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On the way up to Lochinver I planned to grab a blip on the way. I did have Ardvreck Castle in mind but I thought I would get there too late for the light. Still, I persisted and it seems to have paid off! blip!
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On Friday morning there was little wind and it was dry and bright. Perfect conditions for diving, so we loaded up the boats at the marina as quickly as we could!
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A seven-armed starfish on the first dive...
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...and its much smaller cousin the cushion star. blip!
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A wee dragonet hiding on coarse sand. Not seen one of these before!
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A burrowing anemone - they have really translucent and delicate tentacles.
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A friendly edible crab.
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This is a painted top shell on some kelp, viewed from the underside.
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A spiny starfish.
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Sandra, immediately before an incident where we all nearly drowned laughing on the seabed!
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The lesser spotted Alison Fish, also immediately before the near-drowning due to laughter incident.
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The jelly-like blob of a sea-squirt. Believe it or not, these things have a primitive spinal column and are thus a closer relative than we might like to think!
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Lions Mane Jellyfish. These have a nasty sting but in the clear waters they were easy to avoid and even eerily beautiful.
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I've not seen Ling before - identifiable as a member of the cod family by the distinctive barbel under their chin.
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Jewel Anemones
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Another seven armed starfish - this one a blip!
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Urchin feeding.
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Another view of an urchin (spotting a theme yet?)
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Yes, it's yet more urchins!
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A prawn, just for a change. Only about an inch long and all but invisible unless they move.
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Another edible crab - he's too small for the table though!
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Tiny fish were just everywhere in the mild shallow waters.
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The outline of a feeding scallop.
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Great visibility and bright light make it feel like diving in a garden, even at 20m.
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A long-clawed squat lobster threatens me as I approach his hole...
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...while his less hostile brother gets a close-up!
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This is a stalked jellyfish, something else I've not seen before. It's nice to see lots of new types of life!
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A dogfish lurks under the kelp...
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Just waiting for me to blip him!
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A big purple sunstar. It's not actually purple, but according to my book that's not a requirement...
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Another lurking dogfish.
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A female cuckoo wrasse comes out for a look at the strange noisy bubbly thing...
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...then heads for shelter again. Very wise.
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Brian at 38.5m I was really concentrating on diving since this is pretty deep for me, hence the blurry photo. I must have been narked - it looked fine to me at the time!
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Poor Coral, something I saw by going deep that I've never seen shallower. Shame I didn't manage to snap the huge conger eel....
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I couldn't resist another go at Ardvreck on my way back! blip!
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