South Devon 2016

[Rossi01]

Thanks halfandy, are you local to the area? I'll be reaching out for info on vis during the warmer months to try and save too many wasted trips, I'll be doing a fair bit of exploring myself, thanks for the pointers, I'll be sure to check them out and hopefully get wet too

 

[John86]

Hi guys
Anyone got an idea of what the viz is like at the moment please?
was hoping to get in tomorrow somewhere.....

I've not dived in winter before, I normally just surf till it warms up, Is it doable in a 5mm spearo suit or do I really need an open cell undervest or 7mm suit?

what's it normally like on the fish front this time of year?

John

 

[foxfish]

what's it normally like on the fish front this time of year?

Bleak... but if you are determined enough there will be the odd fish around.

 

[foxfish]

https://forums.deeperblue.com/threads/guernsey-2016.104903/page-4#post-954176

 

[John86]

Bleak... but if you are determined enough there will be the odd fish around.

I suppose I could go and give the odd fish a very odd human for company! The problem I've got is I don't know when to quit!...

 

[scrumpy]

With the NE you will have to head towards the area around thurlestone. Look at Google maps so it shows the whole of coastline Exmouth to bigbury.
Exmouth to start point will not be diveable, no viz and very rough conditions. start point to salcombe possibly diveable but good chance NE will have blown that out. Now we are over to the sheltered side Hope cove to bigbury will be flat and possible chance of a dive, however salcombe esturary was brown last week whilst mate was out in his boat and this normally is the last area to loss the viz.
check the following
Magic seaweed bantham web cam - live looks diveable
Hope cove. Com - live looks diveable
Southsand web cam - live no viz
Loving the beach - shows static bigbury possible diveable, blackpool sands no dive, East portlemouth no dive
Teignmouth coastwatch - live no dive
Exmouth coastwatch - live no dive
These are the best to check so you can see both sides of coastline. Check all of these each time and you're soon understand the wind directions and how it affects the coastline from East devon to plymouth and beyond.
Hope this helps.
Lee

 

[John86]

With the NE you will have to head towards the area around thurlestone. Look at Google maps so it shows the whole of coastline Exmouth to bigbury.
Exmouth to start point will not be diveable, no viz and very rough conditions. start point to salcombe possibly diveable but good chance NE will have blown that out. Now we are over to the sheltered side Hope cove to bigbury will be flat and possible chance of a dive, however salcombe esturary was brown last week whilst mate was out in his boat and this normally is the last area to loss the viz.
check the following
Magic seaweed bantham web cam - live looks diveable
Hope cove. Com - live looks diveable
Southsand web cam - live no viz
Loving the beach - shows static bigbury possible diveable, blackpool sands no dive, East portlemouth no dive
Teignmouth coastwatch - live no dive
Exmouth coastwatch - live no dive
These are the best to check so you can see both sides of coastline. Check all of these each time and you're soon understand the wind directions and how it affects the coastline from East devon to plymouth and beyond.
Hope this helps.
Lee

Thanks for your reply lee! Find your posts really helpful!!! Do you reckon a 5mm suit is good enough for a couple hours dive this time of year?
I finished work too late to go somewhere last night.... Was too Knackered to drive besides dive! Being up in North Devon most of time I have at least an hour and a half drive for viz... Last summer I was diving at least once a week normally for 4hours+ 8being the longest.... I was completely fffffffd when I got out! Normally down south Devon or in the foreign waters of kernow.... only dived 3 times up here it just didn't clear... Did pretty well fish wise concidering It was my first proper year of spearing... Learned so much in a short amount of time!

. I understand the finding shelter from wind, swell etc from my surfing and rod fishing background but I need to learn how long different areas/spots take to clear after rain/run off and swell. I've got an idea there's also a lot to do with the bottom as in sand, rock or clay/mud And tidal flow...?

 

[scrumpy]

It's you're feet and hands that will feel the cold first. Areas like teignmouth and exmouth will struggle for viz as so much is being washed down the esturaries each day. Where as areas like Slapton or hope cove with little run off will hold better viz or clear quicker.
Always ask on here for viz rather than drive and be disappointed. I'm always around teignmouth /torquay so can check this way. Web cams especially bantham will show if it's diveable or not on the west side of the south hams.

 

[John86]

It's you're feet and hands that will feel the cold first. Areas like teignmouth and exmouth will struggle for viz as so much is being washed down the esturaries each day. Where as areas like Slapton or hope cove with little run off will hold better viz or clear quicker.
Always ask on here for viz rather than drive and be disappointed. I'm always around teignmouth /torquay so can check this way. Web cams especially bantham will show if it's diveable or not on the west side of the south hams.

