It’s the 3rd May and after waiting patiently throughout April, the weather has finally broken into a couple of calm, sunny and windless days. Hooray, it’s time to get wet.

• Location: Bembridge Lifeboat Station
• Weather: Wind – gentle air, Sea State – glassy. Perfect!
• Sea temperature: 14C
• Sea state: Slack water

Bembridge is a great diving location. It has a series of dropping ledges from the beach which are each teeming with all sorts of sealife; thanks to the abundant protection of the healthy sea grasses, kelp, crevices and rocks that the seabed provides. The dive follows the old outflow pipe, which runs parallel with the lifeboat jetty and continues out to sea well beyond, down to a depth of around 8m. The pipe and its supporting legs again providing shelter and a home to an array of juvenile and adult creatures.

Many species of fish, including Bib, a variety of Wrasses, Blenies, Brown and Spider crabs, Lobsters, Anemones and even a small ray. We once were accompanied on a dive by a Common seal …. but not today.

New undersuit worn under my drysuit (thanks Father Christmas) to make sure I stay toasty warm, and we’re all ready to go. Four divers today, plus Paul providing shore cover to ensure we all stayed safe under his watchful eye.

It feels great to be back in the water. It was smiles all around, with each of us most pleased with our dive. That’s number 1 for the season. Next time, I’ll be taking the camera with me. You never know what you’ll see, which is half the fun. Here’s hoping for a great 2026.