nudibranches on this dive. We have never seen them in such numbers before - at times up to 6 on the same patch. The Orange Clubbed Sea Slug was the most common seen.

Chesil Beach Cove, 03/28/2012

Observer Name: Cheryl Lombardo
Observation Start Time: 16.30
Observation End Time: 17.15
Weather Conditions: Sunny, Calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 7-9m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium 3-4M
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: n/a
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): n/a
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 9C
Notable Flora: Pod Weed, Sea Oak, Rose Weed, Siphoned Feather Weed
Notable Fauna: Snake Lock Anemone, 3 spider crabs, 8 Greater Pipefish, 2 spotted goby, Chimney sponge, Boring sponge, Strawberry Anemone, Double Spiral Worm, Nudibranch
Other Observer Comments: Excellent summer-like surface conditions but lots of particles in the water possibly due to early warming.

Chesil Beach (NE), 03/28/2012

Observer Name: Izzy Imset
Observation Start Time: 16.30
Observation End Time: 17.25
Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 16m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium to low
Water Current Direction: LW Portland
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): n/a
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 9C
Notable Flora: Sea weed, little kelp
Notable Fauna: Single Plaice, Masked Crab, Welk (few and scattered apart)
Other Observer Comments: Barren sand bed east of the cove stretching NE at a steady 15-16 m. depth. Rare wreckage and remnants.

Chesil Beach Cove, 03/26/2012

Observer Name: Gerry & Angel White
Observation Start Time: 14.25
Observation End Time: 15.02
Weather Conditions: Sunny - No wind
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 13.4 m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium (Some undertow)
Water Current Direction: Westerly
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 9C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: Few Pipefish, 2 small lobsters, first signs of a small fish nursery (15 or so tiny fish but could not ID them)
Other Observer Comments: Dive exactly on Low Water Portland. Very murky compared to Friday probably due to the large swell over the weekend.

Dredger, 03/24/2012

Observer Name: Richard Whalley
Observation Start Time: 15:00
Observation End Time: 15:30
Weather Conditions: Sunny, calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 10M
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Med 4M
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: Nil
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Nil
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 9.4C
Notable Flora: Nil
Notable Fauna: Wrasse
Other Observer Comments:

Chesil Beach Cove, 03/23/2012

Observer Name: Gerry & Angel White
Observation Start Time: 16.35
Observation End Time: 17.07
Weather Conditions: Sunny no wind
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 14.9M
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low 4-5M
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low):
Water Current Direction: None
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 9C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna: 8 Pipefish
Other Observer Comments: Small patches of snakelock anemone, a few large wrasse, no smaller fish yet, 1 spidercrab (tiny), 1 edible crab and 1 very large Plaice!

Chesil Beach Cove, 03/22/2012

Observer Name: Matt Knifton
Observation Start Time: 10.20
Observation End Time: 11.35
Weather Conditions: Good, Sunny
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 10.8m
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): 5m
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: North to South
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 9C
Notable Flora: Sea weed, kelp
Notable Fauna: Pipefish, Dead man's fingers, baby squid, anemone, common sea urchin, common hermit crab
Other Observer Comments: A lot of broken fishing line, weights, spotted a ladder from a wreck

Chesil Beach Cove, 03/17/2012

Observer Name: Graham Blackmore
Observation Start Time: 11:30
Observation End Time: 12:10
Weather Conditions: Calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 13M
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Medium (5M)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Medium
Water Current Direction: Nil/Slack
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 8C
Notable Flora: Jap Weed, Bladder Wrack
Notable Fauna: Star Fish, Small Fry
Other Observer Comments: No summer fish noticed

Dredger, 02/24/2012

Observer Name: Izzy Imset
Observation Start Time: 13:00
Observation End Time: 16:00
Weather Conditions: Calm, SW
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 9M
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (3M)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: N/A
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 7C
Notable Flora: Sea Weed
Notable Fauna: Wrasse (Occasional), Tube Worms, Winter Kelp Roots (no kelp), rare snakelock anemone, lugworms, hermit crabs (small)

Mulberry, 02/24/2012

Observer Name: Entry Test

Dredger, 02/19/2012

Observer Name: Nina Hukkanen
Observation Start Time: 12:30
Observation End Time: 13:05
Weather Conditions: Sunny, calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 9M
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (3-4M)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: None
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 8C
Notable Flora: None
Notable Fauna: Tubeworms
Other Observer Comments:

Ferry Bridge, Fleet Lagoon, 02/16/2012

Observer Name: Izzy Imset
Observation Start Time: 13.30
Observation End Time: 14.30
Weather Conditions: Mild, clear sky with 10 mile winds westerly
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 6 metres
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low, 2-3 metres
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: East to West, Flowing out of Fleet
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low, 0.2 Kn.
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 7C
Notable Flora: Sea weed
Notable Fauna: Velvet crabs, shrimps, anemones, molluscs, various shells and Oysters
Other Observer Comments: Slack at Ferry Bridge appx. 45 minutes duration, 1 hour+ HW Portland. Visibility better than within Portland Harbour.

Countess of Erne, 02/08/2012

Observer Name: Nina Hukkanen
Observation Start Time: 12:10
Observation End Time: 13:15
Weather Conditions: Cold and windy
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 14M
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (1-2M)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: None
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): None
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 7C
Notable Flora:
Notable Fauna:
Other Observer Comments:

Countess of Erne, 02/02/2012

Observer Name: Nina Hukkanen
Observation Start Time: 13:40
Observation End Time: 14:15
Weather Conditions: Windy
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 12M
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (1-2M)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: N/A
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 7C
Notable Fauna: Squid Eggs

Countess of Erne, 01/14/2012

Observer Name: Nina Hukkanen
Observation Start Time: 11:20
Observation End Time: 12:10
Weather Conditions: Sunny, calm
Depth of Observations (indicate meters or feet): 12M
Water Visibility (high, medium, low): Low (3-4M)
Water Turbidity (high, medium, low): Low
Water Current Direction: N/A
Water Current Speed (high, medium, low): Low
Water Temperature (indicate C or F): 9C
Notable Fauna: Squid Eggs