Dogfish Reef is a shore dive. There is also a concrete block/scour protection mat that sits on the slope from 4m down to 26m which conveniently marks the entry/exit point for the dive. The site consists of a steep rocky slope which at around 30m changes to mud/silt and continues down into the depths. Follow the slope down to your chosen depth and turn left round into the bay and back. Look out for the gnome garden at 35 metres!
This dive is the most amazing site for dogfish (small spotted catsharks - Scyliorhinus canicula). They are present below 25m all year round but are most concentrated in early February to mid-March when there can be hundreds. You will also see lots of squat lobsters, different seaweeds, hermit crabs, spiny starfish, spider crabs, sea loch anemones (Protanthea simplex) and schooling pollock. The number and size of the sea loch anemones here is quite something and they look spectacular covering the rocks when looking up the slope with the ambient light above you. Also resident on the reef are greater pipefish, dragonet, devonshire cup corals, vase coral (Haliclona ureolus), spiny starfish, corkwring wrasse, sea gooseberries, and a variety of different sponges including blue encrusting sponge and sea squirts. At shallower depths there are sunstars, red cushion stars, a variety of nudibranchs e.g. Tritonia lineata & Limacia clavigera. Occasionally divers report seeing large nudibranch (Pleurobranchus membranaceus) egg ribbon.
This dive can get very dark below about 18-20 metres so good torches are essential. Other hazards are the fishing lines tangled around the reef which divers and dogfish may find themself tangled in, so bring a knife or shears.
