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JON UNDERWATER

Shore crab #carcinusmaenas caught snacking in Portland harbour. Just a quick crab pic, but my word it's taken quite a lot of time and effort just to manage this! Pleased with recovery so far but still pining for scuba diving. #nauticamhousings #sonyrx100m5a #naturallight #vitaminsea🌊

Shore crab #carcinusmaenas caught snacking in Portland harbour. Just a quick crab pic, but my word it's taken quite a lot of time and effort just to manage this! Pleased with recovery so far but still pining for scuba diving. #nauticamhousings #sonyrx100m5a #naturallight #vitaminsea🌊

Glorious snorkel today over in Chesil Cove. Great catching up with Steph and Georgie whilst she's down to visit. Still sunny and calm out there and I can already notice my leg getting stronger. Really impressed by the Fourth element dry snorkel (very much does what it says on the tin! AOI-UWL 03 continues to impress too. So many sand eels and stalked jellies today.

Glorious snorkel today over in Chesil Cove. Great catching up with Steph and Georgie whilst she's down to visit. Still sunny and calm out there and I can already notice my leg getting stronger. Really impressed by the Fourth element dry snorkel (very much does what it says on the tin! AOI-UWL 03 continues to impress too. So many sand eels and stalked jellies today.

Relieved to be back in the water, but somewhat unnerved by just how much my right leg muscles atrophied in the brace. Going to be a much longer route back to scuba than I originally thought. Still here though, despite a pretty messed up two years. #vitaminsea #gopro #goprohero12 #aoiuwl03

Relieved to be back in the water, but somewhat unnerved by just how much my right leg muscles atrophied in the brace. Going to be a much longer route back to scuba than I originally thought. Still here though, despite a pretty messed up two years. #vitaminsea #gopro #goprohero12 #aoiuwl03

God I’ve missed being in the water. Resigned myself to the fact that scuba will probably have to wait until next year or when I have the strength back in my right quads (snorkelling is challenging enough when walking is still an issue). Still, just so glad to be be back here, and lovely catching up with @ryanstalker9 and @teenytinyunderwaterphotos.

God I’ve missed being in the water. Resigned myself to the fact that scuba will probably have to wait until next year or when I have the strength back in my right quads (snorkelling is challenging enough when walking is still an issue). Still, just so glad to be be back here, and lovely catching up with @ryanstalker9 and @teenytinyunderwaterphotos.

Just short of 34 years ago, ‘Sea Trek’ hit our screens in the UK. In my latest blog (a bit of a labour of love) I do my best to explain why it was such a special piece of underwater documentary work, not merely as a personal source of inspiration. Over five twenty-five minute episodes, spread out across unique underwater habitats, It featured the extraordinary talents of Martha Holmes and Mike deGruy, not to mention the beautiful cinematography of Peter Scoones. I should in all fairness say that the commentary ran on a bit longer than intended, but please do dip into it if you have a memory of the series or an interest in the BBC’s Natural History output. Link to my blog can be found above ☝️ in my bio. #seatrek #mikedegruy #marthaholmes #peterscoones #underwatercinematography #documentary #underwater #marinehabitats #bbcnaturalworld #bbcwildlife #bubblehelmet #1990style #underwaterworld #plimsollproductions

Just short of 34 years ago, ‘Sea Trek’ hit our screens in the UK. In my latest blog (a bit of a labour of love) I do my best to explain why it was such a special piece of underwater documentary work, not merely as a personal source of inspiration. Over five twenty-five minute episodes, spread out across unique underwater habitats, It featured the extraordinary talents of Martha Holmes and Mike deGruy, not to mention the beautiful cinematography of Peter Scoones. I should in all fairness say that the commentary ran on a bit longer than intended, but please do dip into it if you have a memory of the series or an interest in the BBC’s Natural History output. Link to my blog can be found above ☝️ in my bio. #seatrek #mikedegruy #marthaholmes #peterscoones #underwatercinematography #documentary #underwater #marinehabitats #bbcnaturalworld #bbcwildlife #bubblehelmet #1990style #underwaterworld #plimsollproductions

...and whilst I'm on species wishlists, I hear the barrels have appeared down off Penzance again. Now if you could kindly waft some up the channel to us folks in Dorset, we'd very much appreciate it. Haven't seen any in about seven years! Here's me scrabbling after one in Chesil Cove c.April 2019, courtesy of Colin.

