Close Encounters

Gerald Legg & David Fleetham · Issue 118, Jan/Feb 2021 · pp. 61–62

Products mentioned: GoPro Hero 5, Canon 5D Mark IV, Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG ART Macro Lens, Ikelite dry-lock housing, Ikelite DL Compact 8 inch Dome Port, Ikelite 161 strobes

Close Encounter by Gerald Legg As far as diving is concerned Covid 19 has made this year the worst one for me but at least I saw my first common stingray, (Dasyatis pastinaca). Fortunately, my daughter lives at Birdham on the Selsey Peninsula, West Sussex so she is only a short drive to the shores, either on the SE or SW. The Life-boat station used to be our popular bimbling site but that has now gone, however the sublittoral along the SE shore is rich in life and makes easy diving provided you are aware of boat traffic and the potentially fast tides and take the necessary precautions. During most of our dives off Sussex we record what we see as part of the on-going Seasearch Surveys (see http://www.seasearch.org.uk/ and specifically Sussex: https:// sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we- do/living-seas/sussex-seasearch ). Voluntary divers are trained to record and submit data that is incor…