I think crab's as nice as lobster-more trouble to prepare though.
I just got back from my dive. I set off from a cove that faces directly West off the side of a headland. I was making for a rocky bay just seaward along the headland. It's not accessable from land and has rock ridges running away West under the water. Last time I went there I found a small lobster in one of the many holes and cracks in one of the ridges.
When I got to the cove the water was calm and a gentle breeze blew. By the time I'd got the kayak ready and got into my wetsuit, the breeze was a little stronger and as it was from the west, a light chop was coming up the cove. When I reached open water the wave tops were showing some white but I didn't think it would get any stronger so I quartered over the waves, heading South for the ridges. When I reached the far side of the ridges I dropped anchor to park the kayak parallel to them and facing West into the wind. The depth under me was just over 30 feet but I let out 45 feet of line to allow for the movement of the sea.
I dived there for an hour, finding lots of small edible crabs, but none over six inches across the shell. I did find an undersized lobster which I'm sure was the same one as last time. There was a string of lobster pots set across the ridges last time, and it's still there today so maybe that's why I found nothing worth bringing home.
When I came to up anchor, it was stuck. Once I'd dived and brought the anchor up it was easier to swim, pushing the boat behind the shelter of a reef in the bay.
I found a hidden cave while poking around the back of the reef. It was about ten feet square and five high but had a passage going up vertically in the back right corner. I got my head in and shone the torch up and there seemed to be another chamber a few feet up it. I was too nervous to push on up and find out for sure.
By now I needed to get back or I'd be late collecting the kids from school so I got on the kayak and started on out of the bay. The chop was two to four feet now, and very close together, so there was no choice but to keep going West 'til I cleared the ridges. As I quartered the waves, edging North towards the cove, I was glad of my five foot high dive flag, which helped keep me pointed towards the waves. When I drew level with the cove I waited for a flatter bit of sea before making a fast turn towards the cove. With the sea at my my back now, it was "kawabunga" time! Waves broke on my stern a few times and I had to dig in the paddle and backstroke a few times, to avoid going over. This was a bit more than I'd bargained for and I was sh*tt*ng bricks by the time I got back in the cove. Didn't tip over though....
Finding the cave was great but I think I'll dive somewhere East facing tomorrow!!!
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