📸 Picture: Colin Garrett

...and whilst I'm on species wishlists, I hear the barrels have appeared down off Penzance again. Now if you could kindly waft some up the channel to us folks in Dorset, we'd very much appreciate it. Haven't seen any in about seven years! Here's me scrabbling after one in Chesil Cove c.April 2019, courtesy of Colin.

📸 Picture: Colin Garrett

Very much looking forward to getting back in with the blues later this summer. This is a bit of an old one from my first trip back in 2018.

Very much looking forward to getting back in with the blues later this summer. This is a bit of an old one from my first trip back in 2018.

In a dazzling display of efficiency and speed I have finished the blog post I started writing this time last year! Whoop whoop 🙌🏻 I may have be somewhat driven along today by escapist fantasy, still being mostly immobile, but I’ve a dressing change Tuesday with hopefully a new knee brace and physio to start soon. I can almost smell the sea water! 😄 Please do have a read (link to my page in bio above) if you get five minutes; whilst it’s (like my last ‘Shore Thing’) a relatively small site, Talland bay and the Marguerite are definitely worth your time to explore if you haven’t already. Please comment below if you have dived there, would like to, or if you’ve any other suggestions/ideas for what I should do next with the blog.
Thank you, lovely people 🙏 #marguerite #wreck #boiler #uksnorkelling #ukdiving #underwaterphotography #blogger #vitaminsea💙 #tallandbay #tallandbaybeachcafe #looelifeboat #rnli

In a dazzling display of efficiency and speed I have finished the blog post I started writing this time last year! Whoop whoop 🙌🏻 I may have be somewhat driven along today by escapist fantasy, still being mostly immobile, but I’ve a dressing change Tuesday with hopefully a new knee brace and physio to start soon. I can almost smell the sea water! 😄 Please do have a read (link to my page in bio above) if you get five minutes; whilst it’s (like my last ‘Shore Thing’) a relatively small site, Talland bay and the Marguerite are definitely worth your time to explore if you haven’t already. Please comment below if you have dived there, would like to, or if you’ve any other suggestions/ideas for what I should do next with the blog.
Thank you, lovely people 🙏 #marguerite #wreck #boiler #uksnorkelling #ukdiving #underwaterphotography #blogger #vitaminsea💙 #tallandbay #tallandbaybeachcafe #looelifeboat #rnli

Happy World Sea Grass Day folks! Bit of a old one from the archives- I remember when you'd see these barrel jellies every other dive back in 2015. Lets hope the smacks go by decades...

Whilst the kit is checked and ready to go sadly I am not, having torn through the patella tendon attaching my right knee cap to my lower leg. It was swiftly reattached courtesy of our amazing NHS, but I'm now looking at six weeks minimum for recovery. When you start to see snorkelling pictures again things will be on the up 😊 Until then, enjoy your spring and share plenty of pics!

#worldseagrassday #zostera #barreljellyfish #rhizostomapulmo #underwaterflowers #seagrass #renewal #halfouroxygenisblue

Happy World Sea Grass Day folks! Bit of a old one from the archives- I remember when you'd see these barrel jellies every other dive back in 2015. Lets hope the smacks go by decades...

Whilst the kit is checked and ready to go sadly I am not, having torn through the patella tendon attaching my right knee cap to my lower leg. It was swiftly reattached courtesy of our amazing NHS, but I'm now looking at six weeks minimum for recovery. When you start to see snorkelling pictures again things will be on the up 😊 Until then, enjoy your spring and share plenty of pics!

