I didn't take this picture - it's of me taking pictures.

[TahitiNut]

I thought y'all might find this interesting. It was taken off the island of Moorea in French Polynesia. ('Tahiti' is the big island.)

The subject upon which I'm focused is a Moray Eel of which I was particularly fond. He was a great subject, since I was able to even put the lens nearly up against his nose and tickle him under his chin.

Taking videos underwater is a bit of a trick. As a 'responsible' diver, I know not to bottom-out, damaging the coral and the ecosystem. Thus, buoyancy control is even more critical when taking video. When watching through the viewfinder, I must keep conscious of my depth and bottom clearance. (That's why I've used barracudas as tutors.) Maintaining framing with the ebb and flow of the wave action off the reef can be fun. "Go with the flow" is more than a 60's maxim.

Video Equipment: Ricoh Hi-8 in Ikelite housing.
Dive Equipment: All Scubapro with Delphi integrated dive computer.

My dive buddy took this with my 35mm still camera. I wish I'd found a processing lab who knew how to process underwater film.

[RagingInMiami]

1. cool photo

I would love to see that eel

[TahitiNut]

10. The best images of the eel are on my Hi-8 raw video footage.

This is the second video/dive trip I took to Tahiti. It took me over 250 hours to edit the first trip's video into a 2-hour music video. Friends and family (and my dentist) love playing it as background for relaxation. I've been procrastinating for years in getting around to editing the second video ... even though the raw video is head'n'shoulders better than the first. (I learned a LOT.)

I find it interesting to contemplate this photo, since it shows many tell-tales of diving. For example, you can see the shoulder part of the bouyancy control vest elevated above my shoulder. This indicates a very small amount of air in my vest, needed to achieve neutral bouyancy. At the same time, you can see my hair flaring in the current. This indicates moving water. You see, the ebb and flow of the wave action off the island's barrier reef pushes divers to and fro over the seascape. As I was taking this video, my body was being moved laterally (side-to-side) by anywhere from 6 to 12 feet. Thus, in order to keep the camera aimed at the Moray Eel, I had to keep constant (and relaxed) view through the viewfinder and move the camera in time with the motion of the water.

Further, another diver might notice that my secondary regulator is 'dragging' (it's not actually touching down) while my console isn't (since it's tucked properly in my vest pocket and not damaging coral). It's unsafe to tuck away one's secondary regulator, imho. In the event of an air emergency, my dive buddy (having the emergency) knows he's to immediately take the regulator from my mouth and use it for himself. I would then use my own secondary. Some divers agree on the alternative procedure, where the buddy grabs your secondary. I personally eschew this. Since the dive buddy is the one with the emergency, it's imperative (imho) that he have complete confidence that the regulator he's going after is working properly and supplying air. Since it's in my mouth, he knows exactly where it is. Such confidence and access is important in quelling any panic. I, on the other hand, am familiar with my own secondary and have a vested interest in keeping it working. The last thing I'd want is for my secondary to get tangled in my own gear. Thus, it hangs free. (I now have a special holder for it that grasps the mouthpiece and keeps it very handy, always in the same identical location.)

[intheflow]

2. Well that explains your avatar.

You certainly seem to lead an intrsting life, TN!

[TahitiNut]

4. I've had my moments .. and intend to continue.

The last thing I ever wanted was a boring life. :silly:

[Longgrain]

3. Wow! I'm thinking of moving to the South Seas...

I might jus go after that pic!

[TahitiNut]

5. It really doesn't come close to capturing the incredible beauty.

The "viz" (visibility) that day was around 70-80' and the colors (when your eyes/brain adjusts) are awesome. Unless the film is processed by a UW-experienced lab, a camera just doesn't pick it up. A polarizing filter would probably help - the light backscatter is huge. It's not something I see with my naked eye.

Almost nothing in my life has matched the awe I've had diving. Some, me included, say it's better than sex. (It lasts longer and I'm never sorry in the morning.)

I'll never forget the sense of overwhelming awe and joy I had on my first open ocean dive. I did a fall-back entry off the dive boat and, after the bubbles cleared, discovered myself flying 60' above a gorgeous landscape populated with all kinds of colorful fish, including a couple of dozen shark. I'd arrived on another planet! And I could hover, swoop, and fly!

I've dived with shark on more than half of my dives and have been repeatedly thrilled by their grace and perfect design. I've felt more "out of water" in business meetings with the malice and hostility in the air. I have never sensed any malice or animosity in the ocean. None.

[Blue_In_AK]

6. You're so lucky not to have any fear.

My husband keeps trying to talk me into taking scuba diving lessons (yes, they DO scuba dive up here), but I'm too afraid and always get resistant. I like my terra firma too much.

[TahitiNut]

7. Cold-water diving can be even more fascinating than warm-water.

I'm a bit of a lazy bum ... and not as physically fit as I'd like (sciatica/scoliosis) so the additional weight of a drysuit/wetsuit and corresponding weights in the weight belt inhibit my cold-water diving quite a bit. I'd love to dive with the giant octopus and pinnipeds. The flora is abundant in cold-water, too. I used to love diving in the kelp forests off the coast of Monterey and Carmel.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. I love those purple kelp beds. :-)

[GOPFighter]

9. Wow. The depths some people will go to get a good picture!

You can count on one thing. You won't find GOPFighter below sea level...

:silly:

[TahitiNut]

11. Not really very deep. Only about 50-60'

:dunce: