What is there to see in the lake is a question that people have frequently asked me. For at least two years I would go diving nearly every weekend. I would dive in the Lac Léman, the Lac de Bourget, the Gouille Du Duzillet. I also dived the English channel in November. I dived all year round. In summer we would cook in our dry suits and in winter our hands were sometimes so cold that we couldn’t take off our dry suits. Lake divers are an eccentric, hardy bunch of people. I used to say that the beauty of lake diving is that it is not affected by weather. You’ll get wet anyway and if you go below a certain depth water is always at 5°c. I’m in Spain at the moment and I decided to go snorkelling with my semi Dry Suit around El Portet. This is the cove where I worked on getting my rescue diver certification. I snorkelled by the rocks to the west at first. The waters are shallow and I did see a school of juvenile fish. As I finned further I saw some slightly larger fish and urchins. After a while of searching I finned to the other side of the bay. New sand has been deposited along this beach. As a result of this new sand visibility has suffered near the beach. By the rocks the visibility is still good. From the image above you can see that the water is really clear. I thought that with such clear waters I would see a lot. I was hoping to see fish, maybe an eel or two and maybe some crabs. It’s good to dive and snorkel close to marine reserves. In marine reserves fish are allowed to mature and grow and eventually they branch out to other areas. As a result diving and snorkeling are more rewarding. It’s at the supermarket fish section that I saw the most fish. It’s a shame that they were lying dead, on ice, rather than swimming underwater. In effect I see as many fish in the mediterranean as in the lakes of Switzerland and France so you travel for the climate rather than aquatic life. People need to allow the seas and oceans time to recover. It’s a shame not to see much aquatic life. I should try again in a different location where there are fewer people. I might be luckier....
Posts tagged “spain”
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What is There to See in the Lake — Apr 13, 2017 -
Waves Breaking In Spain — Dec 11, 2021undefined... -
Walking Without Masks During a Pandemic — Oct 28, 2021For many people walking without masks during a pandemic is normal. This is confusing. We have known for months, or even seasons that the virus is airborne and that masks are a simple way to keep safe. Despite this people walk by the seaside without masks. It’s not just that they walk without wearing masks, but that they do not seem to be visible.... -
Vue De Méditerranée — Dec 22, 2022An inflatable sailing boat.... -
Views Of The Sea — Dec 9, 2021The pandemic is alive and well at the moment and life in pandemic mode continues. We dream of opportunities to flirt and we walk by people while wearing masks even if they do not, to remain safe. I would like for people to do what they can to end the pandemic but that is an empty dream... -
Views of the Mediterranean — Dec 26, 2022With global warming the idea that we would get white Christmas, with snow, freezing weather and more is outdated. In the 21st century the opposite is true. We will probably get grey and rainy weather instead. If we stay in Switzerland. I used to love the idea of snowy Christmas, snowboarding and skiing but I don’t like the modern global warming version, of a boring cold, with no snow.... -
Views from 2022 - day One — Jan 1, 2022A cat keeping watch on the port... -
Twelve hour drive. — Nov 28, 2021I drove twelve hours today. For the first part I had snow falling and salt machines, and for the second part I had strong winds. I am now tired. This reads more like a tweet than a blog post.... -
The Warm Sun — Dec 30, 2022Warmed by the sun... -
The Running of the Bulls — May 18, 2009Whilst in Switzerland people stand in the streets as they watch the cows go up the mountains and come back down the Spanish enjoy a more extreme version with the same species. I was in the same street as the bulls were running up and down whilst in Spain and this was a fun experience. I watched as the locals stood in the street chatting. One guy was dancing as he chatted to one group of girls whilst to my right some more girls were having a conversation. On the balcony close to the pharmacy I could see the staff in their white coats watching the activities from a safe vantage point. Further down the street a daughter was holding a four year old child. The child was watching what was going below. A group of men started to pay attention, then a few more were spotted running up the street closely followed by a few bulls. One of these bulls was very powerfully built, with yellowish hair on it’s back. It was powerfully built. Now those that had been chatting were paying attention. Some of them climbed up the rejas whilst others climbed up the wooden devices that had been placed there to allow people to escape to safety. The bulls passed and a guy in an orange suit was chasing the bulls with a stick. One bull slipped and suddenly the guy in the orange t-shirt had a bull behind him. He dodged it in time. It’s at this moment that a few people clapped at the prowess of this particular runner’s actions. They were having fun. The people went back to chatting waiting for when the bulls would come back the same way in a short while. This was just one of the vantage points. In another street you could see lots of cages. They weren’t there to keep the bulls in. In fact these cages were designed so that a grown person could fit through the bars. As the bulls would come running down the street so they would run through the bars, to safety. Some of the younger men were more daring. One in particular, with a pink sweater was going towards the bulls, waving this object at the bull and getting it to charge him. At the last minute he would dodge out of the way of the bull. He did this quite a few times, keeping the bulls active. At this point it was amusing to see the locals. Some of the cages were designed so that wooden planks could be put across the top. Chairs had been placed there so that the locals could watch the activities comfortably. They were eating sunflower seeds and throwing the shells down. As a result some of those below would get the occasional shell falling on them. The whole show was fun. I filmed these activities and I’ve started editing that footage to provide you with some fun video of a typically Spanish form of entertainment. This event had been going on for a week and it gave me a new appreciation of Spanish culture. If you’re close to a town as this event is taking place you should definitely take the time to watch it....
