Playa de Guancha, La Gomera

Today was the day we was setting off to go on anchor, the weather had forecasted that the wind had died down, but as we got outside the harbour walls we realised it was stronger than the forecast, so we had a bit of a change of plan and went to a different bay but it turned out to be very nice and we decided that we would stay the night.

We were shortly followed by another boat who anchored quite close to us.

First of all dad jumped in the sea with his mask and snorkel to check the anchor and with a few adjustments it was set. Whilst Dad was swimming around he noticed that there was an old mooring block so when he came back to the boat he got his dive equipment on a went down with the lines and tied us down to it so we weren’t going anywhere.

When he got back we filled up the dive cylinders ready for our dive, when they were done Dad and I got ready to go in.



We both jumped off the sugar scoops at the back of the boat and swam round to the front of the boat and went down following the line which was attached to the mooring block.

When we reached the bottom we were on white sand and we swam over to the reef which we followed around and we saw more life than what we were expecting to see.
We saw lots of wrasse, blennies, trumpet fish, clams, a spider crab, flat fish, sprats, sea urchins and we even saw an octopus hidden down a hole in the reef.
Also whilst we were on the dive, Dad found a large round shell on the sea bed and after the dive we came to the decision that it must be from a sea urchin but it is different to any other sea urchin shells any of us have seen before.

When we got out the cylinders we re-filled and ready for Jo and Sean to use as they were going in for a dive as well.

Alex Penney

Jo and I put our kit on and got in the water which was really refreshing as it was very hot on deck. We went to the bottom and headed to the reef. The water was very clear and we saw a variety of fish, I had taken the camera down and took a few photos. I really enjoyed the dive and hope to do more the next time I come out to visit Kevin and Jo.





Sean Penney.




After we had all been diving we all just did a bit of sun bathing and reading our books.

We then had our tea which was mushroom pasta but pasta and pesto for Sean and settled down for the night on anchor watch and it was Dad and I on first but Sean stayed up with us to play some cards. Time passed quickly and Sean decided to go to bed as he would have to get up shortly for his watch with Jo. Dad and I carried on playing cards for a while and when we went outside to check we weren’t moving we turned the torch on and had a look around and when we shined it on to the water loads of flying fish started to jump out of the water. I have never seen flying fish before and I thought it was really amazing how far they could actually jump out of the water.

Then it was time to swap over and Dad and I went to bed and it was Sean’s and Jo’s turn to be on watch.

Alex Penney