Day 14 – Storm Claudia

15 November

Storm Claudia certainly lived up to the forecast and brought with it some serious weather. A yellow wind warning had been issued for Wales, predicting easterly gusts between 50 and 70 mph. In Anglesey, we felt every bit of it. During the day the wind howled across the island, but by night it was almost impossible to stay upright when walking. We were convinced that we would wake up to find ourselves in the Land of Oz.

By this morning, the worst of the storm had passed. With the wind easing and rain finally slowing, we decided to choose one final dive site in Wales before heading further north. The SSI dive site locator has been invaluable for us throughout this trip, especially when our plans change daily due to weather and other factors. It’s an excellent resource for finding possible dive sites in unfamiliar areas.

As we drove, we could see the aftermath of the storm everywhere: flooded fields, standing water on the roads, and rivers running high. Our first choice for the day was Trefor Pier in Gwynedd. Although our research hadn’t shown any sewage discharge for this location, we weren’t happy with the conditions once we arrived.

As divers, we’re very aware of the problem of raw sewage being discharged into the sea during heavy rainfall. Many combined sewer systems are designed to carry both rainwater and sewage, and when they become overwhelmed, untreated waste is released directly into the ocean. This not only damages marine habitats and biodiversity but also makes diving and other watersports unsafe and unpleasant.

Surfers Against Sewage do excellent work highlighting and campaigning about this issue and maintaining a live map of active discharges, which we often check before planning a dive.

This photograph was taken earlier this year as part of a university project. It shows the growth of bacteria from a sample collected at Swanpool, Falmouth during an effluent discharge. Sophie wanted the image to draw viewers in with its planet-like beauty before they realised that they were looking at colonies of sewage bacteria growing on a petri dish. An image to make people think about what’s really in the water.

We did manage to get into the sea at Porth Ysgaden Beach near Pwllheli, but visibility was extremely poor, and we soon decided to cut the dive short due to concerns about water quality.

It was a frustrating day, but not a surprising one. November diving in the UK always brings its challenges. Still, even days like this are part of the experience, reminders of how closely our sport is tied to weather, tides, and the health of the marine environment. Tomorrow’s another day, and we’re hoping that Storm Claudia will be a distant memory.