#worldseagrassday #zostera #barreljellyfish #rhizostomapulmo #underwaterflowers #seagrass #renewal #halfouroxygenisblue

Glub glub glub. Great catching up with folk down at the pool last night. All set to help out with the club try dive this Saturday. Still spaces available if you have any 18+ friends/family that might be interested. #bsacdivers #bsactrydive #pooltime #wintercheckout #prep

Glub glub glub. Great catching up with folk down at the pool last night. All set to help out with the club try dive this Saturday. Still spaces available if you have any 18+ friends/family that might be interested. #bsacdivers #bsactrydive #pooltime #wintercheckout #prep

New Suunto tank pod (after I accidentally drowned the last one 🪫⚡️💦🥺). Looking forward to syncing the replacement up in a pool session.

New Suunto tank pod (after I accidentally drowned the last one 🪫⚡️💦🥺). Looking forward to syncing the replacement up in a pool session.

Spent a few hours today playing with the Christmas presents (Hero 12 Black & Telesin dome + battery pack). I wasn't expecting miracles, yet I was pleased by the jump from the last GoPro I owned c.2014. Out of curiosity, does anybody have any experience using the AOI uwl-3 with a Gopro? Was thinking of picking one up ahead of the summer. Hopeful of more diving and snorkelling in 2025 than I managed in 2024. Happy New Year folks!

Spent a few hours today playing with the Christmas presents (Hero 12 Black & Telesin dome + battery pack). I wasn't expecting miracles, yet I was pleased by the jump from the last GoPro I owned c.2014. Out of curiosity, does anybody have any experience using the AOI uwl-3 with a Gopro? Was thinking of picking one up ahead of the summer. Hopeful of more diving and snorkelling in 2025 than I managed in 2024. Happy New Year folks!

Another year over. Whilst I’ll always remember 2024 as the year I finally cracked UPY, it has been tempered with the lingering grief of losing James (my best man and best friend) and being present at the tragic death of another friend and fellow diver. I’ve isolated and indulged in self-pity more than a fair bit, but I need to just get on with things and stop looking back now. If you’re still reading this, thanks truly for all your support and encouragement this year- it’s meant a great deal. Here’s to calm seas and great vis aplenty in 2025🐟🪼🐙

Another year over. Whilst I’ll always remember 2024 as the year I finally cracked UPY, it has been tempered with the lingering grief of losing James (my best man and best friend) and being present at the tragic death of another friend and fellow diver. I’ve isolated and indulged in self-pity more than a fair bit, but I need to just get on with things and stop looking back now. If you’re still reading this, thanks truly for all your support and encouragement this year- it’s meant a great deal. Here’s to calm seas and great vis aplenty in 2025🐟🪼🐙

Loads of egg cases: catshark, rays, whelks galore in the strandline by Worthing Pier.

Loads of egg cases: catshark, rays, whelks galore in the strandline by Worthing Pier.

Compass jellies, Weymouth Sea Life Centre. Getting out of the house with the nephews 🪼🪼🪼

Compass jellies, Weymouth Sea Life Centre. Getting out of the house with the nephews 🪼🪼🪼

#octopusvulgaris octopul illusion ii

#octopusvulgaris octopul illusion ii

Fantastic nautical Christmas tree 🎄 down at West Bay this December- definitely worth a look! #sonya6400 #samyang12mm #bridportlife @westbaydiscoverycentre @jurassiccoastofficial

Fantastic nautical Christmas tree 🎄 down at West Bay this December- definitely worth a look! #sonya6400 #samyang12mm #bridportlife @westbaydiscoverycentre @jurassiccoastofficial

Chesil Cove Halloween Dive 31-10-24

Chesil Cove Halloween Dive 31-10-24

Squid action off the beach- a great end to my diving season this year. Roll on 2025!

Squid action off the beach- a great end to my diving season this year. Roll on 2025!

