……under the waves around Wembury.
Paul Naylor, marine biologist, diver and author returned to North Devon to tell Coastwise members about his studies of the fascinating behaviour of some of our marine life.
Paul shows, with the help of his professional underwater photography and lighting equipment, how colourful and varied our marine life is, to the astonishment of the uninitiated.
One of his particular favourites is the Tompot Blenny, and he’s spent so much time diving his local reefs that he now identifies individual fish by skin pattern recognition, and has been able to build up a view of life cycle and stay length.
He’s recorded the colour changes they’re able to effect, particularly the ‘Variable’ and ‘Black-faced’ blennies that seems to adapt to their surroundings and the presence of the the other sex.
He’s recorded really interesting behaviour such as the ‘sneakers’, that dart in and inseminate egges in others’ territory before the owner can respond.
Paul’s books include ‘Great British Sea Life’, and his wife Teresa wrote ‘Benny the Blenny’s Shallow Sea Adventure’…..both great reads.