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The Evergreen Pandemic — Dec 14, 2021We are currently living through the evergreen pandemic. I give it this name because the more time passes the more we remain trapped in it. Every time progress is made restrictions are loosened and we revert to the way things were.... -
The Arches — Oct 24, 2021If you are looking for a sport easy walk with a little scrambling, walk to the rock arches. Two holes have been eroded into the rock providing two natural arches.... -
Sunrise Over The Mediterranean Yesterday — Dec 25, 2021View of the Mediterranean... -
Solar Watches and Spain — Dec 24, 2022One nuissance of most modern smart watches is that you must charge then once a day, once a week, or once a month. When you’re in Spain though, with a solar watch things change. At first you go from “26 days of battery remaining” to “36 days of battery remaining”, to “39 days remaining”. Before long the watch displays “infinity time remaining”. When you’re in watch the sun charges the batteries faster than normal use depletes the batteries.... -
Seeing the Pandemic As A Journey — Dec 16, 2021Last night I was reading and began seeing the pandemic as a journey. The pandemic has been a journey for everyone, but especially for those in solitude. For those of us in solitude, it has required that we completely change how we consume the media and how we interact with the world. We go for weeks without hugs, without kisses, without meals with other people. For weeks, we may exchange a few words at a shop or petrol station but without ever having in person conversations.... -
Seaside walk — Dec 19, 2022https://youtube.com/shorts/XsWAjOjk5ic?feature=share...
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Sailing, Paddle Boarding, Wind Surfing and A Heron — Dec 4, 2021undefined... -
RuRex - rural exploration — Dec 31, 2021A collapsed building. You can still see some of the wood, tiles and holes for wooden supports.... -
Reading About Hiking While Charging A Watch — Nov 30, 2021People Fishing....
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Pretending To Be The Invisible Man — Dec 5, 2021If you’re wearing a mask, glasses, a hat, and have a fleece that covers your neck you look like the invisible man. I have been thinking about that recently, as I look at my reflection. Imagine if I was completely transparent. Pandemic times would be an excellent moment to hide that we’ve had an accident in a lab that made us invisible.... -
Playing With Google Maps And Apple Maps — Dec 1, 2021A few days ago I was driving from Switzerland to Spain via France when Google Maps told me to get off the motorway and drive on normal roads. When it made this mistake I switched to Apple maps, and was not led astray again.... -
People in a Rowboat — Dec 30, 2021People in a rowboat rowing towards people in kayaks...
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Pandemic as Journey — Dec 15, 2021Although not discussed as such the pandemic is an interior journey in the same manner as thru hikes as they are called in the US and pilgrimages in Europe. We start with one identity and one life and we have to adapt it to suit the things that can be realised during a pandemic.... -
One Hundred And Eighty Days In a Row — Dec 12, 2021Writing one hundred and eighty blog posts in a row is a challenge. I would say that I have learned something but I haven’t. Some days inspiration comes easily and other days I struggle to find something to write....
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Nervous Energy — Dec 17, 2022I don’t know whether I’m nervous or anxious about driving from 11-13 hours almost non stop tomorrow. In the past I have driven from Switzerland to Spain, without stopping. In the past we had to stop to refuel but not anymore, not with modern cars. We have to stop for toilet breaks instead.... -
More Cowbell — Oct 30, 2021A rusty cow bell bell... -
Mediterranean Cats — Dec 28, 2022When you walk by the sea you see Mediterranean cats. They like to stay on the rocks sometimes. These were by the sea in Denia, Spain.... -
Life And The Pandemic Continue — Dec 28, 2021Life and the pandemic continue. Two swimmers about to start their daily swim.... -
Lebara Spain — Dec 29, 2014If you visit Spain and get a lebara Spain sim you need to set up two access point names. One is for internet access and the other is for MMS. I only point this out because dozens of sites tell you what the configuration requirements are but non indicate that you are setting up two access points. APN 1: Name: lebara internet APN: gprsmov.lebaramobile.es username: wap apn type: default, supl APN 2: name: lebara MMS APN: mms.lebaramobile.es mms proxy: 212.73.32.10 MMS port: 80 MMSC http://mms.lebaramobile.es/servlets/mms...
