This Month, Underwater - Catsharks & Jelly fish

This Month, Underwater - Catsharks & Jelly fish

The stretch of good weather through May and June meant I got in the water a lot. On nearly every dive, I came across Catsharks (or Dogfish). You’ll often find them sleeping in rocky cracks or gliding low along the seabed. They’re pretty unbothered by humans and surprisingly beautiful to watch up close

If you’re snorkelling around Cornwall, keep an eye out, you’ll likely spot one sooner or later. You’ll sometimes see them sold as “rock salmon” in fish and chip shops, but they’re mostly caught by accident or for bait, unlike species like bass or pollock. Sadly, I'm struggling to find many of those more commercially fished species. A small sign of how overfishing is changing what we see maybe?

On the brighter side, this is also peak jellyfish season. I’ve been seeing loads of Blue Jellyfish, amazing creatures when the light hits them just right. They only cause a mild sting, but drifting among them never gets old. The other day, I spotted my first Compass Jellyfish of the season, a classic indicator that summer’s properly underway, sadly no camera on me at the time, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for more.