Sssshh, I shall say this only once … WHAT A BLOOMIN' GREAT DAYS DIVING … there was more life down there than you could shake a stick at ! 

So where were we; well it’s a little out in the sticks place called Trefor Pier, in mid Wales, and if you’re a fresh faced novice looking for a great introduction to UK sea diving, this is definitely the place to go.

Trefor Pier is probably the most popular dive site along this section of the Welsh coast, and is genuinely (verified by Bob and Ben’s great photos) absolutely teeming with life, of all shapes and sizes.

The wooden pier structure was built in 1912, at the end of the stone breakwater, and was used for exporting granite from the quarries that are just visible on the hillsides above Trefor. Its 20 vertical legs run out to sea in a Northerly direction, offering great shelter for all sorts of marine life, with visibility varying from 3-4m by the breakwater, up to 10m further out.

Once we had all gathered in a ram-shackle fashion on the breakwater, and dumped our cars up in the car park, the day began. With Andy and Matt leading from the front, they briefed us on our days adventure, of course making sure (at least a million times) that we were aware of the entry procedure.

As the harbour adjacent to Terfor Pier is a working one it is imperative that after you enter the water that you stay on the surface as you swim out to the pier itself, and then of course repeat the exercise on the way back. After all those ‘propellor’ hair cuts are so last year.

So briefs and buddy pairs sorted out, it was away we went Gary and Bob, and the Copeland contingent, of course looking their ever professional selves, as they forged ahead out into the blue. Matt again proving his prowess with a compass, but anyway Ireland is so nice this time of year, and such a large big wooden pier can be so difficult to miss (can’t it Matt !!)

Although we only got maximum depths of about 8m, the amount of life under and around the pier was simply spectacular, just check out the photos to see. The surface interval chat included sightings of Dog Fish; Spider Crabs; Wrasse; Lobsters and even bigger Lobsters. Catch of the day, all of course in the name of a good photo was Ben’s Spider Crab, wow what a big one (ooo’er missus). (Click Here to view the full photo album for this trip)

After the worlds longest surface interval, while we waited for some of the gang to get back from tracking down a fill, we jumped back in for more exploration. All in all a spectacular days UK sea diving, the best one yet for 2006 !