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Lebara Spain — Dec 29, 2014David Seifert - 5th of April 2016...
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Learning About Canvas And SVGs — Dec 16, 2021Other the last week I have been learning about canvas and SVGs. I am not certain that I will use this knowledge immediately but it is good to learn nonetheless.... -
Google Local Guides and I — Jul 5, 2016Google Local Guides and I are mutually beneficial. I love to go up to the mountains and document their beauty and Google Local Guides needs images and reviews. I have been sharing images with Google Services for several years but it Google Local Guides is relatively recent. When I was added to the program they had already included several of my contributions. [caption id=“attachment_3053” align=“aligncenter”] One Hundred Thousand views The images that you see below are from Via Ferrata and hikes in Switzerland. They show the Leman, the Alps, the Jura and other peaks and valleys. In Summer I am among them every single weekend. Recently I have started to document these trips as 360 photographs which I then share with this service. [gallery columns=“2” size=“medium” ids=“3054,3055”] My goal is to contribute at least 140 more images because I want to get a terabyte of storage for my pictures, to use as an online backup. As I use an android phone it logs the locations that I have been to and when I get home or to a computer I can review my location history and write a short review of the places as well as add images. This is an easy and intuitive process. The perks that I am currently entitled to are: Get noticed with your Local Guides badge in Google Maps. Connect with other Local Guides in our exclusive Google+ Community. Lead the conversation by moderating Local Guides community channels. Receive invites to Google-hosted events in select cities. For now the community travels internationally but it is principally United States cities that are active with Barcelona, Edinburgh, London, Madrid, Paris and Sydney providing the international side of things. Some would say that Local Guides will challenge other services offering the same features but as Local Guides offer one terabyte of storage for images I am motivated to contribute a further 140 photographs and reviews as the opportunities come up.... -
From A Spanish to A Swiss Autumn — Nov 1, 2021When I left for Spain Switzerland was just starting to turn Autumnal. Today, when I looked around I could see that Autumn has arrived properly in Switzerland. In Spain the sun is still warm enough for t-shirt wearing and swimming. The sun is still strong enough to change our chrominance.... -
Feeding the Seagulls — Jan 3, 2023Feeding the Seagulls by the Mediterranean Sea... -
Experimenting with Spherical photographs — May 25, 2016I was in Spain with the Ricoh Theta S last week so I took the opportunity to experiment with the Ricoh Theta S in a number of locations. What I like about such a device is that it takes a click to get pictures. I experimented with a manfrotto monopod and a smaller monopod. The Manfrotto base was clearly visible in shots so the immersive experience is degraded. With the smaller monopod the base is the same width as that of the camera. This means that at least the support was hidden.... -
Experimenting with Spherical photographs — May 25, 2016Tony Tremblay - 28th of Nov, 2016...
