Biodiversity of Isla Verde

 Fun with wide angle. Some places in the world contain such underwater biodiversity and life while having clear tropical waters that the scuba diver has to just sit back and take in the big picture. Usually I am looking for small macro critters but sometimes it is definitely worth it to bust out the wide angle lens and capture the entire scene.
  This dive off the coast of Isla Verde, Philippines, was one of those dives. Fish in the millions, soft coral waving back and forth, and every color imaginable.

Inside an Underwater Cave

Sea Cave is an adventurous dive site on the south shore of Oahu. It is on the outside of the cinder cone which makes up Hanauma Bay. Layered rocks form a steep cliff which plummets 60ft down into the ocean. At the bottom of this underwater cliff lays the opening to a massive sea cave that houses turtles, sharks, and more. The ceiling opens up as you get farther back into the cave sending rays of light down to the huge boulders below.

The Over-Under Split Shot

 One of the most challenging photos that an underwater photographer can capture is the split shot. Some people call this an over under shot where part of the lens is above water and part is below.
 For this effect the wider and bigger your lens the better. I have an 8 inch dome port over my 10mm super wide angle lens. The large lens port can break the surface and give you the desired effect. I have seen this style of photography done with GoPro cameras so don't hesitate to try. Also having your camera on continuous burst mode gives you a better chance of getting the wave and the subjects in perfect harmony.
  As always practice this technique so you will be ready when the perfect moment appears.

Where to get your SCUBA certification

Descending like skydivers to 160ft.

  There are a few places around the world where scuba divers unite in island communities to form a kind of dive family. Kho Tao in Thailand is good for this but if you want to go a little closer to home then the island of Utila is your answer.
  Utila is one of the bay islands just off the Caribbean coast of Honduras. It is surrounded by dive sites and has many dive companies to choose from. Here you can find some of the cheapest diving and most inexpensive dive certification classes in the world. For a month in 2009 I stayed at Cross Creek Dive Center and dove over 60 times in order to get my PADI dive master certification. It cost me under $1000, lodging included.
   The sites are beautiful here and there is a chance to see some big game like whale sharks, dolphins, and rays but those occurrences are pretty sparse. The fish are all colors and small things like sea horses and flamingo tongues keep the search interesting.
  The island has dive sites all around it. Steep 100+ foot dropoffs on the north side, submerged sea mounts like Black Hills, underwater arches and caves, and shallow sandy spots which are great for classes. Other islands like Roatan are just a day trip away. And sometimes you can see the week long Agressor liveaboard hanging out in the protection of Utila's leeward bay. Even with the amazing diving, cheap living, and good eating (try balleadas and fresh cinnamon rolls), it is the other divers which really make the experience memorable. Diving by day and partying by night at bars built on rickety second hand wood out over the water. You can sip your beer and watch an octopus hunt through the conch garden and I haven't even gotten to the best part. Once you get your dive master certification...you can come back and dive for free, for life.

Hawaiian Monk Seal Underwater

Hawaiian Monk Seal

 Inside a partially underwater cave which leads out to the ocean I encountered one of the rarest sea creatures on Earth. Less than 2000 Hawaiian monk seals remain around the Hawaiian islands. These intelligent and curious animals are so few in number that a massive protection effort has been put in place. Volunteers help tape off beach areas where the seals rest and vast tracks of the northwest Hawaiian islands has been turned into a protected area called the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

Charged by a Sea Lion Underwater

Underater bubbles accompany this roaring sea lion.

 Looking back at the beginnings of my underwater photography. I bought a little 4 megapixel digital camera with a housing from a friend of mine out in California. I was hooked from the very first time. I had some amazing encounters those first few years. As always with technology I wish I could go back to those encounters with the gear I have now and the knowledge of underwater photography.
  Take for example this picture of a charging sea lion off the coast of Santa Barbara Island. This is a famous sea lion rookery and one of my all time favorite snorkel and dive locations in the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California. Younger sea lions playfully charge and roar underwater. Occasionally a big bull silently swims through your vision, eyeing you suspiciously. All the while the 'man in the grey tuxedo' may be just out of your vision.

A different view of the ship

 Look up through the clear waters off the Caribbean coast of Panama. Our boat, the Sea Adler, brought us through storm and doldrums from the beautiful Colombian fort city of Cartegena, to the San Blas islands. My fellow sailors are on the bow looking down at me a few feet under.