Underwater Photography

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Reach

Looks like a tun shell and those are egg casings.

Very cool photo!

-Michele

I've just looked up Wikipedia and the description matches that of a tun shell (family Tonnidae).

Mid to large sea snails inhabit these shells, so Beneteau-500 was pretty close with his snail suggestion and Belizesailor was right regarding the eggs.

I was lucky to catch this shot, as they apparently bury themselves under the sand and only emerge at night to feed. That explains why this is the first live one I have seen (unoccupied ones are common).

Thanks for the ID, Michele.

SWL

[Kenomac]

Went snorkeling today for two hours and took a bunch of great shots. Too bad the Gopro was in the wrong mode the entire time. Will try again soon.

[cabo_sailor]

Those are some really great pictures!!

I'm probably the only one left in world that uses a 35 mm Sea and Sea Motormarine camera. Let's see that means I own 4 35 mm cameras and 1 DSLR.

Do any of you use the Go-Pro or is it too dark at SCUBA depths?

Rich


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by cabo_sailor

Those are some really great pictures!!

I'm probably the only one left in world that uses a 35 mm Sea and Sea Motormarine camera. Let's see that means I own 4 35 mm cameras and 1 DSLR.

Do any of you use the Go-Pro or is it too dark at SCUBA depths?

Rich


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Rich,

I use a Gopro with a Sealife Sea Dragon 3000 lumen lighting system. It takes great video way down even at 30-40 meters. But the most important thing is to add the red filter, otherwise everything looks dark green and blue. The Gopro will make all light adjustments on its own, but you will need to get up very close and personal with the sea creatures due to the extremely wide angle lens.

Sometimes the lighting can be an issue, as some of the critters like a colorful squid I was chasing around today, aren't particularly fond of the light. But if I go slow... Really slow, most fish don't seem to mind it until I'm right in their face.

Beware, Gopro won't warranty replace or fix a flooded camera. Make sure you purchase the dive case with the double latch and add some silicon grease to the seals. The standard case which comes with the Gopro is crap. One other problem I had today, which is why I didn't post any cool pictures... The writing on the Gopro display is microscopic, and I can't wear reading glasses underwater... So I took all the pictures in the wrong mode. Gopro is great for video and has a blinking red light on top so I know it's working, but has no indicator light for the photography mode. So I can't tell when it's turned on while I'm under water.

Ken

[Reach]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Thanks for the ID, Michele.

You're welcome. Thank you for a great thread idea & timing!

I'm currently suffering withdrawal from underwater photography for the moment... so it is nice to see others' pictures. This will be a good fix until we sail back into clear waters this winter!

Don't forget to look inside sponges and reef holes for more critters hiding

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Reach

You're welcome. Thank you for a great thread idea & timing!

I'm currently suffering withdrawal from underwater photography for the moment... so it is nice to see others' pictures. This will be a good fix until we sail back into clear waters this winter!

Don't forget to look inside sponges and reef holes for more critters hiding

What beautiful photos!
I knew I would see some great images.

Do you do this professionally?

SWL

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I see little to photograph underwater here other than anchors, rocks, sand and weed , but it is great to see what other cruisers are viewing.

SWL

Hi.

Sincere question follows below.

I have not yet been in the Med. And I have wondered what it would be like to snorkel in the Aegean (Greek islands) and along the coast of Italy or France.

I seem to recall hearing others say/write that the diving was not as nice (not as much to see) as the Caribbean and other places. I seem to recall comments like "no coral, very few colorful fish" etc.

Is that what you mean by "little to photograph?"

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by Reach

You're welcome. Thank you for a great thread idea & timing!

I'm currently suffering withdrawal from underwater photography for the moment... so it is nice to see others' pictures. This will be a good fix until we sail back into clear waters this winter!

Don't forget to look inside sponges and reef holes for more critters hiding

Nice photos! Look at those eyes!

[Kenomac]

There is life here in the Med and some coral. Just different kinds of life and generally smaller.

A good friend of ours was visiting in June and commented on the lack of sea creatures around here in Sardinia. I asked what she meant, her response... "There's no sea lions, seals, sea otters or whales... the pollution must have killed all of them." Oh brother... Where to begin with that comment?

I very politely explained that those animals don't live here and have never lived around here. Aquatic life isn't equally dispersed around the globe. What can be seen near her home in California in the cold water of the Pacific, can be very different from the sea creatures here in the warm Mediterranean.

I think the lightbulb turned on... But probably not.

In all fairness... I've met many other folks from the U.S. who think the same way.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

Hi.

Sincere question follows below.

I have not yet been in the Med. And I have wondered what it would be like to snorkel in the Aegean (Greek islands) and along the coast of Italy or France.

I seem to recall hearing others say/write that the diving was not as nice (not as much to see) as the Caribbean and other places. I seem to recall comments like "no coral, very few colorful fish" etc.

Is that what you mean by "little to photograph?"

That's it in a nutshell .

I see insipid looking soft coral only very occasionally, but rare fish with any colour and few fish much bigger than finger length. These are most commonly seen around anchors, as the seabed has been disturbed and they feed on whatever has been freshly unearthed.

Regarding the lack of fish, this is not just due to overfishing. Romans were complaining of this a couple of thousand years ago . I take it this is mainly due to lack of plankton. This means amazingly clear water can be seen (particularly when near rocky islands with little vegetation or run off), but the food chain does not have much opportunity to develop well, so less bigger fish.

SWL

[remiss]

So much nice to see UW. Need to get better at clarity tho, but the time just flies.

Some of these buggers just suddenly are in front of your face.

And good tip to look inside the sponges

[Reach]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

I just got an ION camera as a gift...wow what a difference. Have yet to try it UW, but certainly plan to next sailing season.

Just looked this camera up (did you get the air pro?) ~ looks very interesting! Looks like it's meant for video but takes stills too. Can't wait to see your results underwater and hear what you think.

I'd be interested if this was somewhere between the gear/tech-heavy set-up and a point and shoot. Maybe we'll finally be anchored in the same vicinity next year to compare results!

Cheers

[Reach]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

What beautiful photos!
I knew I would see some great images.

Do you do this professionally?

SWL

Not professionally, just obsessively.

I use a Panasonic Lumix TSx camera snorkeling.

Here are a few more mollusks for fun ~ hawkwing conch, milk conch, queen conch, true tulip snail... & octopus

[Prairie Chicken]

Marvellous idea for a thread SWL!

I didn't realize the small fish were the result of food or lack there of. I always thought it was overfishing. You learn something everyday!

Thanks for the great images all!

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Reach

Not professionally, just obsessively.

I use a Panasonic Lumix TSx camera snorkeling.

Here are a few more mollusks for fun ~ hawkwing conch, milk conch, queen conch, true tulip snail... & octopus

Hope you will present heaps of your photos.
Beautiful images!