Some lovely large common squid this past month. Chesil Cove 31-10-24

Some lovely large common squid this past month. Chesil Cove 31-10-24

Cornish blues #expiredfilm #canonixus #apsfilm #canonx1 #canonelphsport

Cornish blues #expiredfilm #canonixus #apsfilm #canonx1 #canonelphsport

Bunklings on APS film, earlier this summer.

#expiredfilm #canonixus #apsfilm #canonx1 #canonelphsport

Bunklings on APS film, earlier this summer.

#expiredfilm #canonixus #apsfilm #canonx1 #canonelphsport

Experimenting with film on a Canon IXUS x1. Finally got this little roll of APS (yes, I know, the devil's work) film developed from earlier in the year. Whilst messing about with expired film and getting the focus right on this little point & shoot is a challenge in comparison to my Sony, I did rather enjoy giving it a go.

#expiredfilm #canonixus #apsfilm #canonx1 #canonelphsport

Experimenting with film on a Canon IXUS x1. Finally got this little roll of APS (yes, I know, the devil's work) film developed from earlier in the year. Whilst messing about with expired film and getting the focus right on this little point & shoot is a challenge in comparison to my Sony, I did rather enjoy giving it a go.

#expiredfilm #canonixus #apsfilm #canonx1 #canonelphsport

Fascinating talk on the Earl of Abergavenny wreck tonight. Many thanks to David Carter over at the Portland Museum and to Neil for getting Jurassic Divers along. It’s strange how my otherwise diverse interests occasionally align: I first read about this wreck (and the impact it had on William Wordsworth) when I started my English teaching career up in the lakes c.2006. One of John’s main hopes in undertaking the dangerous but lucrative voyage was to support his brother’s poetry, and family and friends alike were devastated by his death. When we moved down to Dorset in 2010 it was high on my list of local wrecks to visit and the poignancy of driving past John’s resting place at Wyke church is never lost on me. Tonight we were hands on with his artefacts and a sad but strangely beautiful slice of local history.

#bsacdivers #divewithfriends @bsacdivers #jurassicdivers

Fascinating talk on the Earl of Abergavenny wreck tonight. Many thanks to David Carter over at the Portland Museum and to Neil for getting Jurassic Divers along. It’s strange how my otherwise diverse interests occasionally align: I first read about this wreck (and the impact it had on William Wordsworth) when I started my English teaching career up in the lakes c.2006. One of John’s main hopes in undertaking the dangerous but lucrative voyage was to support his brother’s poetry, and family and friends alike were devastated by his death. When we moved down to Dorset in 2010 it was high on my list of local wrecks to visit and the poignancy of driving past John’s resting place at Wyke church is never lost on me. Tonight we were hands on with his artefacts and a sad but strangely beautiful slice of local history.

#bsacdivers #divewithfriends @bsacdivers #jurassicdivers

A hint of pink over Bridport tonight, shame about all the cloud.

A hint of pink over Bridport tonight, shame about all the cloud.

BDMLR shout last night. Called to common dolphin stranding. Hard lift out, but we managed to refloat and successfully release at a calmer spot further along the coast. No news is good news, so here’s hoping he lives to a ripe old age.🐬 Thanks to Chris B for the pics, my favourite is of me looking despairingly at the steps 😫
#britishdiversmarineliferescue

BDMLR shout last night. Called to common dolphin stranding. Hard lift out, but we managed to refloat and successfully release at a calmer spot further along the coast. No news is good news, so here’s hoping he lives to a ripe old age.🐬 Thanks to Chris B for the pics, my favourite is of me looking despairingly at the steps 😫
#britishdiversmarineliferescue

Thoroughly pleasant hour in Chesil Cove with @adventure_samo this evening. Great to see Mitch and Vicky from @scubabluediving as well as Gandalf the White lobster!

Thoroughly pleasant hour in Chesil Cove with @adventure_samo this evening. Great to see Mitch and Vicky from @scubabluediving as well as Gandalf the White lobster!

