Golf ball, tape measure and lots of scallops for Christmas Day divers

It is the only day of the year – as there is no commercial shipping – that enthusiasts can dive freely in the harbour.

Dozens of divers took up the opportunity to go out on the Dive Guernsey Boat, which was specially festooned with festive decorations, including a Christmas tree.

At 8.45am, while most people were snuggling under a duvet or pulling on a Christmas jumper, Ryan Domaille was getting kitted out in a dry suit, and he explained the attraction.

‘It’s the only day of the year that we can go down there and we get a nice feed of scallops.

‘The experience freshens you up for the day ahead.'

Howard Barnes was also putting on the gear in anticipation of the 12C water temperature.

‘It’s a beautiful morning, nice and crisp, and there’s a different life down there. All the vessels drop bits in and life grows on them, and there’ll be lots of scallops and flatfish, it’s some nice sea life.

‘It’s like the Polar Bear swim in a dry suit.'

Sean Murphy was out early on the 8am boat and he came back with a big bucket of scallops and he was checking that they all complied with the size regulations.

'I had a mooch around inside the harbour, the visibility wasn’t quite as good as last year, but I’ve got a decent haul of scallops.

‘I also found a big tape measure down there, which was an interesting find, and a golf ball.

‘My wife might have the scallops for tea, they’re not for me because I’m not a seafood fan, but my wife loves them.’

Mr Murphy showed the true spirit of Christmas by generously giving some scallops to the Guernsey Press Christmas Day reporting team, before he headed off to the bathing pools to take part in the Polar Bear swim.

It was 12-year-old Braden Morris’s second St Peter Port Harbour dive and he was enthusiastic about the scallops.