Sponge city

Today we were very priveleged to be the first to scuba dive the south side of Montserrat for over 17 years. We undertook 4 exploratory dives each around 200-300m long parallel to the beach in Plymouth bay. The purpose was to identify future survey sites. Our group was lucky enough to find a substantial reef (much of the bay is sea grass) with some exceptional tube sponge populations. In the photo you can see some of them with the science officer taking notes in the background.

Other highlights were a pair of very large Cowfish, some inquisitive Amaco Jacks found reasonably far from their usual haunts, a stunning Magnificent Urchin and a Sand Tilefish with attendant Banded Coral Shrimp.

We are not sure what the sea bed will be like further south where the pyroclastic / mud flows hit the water.