Thanks lee appreciate it!

 

[Yak82]

Heya John,
I went for a dive last Wednesday near Plymouth. I was okay in my 5mm suit so long as I kept moving, I did get cold hands though. I stayed in for around two hours before getting out. I would have happily stayed in longer but the vis was only about 2 metres. Not much sign of life out there, but I think that was mainly due to that fact that I could barely see anything.
It was my first dive in winter too and I had also been questioning whether I would be warm enough in a 5mm. Having now been in I would happily go again. Think I'll wait until the visibility is better though.
Jacob

 

[John86]

Heya John,
I went for a dive last Wednesday near Plymouth. I was okay in my 5mm suit so long as I kept moving, I did get cold hands though. I stayed in for around two hours before getting out. I would have happily stayed in longer but the vis was only about 2 metres. Not much sign of life out there, but I think that was mainly due to that fact that I could barely see anything.
It was my first dive in winter too and I had also been questioning whether I would be warm enough in a 5mm. Having now been in I would happily go again. Think I'll wait until the visibility is better though.
Jacob

Nice one! I've been Trying to convince my mate to come out to play and now he hasn't got an excuse!!. I'm used to cold hands being a window cleaner this time of year, I can surf for over 3 hours with no gloves before o start to feel it.....or not feel it!
I guess the problem with having to keep moving to stay warm is probably scaring off the few fish that are about?

 

[Mr. X]

No posts since February! What's up on the English Riviera? I'm coming down soon and I need some positive vibes. I know, it is probably at least a month or 6 weeks (or 4 months) too early but it's the only time that worked for us all. I'll bring my gear but will also take some books to read if it rains all the time.

 

[Mr. X]

No posts since February! What's up on the English Riviera? I'm coming down soon and I need some positive vibes! I know it is probably at least a month or 6 weeks (or 4 months) too early but it's the only time that worked for us all. I figure Torbay probably gets the best weather on the mainland UK (maybe Swanage too?). I'll bring my gear but will also take some books to read if it rains all the time. My son says he wants some fresh fish! (Maybe I'll take him to Venture Sports, he can get a wetsuit from Anthony, and catch some for me too )

 

[scrumpy]

Every time there seems the chance of viz the wind either picks up or changes direction. Easterly due with the settled high pressure hope to go early next week over towards bigbury, will report back if I get in. Brixham has shown good viz via baz from the dive shack but unless you dive on the inside of the breakwater I've always found the place very Q.Lee

 

[Mr. X]

You'd normally be more exposed at Bigbury (& Thurlestone). I was planning to spend time on the east coast, where it is usually more sheltered although obviously not from Easterlies Hmm, will probably need to be flexible & keep an eye on the weather. Thanks for the warning scrumpy

Forecast seems promising for next week (need to help fell a tree, we've been waiting for months for the ground to harden). Although we'll be down later than that.

I encountered a big bass at Brixham a few years back, about 2/3's of the way along the headland - so quite exposed now - a short distance before where all the anglers hang out (the thought crossed my mind that they weren't quite in the right place!). I didn't get it but it was of fairly impressive size. I expect there were other fish further along, the anglers clearly thought so.

 

[scrumpy]

fair few congers are landed on both sides, mullet which i dont take near any marina. Just find the place Q, saying that if it brings along my double, then 'best thing since slice bread'

 

[halfandy]

Easterly due with the settled high pressure hope to go early next week over towards bigbury, will report back if I get in.

Please do report if you go. I am hoping to find some time for a dive on Thursday, and was also looking towards Thurlestone / Bigbury. I'm going looking for some cuttlefish. I'll be the first dive for about five months (!) so I'm looking forward to it. Fingers crossed...

 

[scrumpy]

Will do mate

 

[Dai ASBO]

(Maybe I'll take him to Venture Sports, he can get a wetsuit from Anthony, and catch some for me too )

Venture Sports has had a recent face lift and is looking good. Marketing as spearfishing store as per the Web business, good move. Hope you enjoy your trip here, am sure we're all waiting for a decent break in the conditions to get in. As Lee has said, every time it has looked vaguely promising it gets buggered up.

 

[Guffer]

Looks like the weather this week will remain largely calm leading to the possibility of some vis for this weekend. I am tempted to head out sunday but worried about the vis.