Harvest Moon 18-9-24 Beautiful night, stayed up for a bit thinking I'd catch some of the lunar eclipse but couldn't hack it on a school night unsurprisingly! 😅🌾🌙

#harvestmoon #moonlight #lunacy #sonya6400 #sony70350 #gmasterlens #astrophotography #septembernights

Harvest Moon 18-9-24 Beautiful night, stayed up for a bit thinking I'd catch some of the lunar eclipse but couldn't hack it on a school night unsurprisingly! 😅🌾🌙

#harvestmoon #moonlight #lunacy #sonya6400 #sony70350 #gmasterlens #astrophotography #septembernights

I very much adore our blue planet, like so many of my friends. Here's some sand eel being hunted by a garfish under Durdle Door. Didn't get him in shot sadly, but this was my zen shot of the day all the same.

#underwaterphotographer #vitaminsea

I very much adore our blue planet, like so many of my friends. Here's some sand eel being hunted by a garfish under Durdle Door. Didn't get him in shot sadly, but this was my zen shot of the day all the same.

#underwaterphotographer #vitaminsea

Bumped into @streamlineswims under the archway last weekend. Great fun ❤️

Bumped into @streamlineswims under the archway last weekend. Great fun ❤️

Sea kayakers down at Durdle Door 14-9-24

#underwaterphotography #vitaminsea @lulworthrangers #theseasetsyoufree #lovedorset @jurassiccoastofficial

Sea kayakers down at Durdle Door 14-9-24

#underwaterphotography #vitaminsea @lulworthrangers #theseasetsyoufree #lovedorset @jurassiccoastofficial

Lovely to be back under Swanage Pier with some pretty good vis. 14-5-24

Lovely to be back under Swanage Pier with some pretty good vis. 14-5-24

The beautiful anemone shrimp still doing very well down there. #periclimenessagittifer
#backscatteropticalsnoot @backscattervideophoto

The beautiful anemone shrimp still doing very well down there. #periclimenessagittifer
#backscatteropticalsnoot @backscattervideophoto

Some #thecacerapennigera getting intimate down under Swanage pier 14-9-24

Some #thecacerapennigera getting intimate down under Swanage pier 14-9-24

Nor propeller, Chesil Beach, 8-9-24

Nor propeller, Chesil Beach, 8-9-24

More steel flaking off the base of the Nor boiler. Some big ballan wrasse tucked up inside.

More steel flaking off the base of the Nor boiler. Some big ballan wrasse tucked up inside.

Royal Adelaide (sank 1872) always a cracking shore dive, though much better with some decent vis. Perfectly acceptable 7m or so today. 8-9-24

Royal Adelaide (sank 1872) always a cracking shore dive, though much better with some decent vis. Perfectly acceptable 7m or so today. 8-9-24

Fight about to ensue! Wreck of the Baygitano, Lyme Bay. Thanks to @kirstyjandrews for buddying tonight.

Fight about to ensue! Wreck of the Baygitano, Lyme Bay. Thanks to @kirstyjandrews for buddying tonight.

Jewel anemones on the Baygitano heat exchanger illuminated from beneath courtesy of Kirsty Andrews 🔥

Jewel anemones on the Baygitano heat exchanger illuminated from beneath courtesy of Kirsty Andrews 🔥

Baygitano 4-9-24

Some lovely Tompots on the plate. Think they were looking to have a dust up!

Baygitano 4-9-24

Some lovely Tompots on the plate. Think they were looking to have a dust up!

Brittany snorkel -some great intertidal life on show amongst the rocks.

#montagusblenny #shanny #dragonet #nauticam #inon #backscatterminiflash #underwaterphotography #plongeesousmarine

Brittany snorkel -some great intertidal life on show amongst the rocks.

#montagusblenny #shanny #dragonet #nauticam #inon #backscatterminiflash #underwaterphotography #plongeesousmarine

Stunning and nippy (in more ways than one) crab found in a rockpool, #Pachygrapsusmarmoratus I think.

