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02/19/10 |
            
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Ahhh! Back to diving paradise. Sharon, Rich, and I converged here for 10 days in November to enjoy these magnificent reefs. We brought our own SCUBA gear, which makes the diving both more comfortable and more affordable. This time I came properly armed with an underwater camera (thanks Willie!) in the form of a Canon PowerShot Elph with a fully functional 100-feet waterproof enclosure. It did not come as a surprise that taking pictures below the surface is a great challenge. If the fishies would only stay still for a moment... hopeless. Also, without serious strobes, light deterioration with depth produces dismal photographic results. I was able to compensate for this with a bit of post-processing of some of the images in Photoshop (usually in the form of the AutoLevels filter). I am quite happy with the end product considering the simplicity of the equipment. Also, I'd rather dive with the small Elph and its enclosure, than with a full SLR cam plus strobes and an additional half a ton of ballast. The most enjoyable dives were at the famous Hilma Hooker wreck, a large Colombian boat which lies in 100 feet of water. It is possible to enter the wreck, and you never know what lurks inside, which only makes it more appealing. Also worth noting were the northern Karpata with its steep sides, and The Invisibles, where I finally saw the notoriously timid garden eels. During the decompression day at the end of the trip, I went kiteboarding. It is good to have a nicely balanced life! (Gallery has 84 pix).
Two Schoolmaster. |
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