A diver has captured the teeming life of the North Norfolk Chalk Reef as he enjoyed snorkelling among a variety of aquatic marvels, such as graceful jellyfish, velvet swimming crabs and endangered eels.
Sheringham’s Chalk Reef (Image: Chris Taylor)
The reef is one of Europe’s largest chalk reef systems, just metres from the beach.
It is often compared to a “mini Great Barrier Reef” for its gullies, ledges and spectacular biodiversity.
Jellyfish seen in Sheringham Chalk Reef (Image: Chris Taylor)
Christ Taylor, 54 and a photographer from Sheringham, took a dive while the waters were calm.
Chris Taylor, photographer from Sheringham (Image: Chris Taylor)
Mr Taylor caught 4K footage of moon and compass jellyfish, comb jellies, wrasse, velvet swimming crabs, brown edible crab and even a critically endangered European eel hiding in the seaweed.
Moon jellyfish (Image: Chris Taylor)
He said: “Normally we don’t get weather this calm until August, when the sediment finally settles again.
“I’ve never known it to be this clear this early. This was the best underwater visibility I’ve ever experienced off Sheringham in June.”
A critically endangered European eel hiding amongst the seaweed (Image: Christ Taylor)
The endangered eel was seen only 25 meters from the shoreline, although Mr Taylor travelled 100 to 150 meters offshore.
Mr Taylor has been swimming in the reef since he was a teenager and he said it is a special place with lots of colourful, interesting species contributing to the reef in their own way.
Sheringham’s Chalk Reef is visible in calm weathers (Image: Chris Taylor)
He said: “You never know what you’re going to find off the shores here, and that’s what makes it so exciting.”
“We only get a really small window each year when the conditions are good enough to see it.
“The wildlife is there all year, but we literally only have a handful of days when the reef becomes visible like this.”
Bobtail squid (Image: Chris Taylor)
The footage caught a lot of attention online, with many unaware that so much marine life thrives near the blue flag beach.
With further hot weather on the horizon, snorkellers are planning more daytime excursions as well as night swims, when “a completely different underwater world comes to life after dark”.
Mr Taylor said: “Night snorkels are incredible. It’s a whole other world at night.
“You almost become part of the environment.”
Lobster seen in Sheringham Reef (Image: Chris Taylor)
Having lived in Sheringham his whole life and working for 25 years on the town’s lifeboat as crew and a helmsman, Mr Taylor said it is a privilege to be able to show people what is out there.
He said: “It amazes me how many people don’t realise what’s a stone’s throw from shore.”
The nature lover said he hopes his videos spread awareness of how damaging littering the beach can be.
A diver with a moon jellyfish (Image: Chris Taylor)
He said: “It’s disgusting seeing people leave rubbish on the beach.
“This isn’t a dirty brown beach, I hope these videos show people the wildlife that’s out there and make them realise they’re damaging something incredible.”
Velvet swimming crab (Image: Chris Taylor)
For those wanting to give snorkelling a go at the reef, Mr Taylor has reminded people to be respectful of the marine life as well as being safe.
Swimming along the Sheringham snorkel trail, which follows an abandoned sewage pipe, is recommended for beginners.