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LOW LEE - THE TRAIL

The main route is defined by the large diameter rope. Alternative routes or spurs are defined by a smaller gauge rope. From the buoy follow the rope down to the bow of the Primrose. It rises about 4m from the sandy seabed and lies on its starboard side. Keep the rope and the wreckage on your right and follow the this way sign over the wreckage and eventually come to the reef at the 20m mark. If you wish to swim under the wreck you can take the alternative route (195° ) from the bow and keep the wreckage on your left and rejoin at the 20m mark. Soon you will see a hole through the wreck followed by a large opening in the hull which it is possible to enter. A torch is essential and take great care as the protruding steel will catch everything. Look carefully at the solitary Devonshire cup corals on the roof of the hole and also the light bulb sea squirts. There is generally a shoal of pouting inside the wreck, the sand is the home of the Dragonette with its distinctive triangular head.

10m.

The hull rests against Low Lee reef. There are generally sea urchins and starfish clinging to the overhanging surface. On your right the reef is covered with a multitude of red seaweed’s. You can swim through the tunnel formed by the wreck and emerge at the 20m mark. This is where you rejoin the main route.

20m

There is a jumble of wreckage on the left and the reef rises steeply on the right. The large brown seaweed on the reef are Laminaria hyperborea.

30m to 40m (150° )

The reef rises on your right and there is a boulder field on the left. At 45m the trail runs in a narrow gully between the reef and a large rock and enters one of the most beautiful areas. Watch out for your buoyancy and keep an eye on your fins. In front and to the right and left on large vertical and overhanging surfaces are stunning displays of Dead Man's Fingers.

50m.

The spur (250° ) leads to the first cannon.

60m to70m

The trail continues around a large pinnacle (148° ) to a sandy gully and ascends to a gully where there is more of the Primrose. This area is often teeming with small fish.

80m to 90m (270° )

The reef continues on the right with a large boulder to the left and leads to a sandy patch. Pollack hover overhead

95m.

Here there is a spur (170° ) to the second cannon which drops down between boulders and sandy patches to the deepest part of the trail.

100m to 120m(285° )

There is a very narrow gully just after 110m and another gully at 120m.

Over kelp beds sandy patches and gullies festooned with Hydroids. From here to 180m the trail covers a very similar habitat. There are large boulders small patches of sand and small gullies. Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and starfish abound. Ballan and cuckoo wrasse are common and the are myriad’s of small fish. Large clumps of yellow boring sponge.

130m (010° ) to 160m

The anemone on this large overhang on the right is Actinothoe. The trail ascends over boulders.

170m

More Actinothoe here, please be sure to control your buoyancy.

180m to 200m

The route now takes you over boulders and back down to a sandy bottom and back to the Primrose. If you have time this small patch of sand is worth your close scrutiny.

The spur from 200m to 250m is in a straight line at 360° and can be used to test your navigation and timing. How many fin strokes for 50m?

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