Exploring Cornwall’s Kelp Forest in Summer
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The Cornish coastline is a place shaped by constant, dramatic change.
At the peak of summer, the cold, stark winter reefs of Falmouth have undergone an incredible transformation. Below the surface, sunbeams pierce through the water column to illuminate a towering, majestic kelp forest. This is Cornwall's underwater jungle—a thriving, vibrant sanctuary teeming with life, from microscopic wonders to the ocean's silent giants.
In this film, we explore the green-blue canopy of this spectacular marine world, experiencing the best of Cornwall’s summer diving.
Swimming through the towering kelp fronds, we find ourselves surrounded by massive, swirling shoals of juvenile pollack. Down on the rocky seabed, tucked safely into the kelp holdfasts, we encounter Cornwall’s mini catsharks resting quietly during the day and hunting for food. A highlight is discovering the kelp’s true gentle giants — peaceful nursehound sharks, curled up and snoozing in the rocky shadows.
We also slow down to appreciate the smaller, brilliant details of the reef. We watch elegant dahlia and snakelocks anemones swaying in the swell, look out for the vibrant, blue-‘winged’ gurnards on the sand, and spot delicate summer jellyfish drifting gracefully in the open water
If you enjoy stepping away into the quiet places of the ocean and discovering the details of our marine world, please consider subscribing to follow the journey.
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📷 GEAR USED: Filmed mostly on a DJI Osmo Action 6 with an AOI wide angle conversion lens for the wide-angle and an AOI close up lens for macro underwater footage, and a DJI Pocket 4 for the topside summer scenes.
-- TIMESTAMPS --
0:00 - Diving into the sunlit summer waters
1:00 - Cornwall's shallow underwater gardens
2:02 - Arrival of the jellyfish
2:40 - Catsharks between the kelp and seaweed
4:30 - Early morning dives and shoals of pollack
5:49 - More jellyfish including blues and big compass
7:30 - Early morning sun rays underwater and catsharks
8:15 - Elegant dahlia and snakelocks anemones, gurnard on the sand
8:50 - Huge nursehounds