Stunning and nippy (in more ways than one) crab found in a rockpool, #Pachygrapsusmarmoratus I think.

These St Piran’s hermit crabs 🐚 🦀 are absolutely everywhere in Brittany. Weird to think they’re only (relatively) recently reestablished along the southern English shoreline. #stpiranshermitcrab #crabsofinstagram #Clibanariuserythropus #rockpoolingadventures🦀🦀🦀

These St Piran’s hermit crabs 🐚 🦀 are absolutely everywhere in Brittany. Weird to think they’re only (relatively) recently reestablished along the southern English shoreline. #stpiranshermitcrab #crabsofinstagram #Clibanariuserythropus #rockpoolingadventures🦀🦀🦀

Also a few bass about at the moment- I was surprised to see this one in less than a metre of water on the way out of my dive. I guess there must be snacks enough for them in the shallows!

#bass #loupdemer #dicentrachuslabrax #hunter #underwaterworld #ukdiving #underwaterphotography #nauticamhousings #inonstrobes #bsacdivers @bsacdivers

Also a few bass about at the moment- I was surprised to see this one in less than a metre of water on the way out of my dive. I guess there must be snacks enough for them in the shallows!

#bass #loupdemer #dicentrachuslabrax #hunter #underwaterworld #ukdiving #underwaterphotography #nauticamhousings #inonstrobes #bsacdivers @bsacdivers

Came across some more common european squid #alloteuthissubulata off Chesil Beach Thursday night with our dive club. Fantastic to see so much cephalopod action at the moment 🐙

#cephalopods #squid #intelligence #marineworld #ukdiving #underwaterphotography #nauticamhousings #inonstrobes #bsacdivers @bsacdivers @bsacsouthern

Came across some more common european squid #alloteuthissubulata off Chesil Beach Thursday night with our dive club. Fantastic to see so much cephalopod action at the moment 🐙

#cephalopods #squid #intelligence #marineworld #ukdiving #underwaterphotography #nauticamhousings #inonstrobes #bsacdivers @bsacdivers @bsacsouthern

Sunset Chesil Cove dive with Jurassic Divers BSAC @bsacdivers #divewithfriends #britishsubaquaclub #sunsetdiving #clubdiving #underwaterphotography #lovedorset

Sunset Chesil Cove dive with Jurassic Divers BSAC @bsacdivers #divewithfriends #britishsubaquaclub #sunsetdiving #clubdiving #underwaterphotography #lovedorset

Some red admirals sipping up that nectar 🦋 #vanessaatalanta #abbotsburysubtropicalgardens #nymphalidae #butterfliesofinstagram #greatbritishsummer #lovedorset

Some red admirals sipping up that nectar 🦋 #vanessaatalanta #abbotsburysubtropicalgardens #nymphalidae #butterfliesofinstagram #greatbritishsummer #lovedorset

18th century cannon overlooking Chesil Beach #abbotsburysubtropicalgardens #cannon #fleetlagoon #lovedorset

18th century cannon overlooking Chesil Beach #abbotsburysubtropicalgardens #cannon #fleetlagoon #lovedorset

Dive some more? Get the CLAW! Chesil Cove evening dive 1-8-24

Dive some more? Get the CLAW! Chesil Cove evening dive 1-8-24

The angry strawberries were also out last night- seeing more and more of these #sepiolaatlantica making a home for themselves between the pebbles of Chesil Cove- I'm more used to seeing them hiding in soft sand around Newtons and Hive Beach.
#squidoftheday #cephalopodsofinstagram #littlecuttle #ukdiving #nightdiving #dorsetunderwater

The angry strawberries were also out last night- seeing more and more of these #sepiolaatlantica making a home for themselves between the pebbles of Chesil Cove- I'm more used to seeing them hiding in soft sand around Newtons and Hive Beach.
#squidoftheday #cephalopodsofinstagram #littlecuttle #ukdiving #nightdiving #dorsetunderwater

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