I have been a bit busy and so the photos below are some weeks old. The seaweeds are in decline already it seems. Actually, that is not true, there are plenty of seaweeds growing, but some of the prettier ones are dying off and some of the uglier ones are taking over. The window to take the nicest rock pool shots is quite short, pretty much early spring only. The ubiquitous False eyelash weed Calliblepharis jubata is yellowing, the green Sea lettuce Ulva lactuca is starting to cover everything and the Red grape weed is getting ‘fluffy’. Not the best session photo quality-wise and probably the last of the year. The Bushy rainbow wrack Cystoseira tamariscifolia is abundant and looking good (on the photo with Discoid forkweed Polyides rotundus) and I managed I nice shot of young Thong (or Spaghetti) weed Himanthalia elongata. I have done some more research into ‘proper’ underwater cameras and was tipped of about the Canon G16 (thanks Thomas from HydroMotion Media), maybe something for next year….
The past couple of times when focusing on the seaweeds I also encountered some animals (it is hard not to). Many Snakelocks anemones Anemonia viridis, with some having very short tentacles. Next, a Decorator crab Macropodia rostrata covered in Banded pincer weed Ceramium. Mermaid’s purses (egg cases) of the Bull huss/Greater-spotted Dogfish/Large-spotted Catshark/Nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris seem to be exclusively attached to Bushy rainbow wrack. Finally, a Stalked jellyfish Haliclystus octoradiatus on Wireweed Sargassum muticum.
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An Bollenessor 
Hi Nice pictures – so cool that you have sharks eggs just on your doorstep – in Denmark you would never find a live shark egg in the shallows. Just at tip if you want to remove some of the milkyness on the underwaterphotos edit the pictures using “curves”. Slide the left slider to adjust for the white haze. Its a bit hard to explain on text, but the result great. It can be done in Lightroom, Photoshop, Gimp or similar programs.
Thanks Martin. Yep the biodiversity here is quite amazing compared to Denmark or Holland (where I am from). I have seen Small-spotted catshark, Thornback ray and Sepia eggs as well underwater. Have not dared to bring them back to the aquarium though, think my tank is a bit too small (130L). I just use Picasa to retouch the photos a bit. Thanks for the tip about ‘curves’, Picasa does not offer this. I see GIMP is free so will definitely try!
cheers Mick
You are welcome – there is only one thing to do – get a bigger tank 🙂 I have to visit someday to freedive your coast spots.
Love your pictures! Here in Seattle, the beach naturalists from the local aquarium are busy photographing EVERYthing including some of the same (or at least similar) sea weeds. They may look the same, but the variety of common names is one reason to Learn latin. I am using a Canon G 16 because I don’t dive, but others do.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/18025711291/ for the Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist page if you’re interested.
Hi Carol, thanks! I hope to be back one day….It is possible to buy an underwater housing for your G16 (I have a fantasea, but there are two better, more expensive brands and a cheaper one as well) so you can dip your camera in the pools as well, perhaps of interest (or buy a Canon D30 for the same price, still a pretty good camera!)
cheers, Mick