Adopting a Rock
Photographs by Ray Dennis, Alan Griffiths, Bill Bowen
& Francis Upchurch
The Penzance branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club was formed in 1960. In 1977, named 'Underwater Conservation Year ', members were invited to take part in a number of conservation projects one of which was entitled 'Adopt a Rock'. It involved observing the wildlife of an underwater rock, for a year, and noting any changes .
Two founder members of the club Ray Dennis & Alan Griffiths found a site a few hundred meters from the Gear Rock in Mounts Bay. The project proved to be very interesting and after a visit when they discovered that approx. 100 tons of dead mackerel had been dumped on it, decided to continue observation indefinitely.
There was a heavy plankton bloom in the following year causing considerable mortality of sea urchins, otter shells and many other residents. When the bloom decayed it had deprived them of oxygen. After this incident, observation was focused on how the site would recover. Many dives were made, in every month of the year, and continue (in theory) to this day. The last to date was in 2002, Alans 80th year. Their findings were published in scientific journals and they won the Duke of Edinburg's prize for underwater science.
As part of his work on the project Ray made a collection of more than a hundred pressed seaweeds. A considerable number of them were new to Cornish records.
As a result of the success of Underwater Conservation Year the Underwater Conservation Society was formed. It subsequently became the Marine Conservation Society, now a powerful group.
Please click on the links below to view photographs
Rock Mounts Bay