First attempt at underwater photography

[gassy]

So we just returned from Maui and did a lot of snorkeling. What a blast. I've never shot underwater--quite cool. Before the trip I bought this underwater camera.
http://www.sealife-cameras.com/cameras/dc500.html

I was pleased overall, but, with all point and shoot digitals, the shutter lag was noticable. I have a Nikon D70, but the underwater housing is almost 5k...

So here are some pics. Some are blurry but I thought the fish were cool enough to post.
Christian.

[gassy]

Shark!

[Don Plumley]

Great turtle shot!

The best lesson I was given was to get under (or at least at the same depth as) the subject. With snorkeling that is more challenging, but the change in perspective gets the fish "off the bottom" Which is one reason your turtle shot looks so good.

[StevoRocket]

Camera spec -

It mentions "shark mode" - what do you do - use an ejector seat to get back to the boat! - I would!

Great pics for first time out!

[StevoRocket]

Outa here!

[scottmandue]

Nice shots... I almost feel like I'm back on the islands...

Except for the horrible air quality...

and the cold disgusting water down at the beach...

But other than that!

[on-ramp]

very nice!

is the camera water proof?

[gassy]

Umm Yeah, that's why I could use it underwater
It's a digi that comes with a super locked up housing that's waterproof to 200'.
Good advice about getting under the fish--tough to do while snorkeling--guess I gotta take up SCUBA!

[RoninLB]

Many pro quality pics are taken at Bonaire in less than 10'.

[syncroid]

Nice shots! You are making me Jones to go back. We are going to Maui in April for two weeks and I can't wait. Snorkeling rocks!

[Hugh R]

Very nice, I'd like to be in Hawaii right about now.

[RoninLB]

IMO

Nov & Dec at the outside Channel Islands is fantastic. Another area I can think of is the Galapagos. That window is around a couple of months If the winds and currents are merging correctly. Diving the Galapagos with the locals compared to diving as a tourist is all about being connected. North coast of Bonaire during hurricane season is loaded with huge fish. Storms push the fish in for weeks at a time. You'll have to rent your own boat on that dive.

Kelp can be an enchanted garden with wildlife. The outer Channel Islands is easily doable out of Santa Barbra. You arrive at the dive boat by 11pm. Bunk out till daybreak. Home Sun around 6-9pm.. Probably the best bang for the buck around.




The point being is that these areas are alive.. very alive.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by gassy


Good advice about getting under the fish--tough to do while snorkeling


--guess I gotta take up SCUBA!

no you don't..
First off is that new scuba divers and cameras don't mix. What you have to do is learn how to free dive then learn how to free dive with fish.

if your stupid car didn't didn't play kaput at the wrong time we could have discussed this while listening to redneck mountain tunes around a campfire.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by scottmandue


and the cold disgusting water down at the beach...

is San Pedro close to Palos Verdes ?

if I lived close I know which cove I'd keep track of.

[campbellcj]

I used a Canon AW-DC30 enclosure for an SD400 on our recent Caribbean trip, and must say it was pretty frustrating. The main issue is that you can't see a friggen thing in the LCD underwater, and you can't use the optical viewfinder at all. So, you have to frame the pics by "feel". Also, the slow reaction and weak flash of the cheap "pocket digicams" don't help the situation a bit.

Basically the same elements that drove me to buy a D200 for on-land pics were even worse underwater!

Here are a couple that I got --









On the plus side, the housing does work fabulously for above-surface shots while swimming, snorkeling, in the rain, etc.

[livi]

Well done ! Very nice pics ! They are better focused than mine are on land..