Cornwall 2012

[badlander]

Please god tell me my laptop is on the blink and this page colour isn't a new addition? I'm colourblind and even i might be sick......or have a nosebleed.....one or the other. Heading down to the falmouth area later for a little night-mooching. Haven't been overly successful with my meagre night diving hours but high hopes as usual. I'll update if i snag anything fancy. *Yeah so anyway, third night dive empty handed. It's a normally a duff spot though so i'm not overly surprised, it was just close and easy. Viz was doable and i did see a few sole, red mullet, gurnard, numerous cuttles and a few brown crab but everything looked suspiciously small so i just called it a night early. Good phosphorescence too. Never get too bummed blanking at night, it's just a great thing to do.

 

[watermandrew]

good luck! I had a 2lb sole yesterday, will post a pic in a bit...

 

[watermandrew]

43cm sole (1.88 pounds, Abookire and Macewicz see ref at bottom) from Thursday evening session, taken in only about 4-5m in the sand in a gully type thing

I scored the skin and baked it whole in a foil parcel with butter, lemon zest and parsley. A sprinkle of saffron or some capers would be good in there too! 15 minutes at 190 would be about perfect, regrettably I did 20 minutes and it was a touch overdone by my standards (I like fish to be borderline undercooked!). Still delicious though with baby new potatoes in garlic and herb butter and salted asparagus tips.

Some interesting reading;

http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/refm/docs/2003/GOAdover.pdf

 

[killerbanjo]

Anyone here based in Penzance? I live on the Prom and have been diving everyday for a few weeks now and am slowly getting better, would be cool to meet somone else!

 

[Alzorro]

I'm helston mate.

 

[killerbanjo]

Ahh cool, where do you go then when you dive? Im kind of stuck right now because I don't have transport other than the bus :/

 

[lukea79]

Killerbanjo what's the prom been like? I live in st.ives and its been poor here.... I used to fish at roskilly years ago and it was great for flatties then... Been close to selling my kit after a near black out on porthmeor a few weeks ago, a bit scary when your on your own!!!

 

[Alzorro]

I hear Prussia cove can be good. Luke I am the same it's too dangerous to go on your own.

 

[killerbanjo]

Ive been going off Battery Rocks. At high tide when I can because I don't have to swim too far to get deep Its been quite clear recently, don't know about mid summer because I have been away for most of it...

My friend I go with mainly is a spear guy, I'm more interested in diving as deep as I can then staying there at depth but hes moving all the time so I can never stay still long enough to relax :/ When he gets his full motobike licence we can check out prussia cove

I can always get the train to different places to go with others too if their keen.

 

[scallywag]

Going to be getting wet after work tomorrow. I work in Redruth and am going to try the north coast for a change (normaly dive around St Austell)
If anyone has any recommended areas around Portreath way I would very greatful. Not looking for your best secret spots just general pointers. PM me if you want and I'll happily give you some marks round my way in return.
Many thanks.

 

[scallywag]

Any current viz reports for the area in question?

 

[andycornish]

Not posted in a while, but seen that does seem to be a fair few new members and some not so good sounding blackout/close scares.

Best thing I can recommend and im sure other older members will agree is to get yourself on a freediving course, you learn a lot and will make you not just more confident and relaxed but a safer diver.

Things like proper breath up technique, understanding what your body is telling you, SWB (Shallow Water Blackout), proper recovery technique and much more.

I and I know a few other members have used SaltFree, who know run courses in Cornwall. Well worth the money and will make you much safer.

 

[killerbanjo]

While I see what you are saying, as a student with a severe lack of work I cannot afford a course even if I wanted to. However I have done large amounts of research not only into techniques but also the cause of SWB and LMC. Im sure most people here always dive with a buddy anyway.

 

[lukea79]

Andy, I agree with you that it is good for inexperienced people to gain a little knowledge as experience from other people. Although Killerbanjo has a point of the cost of these sort of things, especially in these hard financial times. Common sense plays a major part in this form of natural selection... Haha... Seriously though, if in doubt, get out!!!
I am a very experienced dive instructor and snorkeller/spearo, and have to say this was a first for me, a lot if factors probably added to the situation, rough, bad viz, desperate for fish for tea.... But it can happen to the best of us. My lesson from this is if its bad viz there's no point in carrying on, get out and take a trip to chippy!!!

 

[killerbanjo]

Well said bud . I am vegetarian so no fishys for me haha, I'm just keen on getting as deep as I can.

 

[lukea79]

Banjo, if its only Freediving your keen on, i would'nt recommend going alone, always take a buddy and tell someone where your going.... I only preferred to go spearing alone as I don't have mates who fish, plus once you've had a spear in the leg, you dont want another from a trigger happy newby!!! good luck

 

[killerbanjo]

Do not worry mate I never go alone, already had a few close blackouts but felt at ease because I have had mates around... But I am keen to find more people interested in diving deep rather than my current buddys who go in <20ft!

 

[Kernowsniper]

A quick edit I put together with the spearfishing footage I filmed this year.. (which wasn't much really as I've found that messing around with my camera can sometimes affect the way fish act.. and also you end up finding yourself more focused on filming and less on the job at hand! Leaving the camera behind has definately made me more focused on hunting.. but needless to say there were a few of dives this year I wish I'd filmed as I had some really good sized fish in 10m+ vis........ ah well.. maybe next time). Enjoy.

Spearfishing in Kernow 2012

 

[foxfish]

Great vid mate, you have caught the atmosphere.

 

[lukea79]

Awesome vid mate, fantastic vis!! Looks like a great spot...