. Jalbum 8.3 We've been meaning to get tp Babbacombe Bay ever since we found out about the cuttlefish breeding which happens there in the Spring. We stopped on our way down to dive in the Scillies. Sadly this breeding isn't encouraged, as it is in Holland, but ruthlessly exploited by local fishermen. The bay is ringed with pot traps which are often baited with female cuttelfish to attract males. We saw only one small cuttlefish, we didn't get out to the traps as our drysuits were shipping water very badly... which is another story. We were told that the only large examples which had been seen were already trapped. It doesn't take unusual intelligence to see that slaughtering a breeding gathering will heavily deplete the population in the future - it is the way to wipe it out! slides/IMGP0235.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 Babbacombe bay was busy even in late April Babbacombe bay was busy even in late April slides/IMGP0235.JPG slides/P4211688.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 It was a bright spring day and warm enough for the hardy to sunbathe It was a bright spring day and warm enough for the hardy to sunbathe slides/P4211688.JPG slides/DW219306.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 Underwater the seaweeds were verdant Underwater the seaweeds were verdant slides/DW219306.JPG slides/DW219308.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 There was an amazing mix of bushy algaes There was an amazing mix of bushy algaes slides/DW219308.JPG slides/DW219309.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 Dawn was trying a new dump valve in her suit... Dawn was trying a new dump valve in her suit... slides/DW219309.JPG slides/DW219380.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 ...turned out that wasn't the problem, but we put up with it for an hour ...turned out that wasn't the problem, but we put up with it for an hour slides/DW219380.JPG slides/DW219315.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 I was trying some sexy dry gloves - pity the water was coming in through seal bites in my elbows I was trying some sexy dry gloves - pity the water was coming in through seal bites in my elbows slides/DW219315.JPG slides/DW219297.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 which started leaking as soon as we saw our this limpet - Patella vulgata - with an afro, being ridden by winkles and watched by top shells and banacles which started leaking as soon as we saw our this limpet - Patella vulgata - with an afro, being ridden by winkles and watched by top shells and banacles slides/DW219297.JPG slides/DW219383.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 As well as weed the bottom was covered in Snakelocks anemones - Anemonia viridis As well as weed the bottom was covered in Snakelocks anemones - Anemonia viridis slides/DW219383.JPG slides/DW219327.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 After a while we found the main reason for visiting - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis After a while we found the main reason for visiting - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis slides/DW219327.JPG slides/DW219336.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 It was quite a small, lone example - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis It was quite a small, lone example - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis slides/DW219336.JPG slides/DW219338.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 about 20cm long - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis about 20cm long - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis slides/DW219338.JPG slides/DW219340.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 Apparently the larger cuttlefish were further out in the bay - caught in traps. Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis Apparently the larger cuttlefish were further out in the bay - caught in traps. Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis slides/DW219340.JPG slides/DW219354.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 We only saw one cuttlefish - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis We only saw one cuttlefish - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis slides/DW219354.JPG slides/DW219365.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 If the fishermen continue this slaughter there won't be any left - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis If the fishermen continue this slaughter there won't be any left - a Common cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis slides/DW219365.JPG slides/P4219886.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 There were lots of Two spot gobies - Gobiusculus flavescens - around There were lots of Two spot gobies - Gobiusculus flavescens - around slides/P4219886.JPG slides/P4219890.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 and the Opossum or Mysid shrimps which often seem to frequent the same places. Marlin call this a Chameleon prawn - Hippolyte varians, saying they can blend in by changing colour and the Opossum or Mysid shrimps which often seem to frequent the same places. Marlin call this a Chameleon prawn - Hippolyte varians, saying they can blend in by changing colour slides/P4219890.JPG slides/P4219855.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 There was a good show of slugs,this is Polycera quadrilineata There was a good show of slugs,this is Polycera quadrilineata slides/P4219855.JPG slides/P4219876.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 Polycera quadrilineata - with dark patches Polycera quadrilineata - with dark patches slides/P4219876.JPG slides/P4219870.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 Polycera quadrilineata - has less tentacles than Faroensis - this one with unusual dark stripes Polycera quadrilineata - has less tentacles than Faroensis - this one with unusual dark stripes slides/P4219870.JPG slides/P4219881.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 Polycera quadrilineata - this one has very pronouced dark stripes but ignore them for ID Polycera quadrilineata - this one has very pronouced dark stripes but ignore them for ID slides/P4219881.JPG slides/P4219903 small.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 We had never seen this animal before. A sap sucking slug not a nudibranch - Placida dentritica We had never seen this animal before. A sap sucking slug not a nudibranch - Placida dentritica slides/P4219903 small.JPG slides/P4219898 small.htm# Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:10:13 +0100 Placida dentritica - the rhinophores are rolled and the brown veins are very distinctive Placida dentritica - the rhinophores are rolled and the brown veins are very distinctive slides/P4219898 small.JPG