Basecamp: Little Trevothan Caravan & Camping Park
Diving with: Porthkerris Divers
Dates: Thursday 7th – Monday 11th August 2025
The worst of the weather was on the drive down
Thursday – Settling In
The forecast promised rain, and Thursday delivered… though not too badly. We had an easy drive down, breaking the journey with a quick McDonald’s lunch. Our pitch at Little Trevothan was right next to our usual spot – apparently the site was extra busy – but it was perfectly fine for our long weekend.
Base camp – well for Bounty, Vicki & Kevin (at Little Trevothan)
Bounty, our Welsh sheepdog, was less impressed by the occasional air cannon going off somewhere nearby – the poor lad couldn’t decide whether to bark or hide. After being cooped up for five and a half hours in the car, we took him down to the local beach for a good run.
Geoff & Teresa popped over from their B&B in Coverack (literally just down the road) to check in & Tim 7 Sue would be arriving tomorrow (& staying in Porthallow – the next beach up from Porthkerris where we would be diving from). Colin had cancelled as his back wasn’t up to it.
Our dinner was courtesy of our electric griddle (our new favourite camping cooking appliance!) : sizzling halloumi and sweet red peppers – a simple but perfect start to the trip.
Friday – Beaches, Crocs & Chilli
As arranged with Geoff & Teresa yesterday we headed to Kynance Cove bright and early, before the dog restrictions kicked in at 10am. The sea was too tempting, so Bounty and I went for a paddle, which inevitably meant I ended up soaked. Coffee and cake at the Kynance Café warmed me up nicely before we headed back to the caravan.
Checking out the trail to Kynance – “I’m a sheepdog not a bloodhound!”
Kynance Cove – Bounty tries kitesurfing (on his own)
I’d forgotten to pack any shoes (rookie move!) so a Tesco run was in order – new Crocs acquired, plus some salad and extra pillows for comfort. In the afternoon, we explored Porthallow instead of our original plan of Kennack Sands. Nice stony beach, plenty of rock pools for Bounty to investigate, and Vicki & Geoff went for a refreshing swim. The only hiccup: Bounty managed to get himself stranded and had to be coaxed back to safety by Vicki.
Chilli for tea rounded off a relaxed, sun-warmed day.
Saturday – The Diving Begins
We were all down at Porthkerris Divers for 9:30 ropes-off… except it turned out to be 8:45. Oops. I felt too rushed for the first dive, so I sat that one out while Tim and Geoff headed off. Conditions were sunny, about 19°C.
Porthkerris calm & tranquil
Dive 1 – Drift past the Lady Dalhousie
The Lady Dalhousie sank in 1884. This drift dive revealed (with 4-5m viz) craggy seabed, an anchor, and some lucky sightings – including an octopus, though Tim & Geoff were gutted to find everyone else had seen lots!. The boat was quiet with just 8 divers on board, making for a relaxed atmosphere.
The (single) octopus the boys spotted – can you?
The aforementioned anchor – I am told it was enormous (I wasn’t there, Geoff & Tim were)
Dive 2 – Raglan Reef
After a coffee break and Bounty’s self-appointed beach patrol, we were ready in good time. Raglan Reef rises to just 6m below the surface, with rocky gullies, pink sea fans, anemones in every colour, and even a spider crab clinging to a vertical wall. Viz varied from 3–5m and there was a gentle current. I did manage to get myself tangled in the shot rope – thank you to the fellow diver who freed me!
Tompot Blenny showing his best side
Pink Sea Fan
We called it at 35 minutes and deployed the DSMB before heading back to shore. That evening, we cleaned up and headed to The Paris Hotel for a much-deserved pint and hearty meal.
My (very welcome) hearty meal – a burger – quelle surprise!
Sunday – Cairn Dhu & the Volnay
Glorious sunshine today – so hot we decided next time, we’ll bring a parasol and maybe an umbrellas too!
Dive 3 – Cairn Dhu
Cairn Dhu is a rocky reef with big boulders, gullies, and plenty of marine life. Tim counted 24 crawfish along the ledges, while I pointed them out like a tour guide. We also saw wrasse, urchins, and more pink sea fans. A slight current kept things lively, and viz was around 4m – enough to keep everyone in sight without feeling hemmed in.
A few of the (24) crawfish we found having a bit of a party
One of many shows of variously coloured anemones decorating the rock walls
Lunch back at shore was homemade sandwiches, suggested by Geoff & Teresa, who seem determined to train us for retirement living on a budget.
Dive 4 – The Volnay
The Volnay was a WWI cargo steamer sunk in 1917. Dave, our skipper, had shot the boilers, which are enormous. Even with only 4–5m viz, the wreck teemed with fish life – bib, pollack, and the highlight, a moray eel peeking out from its hiding place.
Sometimes the walk up that beach can feel like a marathon – Tim & Geoff leaving the Celtic Kitten & heading up to camp
Final Thoughts
The viz may not have been brilliant this weekend, but we still had some lovely dives and plenty of sunshine. Huge thanks to everyone who came along and made it such an enjoyable trip – both above and below the water. We’ll definitely be back!
Our motley crew – left to right (Bounty, Kevin, Vicki, Teresa, Geoff, Sue, Tim)
