Norther Thatcher Rock
The largest and most prominent of the rocky 'islands' in Torbay is Thatcher Rock. Standing 43m high it is 180m off the shore at the eastern end of Meadfoot Beach, just off Thatcher Point. Being such a large lump of uninhabited rock it is a haven for seabirds and the surrounding waters are well worth further exploration. This is going to be a simple guide, really aimed at snorkellers/divers who are on their way back from another site.
Because of its location, Thatcher Rock is swept twice a day by reasonably strong tidal currents, which means that the current loving plants/animals do favour this site over more sheltered spots further into the bay. Some of the strongest currents are to be found running through the 'gut' between Thatcher Rock and Thatcher Point to the north. Obviously back in time this is where Thatcher Rock was joined to the mainland, but now there is a fairly shallow sandy reef lying between the two.
Thatcher Rock at sunset
Before thinking about getting wet here, you should consider your boat/kayak cover for while you are under the water. Obviously having boat cover & a SMB is all well and good for divers, but for snorkellers/spearos on kayaks I would recommend a long 'grab line' strung out of the back of your kayak with a small buoy (I used an old fender) which you can use to a)pull yourself back to your boat and b)should give other boat traffic more excuse to give you a wide berth! When snorkelling here in a current you can then anchor your kayak, swim up-stream of it, dive down, fly back with the current and surface near your grab-line; its great fun to do some drift diving using this technique.
This is a heavily used boat lane and as such great care should be taken, but luckily the place of most interest is actually quite close in to the northern edge of Thatcher Rock which keeps you out of the way of most boat-owners. This area is potted but when ever I've been there when they are being checked I use it as an excuse to have a rest while the fisherman does his work for a few minutes before moving on.
The area directly underneath the northern tip of the rock is primarily a coarse-sand seabed (anything lighter gets swept away by the currents) but there are many large boulders to look around which were once probably part of the towering cliffs of Thatcher Rock. Even on a high tide you will only be in about 7-8m of water, and at the bottom of the tide the tops of some of the boulders will be a-wash.
Being this shallow means that the tops of any solid surfaces are covered with kelp, but this can be a stunning site as it gently wafts in the current - they're also great for holding onto if you want to stop to look at something more interesting! Happily though, it is only the tops of the boulders which are weed covered, which leaves lots of vertical and under-cut living space for a host of other plants and animals.
Because of the current there is a large population of Dead Men's Fingers, and a few spots where you will find patches of Jewel Anemones. The highlight for me is the odd dense patch of Actinothoe sphyrodeta anemones with their stunning 'Fried Egg' colour morph. For those of you with cameras these alone are worth visiting the site for.
Among the anemones you will find various encrusting sponges, and some large Common Boring Sponges. Underneath the rocks you may see Edible Crabs, Common Prawn and the ever-feisty Velvet Swimmer Crabs.
If you do venture further north and away from the rock, the boulders thin out giving way to a coarse sand plato with occasional boulders/bedrock poking through. Here you'll find Common Starfish, Brittle Stars, the occasional Feather Star and Scallop too. It could be a good spot for flat fish but I've yet to see any here.
If you are prepared physically and mentally to do this drift as a snorkel, and have your boat/kayak cover sorted out, it can be a thrilling experience to 'fly' along the sea bed. It does make taking photos very difficult because holding station with bulky camera kit in a strong current (while trying not to damage the surrounding flora/fauna!) is quite a challenge, but well worth persevering with for some nice macro shots.
The nearest entry/exit point for boats is Torquay harbour and for kayaks is Meadfoot Beach. While it is possible to walk to the shore at Thatcher Point, I really would strongly advise against trying to swim across to Thatcher Rock because of the currents and high levels of boat traffic - don't even think about it!