Country diary: the thrill of the shark's presence

South Milton, Devon: It's probably a starry smooth-hound, Mustelus asterias, though in the moment I forget to check for the constellation of white spots on its dark, taut backThe tide is ebbing at South Milton Sands, and soon the rock arch will stand naked over the reef. I'm snorkelling in the last few feet of glassy water, floating above glistening maroon tongues of dulse and the mossy puffs of sea flaxweed (Stypocaulon scoparium). It's getting shallow. I clasp a barnacled rock to pull myself forward, while a trigger fish, pectoral fins pulsing, watches me with its long, bovine face.Then I'm stopped dead. Miraculously, thrillingly, a shark-shadow glides beneath me. I flounder round and the shadow does the same: it folds itself through 180 degrees to effortlessly pass me again. It's probably a starry smooth-hound, Mustelus asterias, though in the moment I forget to check for the constellation of white spots on its dark, taut back. From deeply serrated tail to rounded snout it is about a metre long. Continue reading...