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Gloster Rock is a nice rock formation where you can dive in gullies, swimmthroughs and mini caves.

Name Dive Site:Gloster Rock
Depth: 15-40m (49-131ft)
Inserted/Added by: atlanticshoresscuba
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On rounding Tharal Point, staying well clear of the submerged Shark Rock, a large jagged rock can be seen. This is called Gloster Rock. Depths around the rock vary from 15m-25m on the East side to over 40m on the South. Starting on the East side of the rock, in the lee of the prevailing sea and wind, there is a gully with a depth of 20m. The descent into the gully shows off the full splendour of the reef wall with the ubiquitous anemones, seaweeds, sponges, Squat Lobsters and corals. Following the gully as it narrows, keeping the rock to your left, brings the diver to three "swim through" caves at between 20-25m. These "swim throughs" are very close together and lead the diver to the outside of the Gloster Rock.

At this point, one can ascend out of the gully to 15m which allows the diver to swim around the West and South tip of the rock. However, by following the gully the diver will find that the depth increases to 30m where the scenery is mainly sea sculptured boulders. In this terrain Ling and Codling can be found, while above, shoals of Mackerel pass by sparkling of blue, silver and grey. By returning through the caves the diver will surface not far from where the dive commenced, but if he continues along the gully it is possible to surface on the West side of the rock in a choppy sea hidden from the cover boat.

Diving from the East of "Gloster Rock" leads away from a series of small gullies onto a boulder strewn terrain dominated by kelp and other seaweeds. There is little to be seen here except for the iridescent Rainbow Wrasse. The South of the rock, however, offers deep water to over 40m. The underwater rock strata descends into the deep water incorporating little drop-offs and reefs to about 35m when the bottom levels off into small boulders. Occasionally Conger Eels have been seen swimming, while at 35m strange rock formations can be found, one of which resembles the ribs and keel of a fossilized boat.



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