Critter diving in Cardigan Bay

The flattish sea bed in parts of Cardigan Bay consists of gravel, sand and small cobbles, and may not seem to be of interest, yet it is teeming with very different creatures to those associated with sea beds.

In fact, the fishes found here are extremely diverse, very colourful and fascinating. One of the most bizarre must be the red gurnard – a brilliant red fish that crawls over the sea bed on modified fins that act as feelers as it searches for food. Gurnards can swim through, and fast, if disturbed.

Discarded whelk shells are often used by hermit crabs, but here they have competition. Butterfly blennies use them to lay their eggs in, then the male will guard the eggs, gently blowing water over them at times, until they hatch. Such shells have an inquisitive head poking out of them, but the fish will rarely emerge, as this would mean leaving the eggs. Other fish live here too, from obscure transparent gobies to thornback rays, plaice to pogges, pipefish to dragonets. It might not be to everyone’s taste, but its undeniably fascinating diving when you never know what you might see next.