THE RIDGE

Normally this reef isn't the main focus of a dive trip, but more a last resort site for when the weather/tides/vis/powerboat races mean that you can not get out to your chosen venue. That said there is a fair amount of life to be found here, and a good spot for scallops and the odd plaice if that's your thing.

This is a bit on the deep side to be termed a snorkel, with a maximum bottom depth of about 15m on a spring high tide, and being about 3/4mile from the shore it's also either a boat or kayak dive. Visibility, as with the whole of Torbay, is dependant on the previous few days weather and can be quite goot at about 7m.

You are more likeley to get 2 to 3m though as the reef rises up out of fine silt which is very easily stirred up and takes quite a while to settle.

If you have got a good echo sounder you will see the Ridge rising up out of the flat sea bed, about 2m proud, and if you're in the region of 50.24.813N 03.32.200W then you're pretty much there.

I can't really take you on a tour of the reef as there is no obvious starting point. But stick to a couple of simple rules and you won't go far wrong. Firstly watch your buoyancy and try not to bounce along the bottom, even the rocks have a layer of silt on them and you will mess up the vis for other divers or your return journey. Secondly, stick to the rocks - if you find yourself swimming over the silt, take your reverse compass baring and go back. Once you're off the reef there really is nothing out there!

There are no tidal currents to worry about here because of the position well within the bay. This also means that the arrays of anemones normally seen on current-swept sites are not to be found on The Ridge. There are some large Boring Sponges to be found, and looking carefully you will see plenty of Creeplet anemones dotted around the rocks. There are some large Sea Squirts, the occasional Snakelocks Anemone and lots of Tompot Blennys to entertain you.

In the gullies will lurk some large King Scallops, though these may not be too obvious at first as they will be encrusted with lots of other marine life, such as Tube Worms and Slipper Limpets. Plaice, Pipefish, Wrasse and Edible Crabs will also not be too far away, but you will have to look fairly hard to spot them!

Keep your whits about you because there are one or two areas where snagged fishing gear might cause you some trouble. It's all fairly old stuff and actually quite interesting as it plays host to some large Sea Squirts and Mussel colonies.

As I said, there are many more interesting sites within Torbay than The Ridge, but if it's all that is on offer don't turn down the opportunity for a bit of 'muck diving'.

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