BioMar survey of the Achill Island and Clew Bay area, Co. Mayo, September 1995  

Priest Rock, Achill Island.

Dive number: 950918/02 Date: 18 September 1995

Site Description: The site was located on the north side of a large near shore island and should receive some protection from the prevailing south-west winds but be affected by refraction, current and westerly winds. The seabed from 22 to 36 m BCD was bedrock, more gently sloping between 22 m and 30 m BCD and below this it was more steeply sloping with numerous overhangs. The seabed between 22 and 30 m BCD was characterised by Laminaria hyperborea, red foliose algae, below this the characterising species were Corynactis viridis, Caryophyllia smithii and encrusting sponges.

Map site - Google maps: 53.97517,-10.25333

Subsite: Lower infralittoral with a park of Laminaria hyperborea and red foliose algae. details

Subsite Description: Sloping bedrock with scattered Laminaria hyperborea plants to 23 m BCD and a narrow algal-dominated band slightly deeper than this (25 m BCD). The algae Dictyota dichotoma and Delesseria sanguinea were common, with Kallymenia reniformis frequent.

Subsite: Lower circalittoral with Caryophyllia smithii, Corynactis viridis and encrusting sponges. details

Subsite Description: Rugged bedrock with vertical and overhanging faces in the lower circalittoral zone. Vertical faces were dominated by Corynactis viridis. Caryophyllia smithii was common on horizontal surfaces, and clumps of Nemertesia antennina were frequent. Two colonies of Alcyonium glomeratum were seen in a corner.

Photograph no. m2130
 Photograph no. m2131
Antedon bifida		 Photograph no. m2132
Alcyonium digitatum		 Photograph no. m2133
Nemertesia antennina		 Photograph no. m2134
Palinurus elephas		 Photograph no. m2135
Metridium senile
Photograph no. m2136
Corynactis viridis		 Photograph no. m2137
Myxilla incrustans		 Photograph no. m2138
Alcyonium glomeratum		 Photograph no. m2139
 Photograph no. m2140
Holothuria forskali		 Photograph no. m2141
Tubularia indivisa
Photograph no. m2142
Iophonopsis nigricans, Haliclona viscosa		 Photograph no. m2143
Haliclona viscosa		 Photograph no. m2144
Securiflustra securifrons		 Photograph no. m2145
Corynactis viridis, Nemertesia antennina		 Photograph no. m2146
Metridium senile, Diplosoma spongiforme		 Photograph no. m2147
Sagartia elegans
Photograph no. m2148
Crisia denticulata, Crisia eburnea		 Photograph no. m2150
Microciona spinarcus		 Photograph no. m2151
Apolemia uvaria		 Photograph no. w2131
Alcyonium digitatum		 Photograph no. w2132
Alcyonium digitatum		 Photograph no. w2133
Corynactis viridis
Photograph no. w2134
Corynactis viridis		 Photograph no. w2135
Metridium senile		 Photograph no. w2136
Echinus esculentus		 Photograph no. w2137
Metridium senile

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