Last week we visited St. Martin, one of the Isles of Scilly again, the first week we were allowed to do so. As a result, the islands were very quiet (and the pub was still closed, aargh!). It was sunny, but the easterlies were still cold and there was even a bit of frost some nights. However, I managed to get a snorkel in almost every day, which was great. I brought all my gear (again stepping on the boat wearing my weight belt…) but only used the strobes the first day; these are still an ongoing frustration of mine! I tried out most beaches, especially enjoying Porth Morran, where the kelp met the seagrass. (The pics in the Gallery are click-able btw.)
Wrack Siphon Weed Vertebrata lanosa 
Bladder Wrack Fucus vesiculosus 
After the wracks, the rocks were dominated by Brown Tuning Fork Weed Bifurcaria bifurcata (with Osmundea, Chondrus, Ceramium and other species mixed in). 
Very common on top of the Bifurcaria was either Colpomenia or Leathesia; I should know the difference but I cannot figure it out (even after squeezing between fingers)! 
After the Bifurcaria zone dense Himanthalia elongata stands. 
Very tall Sargassum muticum. 
Very tall Gongolaria baccata. 
The tall Brown seaweeds, Himanthalia, Sargassum and Gongolaria, were interspersed with seagrass beds, with Ulva, Saccharina and some Asparagopsis inbetween. 
Seagrass 
Huge masses of Sugar Kelp Saccharina latissima.
Some sites were dominated by kelp Laminaria digitata with Common Sea Urchins Echinus esculentus munching away. Fish life was very limited; I saw Ballan- and Corkwing Wrasse and Thicklipped Mullet but not much else.
Other sites were more ‘beachy’ with white sand, small rocks covered in Snakelocks Anemones and Seaweeds and Seagrass. The visibility looked very promising but was quite bad some days unfortunately (especially compared to our visit last September, see here). All in all a great time was had and we hope to visit again next year!
Seagrass, showing the extensive root- and rhizome systems that are so good at storing carbon (in addition, the seagrass beds store carbon by trapping floating particles). 
A Spiny Starfish Marthasterias glacialis. 
A tiny Macropdia crab covered in seaweed, not done justice without a strobe!
An Bollenessor 