Cornwall - Cornish reefs
Global diving travel has become increasingly easy over the last decade or so, providing easy access to a growing number of tropical and exotic destinations. So, for many divers residing in cooler climates or new to the sport, it is tempting to look only towards these warm distant destinations and perhaps ignore the wealth of marine life on their own doorstep.
Tags & Taxonomy
The south west peninsula and county of Cornwall is physically remote from the remainder of the British Isles and also has a rich history full of myth, legend, smuggling and illicit ship wrecking. Industry is sparse in this area, which boasts spectacular countryside, and as a consequence, it is one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations offering both a slower pace of life, a mild climate and miles of unspoiled coast line and secluded beaches.
The rugged granite of the peninsula juts out into the Atlantic and has a striking contrast between its two coasts. There are calm sleepy inlets, coves and fishing villages on the south coast, while there are dramatic towering cliffs and the power of the Atlantic on the north coast. The rugged topography of the peninsula extends far out to sea, forming reefs, pinnacles and shoals teaming with life.
You can dive a deep wreck in the morning, a spectacular sheer drop-off in the afternoon, and explore shoreline gullies and tunnels in the evening, or after dark. All this makes the area popular with both diving and marine life enthusiasts seeking the variety this coastline provides. It is also popular with the family diver who wishes to mix his or her sport with exploring the attractions on land, some lazy days on the beaches,
and the occasional foray under the waves.
The Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream divides round the ...
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Originally published
X-Ray Mag #23
In X-RAY MAG issue #23, Mark Webster takes on a tour through the fascinating underwater world off Cornwall, England. We talk with Pascal Bernabé for insights into his achievements in deep diving. Science editor, Michael Symes, investigates locomotion of sea creatures, and we look at Hammerhead sharks and their unique head shape. Harald Apelt brings us to another pearl in the Mediterranean -- beautiful, historic Croatia. Kurt Amsler discusses proper workflow in digital photography. Rebreather pro, Cedric Verdier, gets us up to speed on physical fitness for divers and DIR for rebreather divers. Girldiver Cindy Ross discusses sunscreen and gives us the skinny on sunrays and skin cancer. We meet the Bubbling Reefs of Denmark, and a diverse portfolio of ocean art from artists around the world tops it all off. Plus the news -- on marine ecology, discoveries, ship wrecks, conservation, equipment, travel, divers, record breakers, books and films, turtles, sharks, whales, jellyfish and more...