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Dismantling A Crane — Oct 27, 2021Have you seen someone walking along the gantry of a crane to detach the counterweight for a crane? I did. Today. He was clipped in, as you would assume but I am unclear as to whether he went clack clack like we do on via ferrata.... -
Cycling in Spain — Jan 10, 2019When people think of cycling in Spain they think of the seaside and they think of the coast. They think of long flat roads and short climbs. I made the mistake of thinking that so when I arrived in Spain I went cycling but every direction I tried involved climbing steep gradients. The first ride I did took me to the top of the Cumbre Del Sol and I felt that it was hard but I didn’t mind as I expected it to feel like a climb. It’s when I tried to ride in other directions that I came up to the steep gradients and started to understand the challenge of riding in such a landscape. In Switzerland you can have 12km climbs but they’re at shallow gradients most of the way with the occasional steep gradient. Roads with steep gradients are usually closed in Switzerland. In Spain they don’t have such an issue with ice and snow so they can build steep hills. The hills are so steep that I considered using normal shoes so that I could dismount easily if I ran out of steam. I continued with clipped pedals. I was using the Komoot app for one route and it asked me to go up consecutive steep gradients. I dismounted and walked up a short bit before getting to another flat bit of road. As I walked up that steep gradient I saw a scooter descending my way and as he applied the brakes to slow down a bit he hit a wet patch of road and the scooter slid for a distance downhill. I believe I made the right decision to dismount at this point. I eventually reached my destination after studying the map on the app and ignoring directions. Aside from the painful uphills there are some very nice downhills. This one is going down to the sea through Fanadix, not an Asterix character. This was an excellent and pleasant descent. I only went down this road twice and as I saw that there were some wet patches I didn’t go at full speed. It’s the type of descent you see idealised in road and cycling programs. I love when you have roads that are wide enough for traffic to go uphill and downhill because it feels safer than two-way roads that are only a car width wide. When I cycle I try to take secondary roads as much as possible for two reasons. The first of these is that there is less traffic so you can enjoy the landscape and see places that people following main roads cannot see and the second reason is that when you’re going up a steep gradient it’s nice to be able to take up the entire road. This is something that I tried in Switzerland and adopt on most of my rides. It’s safer. Before this spot I was going up a steep gradient and sticking to the right of the road when I saw a car coming down the other way. The driver could have continued down safely but she was courteous and stopped, letting me progress up the hill. This landscape reminds me of Mont Sur Rolle. Spanish terraced vineyards looking towards the sea. In Switzerland vines are given cables to grow on but in Spain at this time of year vines are cut so you see the vineyards unblemished by metal cables. It’s nice to cycle in Spain but I noticed that I could easily do three to five hundred metres of climbing on every bike ride up steep gradients. You need strong legs for the gradients. In Switzerland it’s rare for me to stand up as I pedal but in Spain it’s almost a requirement. It is a good place to perfect your climbing technique. I will explore more routes next time I go.... -
Another Walk By The Mediterranean. — Oct 20, 2021One treat of being in Spain is that some people do wear masks when walking outdoors. You are normal for wearing a mask.... -
A Walk To Los Molinos from Javea — Dec 29, 2022This walk takes you from the Port of Javea up to the lighthouse near San Antonio before continuing along the top towards Los Molinos. These are old grain mills. They used wind power to grind grain for several centuries before being taken out of action as modernisation arrived.... -
A Walk In Spain — Dec 3, 2021A yellow flower... -
A Walk By The Mediterranean. — Oct 19, 2021Have you walked by the Mediterranean recently? I walked by it today. It was blue and Green, turquoise and red. The sea was calm and a sailing boat or two set off to sail from one place to another.... -
A Walk By The Mediterranean Sea — Dec 27, 2021A walk by the Mediterranean Sea.... -
A Walk By The Mediterranean — Oct 25, 2021We can’t all head to the mountains and the slopes that lack snow. Some of us head south to the coast. The weather is good and the air is warm enough. It is warm enough for me, not just to consider swimming but to actually do it....
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A Solar Powered Watch in Spain — Nov 29, 2021A solar powered watch in Spain...
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A Rainy Day And Masks — Oct 22, 2021Plenty of rain today.... -
A Quiet Pebble Beach — Jan 4, 2023undefined... -
A Mediterranean Morning — Dec 24, 2021We are not all in snowy landscapes. Some of us are by the Mediterranean Sea. some of us are not parents of children so we can skip the holiday. Maybe next year I will have a reason to value it, but not for now....
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A Lot of Walking in Circles — Dec 22, 2021People think that you need to get in the car, drive for half an hour to two hours, hike, and then drive home for from half an hour to two hours but this idea is wrong. We can do a lot of walking in circles. In reality we don’t walk in circles. We walk in loops. We walk from home to home, but via a different variety of villages. Some days it is the villages that overlook the lake, and other days it is the villages that are under the Jura.... -
A heron — Dec 21, 2021undefined... -
A Flower By the Sea — Dec 26, 2021The pandemic continues and our routines continue... -
A Fishing Boat — Dec 23, 2021A fishing boat returning to port... -
A Christmas Swim — Dec 25, 2022The watch got to 92 days of battery life. I went for a swim in 15c water. it was just a pool swim.... -
A Camera Bike — Jan 6, 2023In Spain I keep seeing the BKL Prolimp bikes and I like them. They’re tricycles rather than bikes but I think they could be useful. Instead of transporting a broadcast camera and tripod in a car or smart you could transport them on the back of this bike. Instead of a bin bag though I would have the tripod bag and find a way to fix the camera as well.... -
Vision Du Réel - La Muraille — Apr 11, 2025Over 107 years ago when the disease was not yet understood and under control when someone fell sick with leprosy they would be sent out of society to live alone in caves to avoid the spread of their affliction. It’s only later that the disease was understood and became treatable....
