Search results

Rico Del Mar and Quino El Guardian operate out of Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) when the Sorroco season ends. Dora Sierra, the owner of these liveaboards, schedules trips in the northern Gulf of California. I haven't looked to see what she has on the upcoming summer/fall schedule, but she has...

I've not a clue as to why your dive master would give you inaccurate information. Regardless of the misinformation, Los Islotes is a wonderful place to have the experience of interacting with sea lions. In my experience, sea lions seem to enjoy doing the snatch & grab thing that you experienced...

Nice report! And, it's great to hear that you had a good trip. Just an FYI... Los Islotes isn't the largest sea lion colony in the Sea of Cortez; it's actually one of the smaller ones according to the population survey numbers I found while researching my book, Dancing with Sea Lions. Isla San...

Thanks for checking! Please let me know if you find something that will work. -AZTinman

I picked up a manifold a few years back and would like to put it to use on a set of doubles. The dive shop service tech checked the manifold and it's in great shape. He figures it'll work on 7" diameter steel tanks (probably 72s or maybe LP85s. Getting tanks isn't a problem as he has some. A...

Nicely done! Thanks to all who were involved! -AZTinman

For what it's worth, today, AP ran this story about the release of the coroner's report. Coroner: Smoke inhalation killed 34 in California boat fire AZTinman

Spending a couple hundred bucks to be able to see clearly underwater is money well-spent in my opinion. My prescription dive mask is less expensive than getting a new pair of glasses from my eye doctor. -AZTinman

I use a Sea Vision prescription mask and get a new one every two years. This spring when I place my order for a new one, I'll have them put my bifocal in. I haven't worried about it previously because I could read my camera settings and gauges reasonably well, but it's time to add the bifocal. I...

Binoculars, and my 200mm-500mm Nikkor lens go with me on dive trips. The lens gets more use than the binoculars. -AZTinman

I don't remember how many years ago the incident happened, but it's nice to know humpbacks have returned. It's currently whale watching season in the Northern Gulf of California. I'll be there next week to chase whale photographs. Last week, a pod of orcas was spotted about ninety miles south...

Five species of mobula are known to found in Mexican waters. The giant oceanic (pelagic) manta is one of them. The two other species I've seen in large schools in the Gulf of California were Mobula munkiana (Pygmy Devil Ray) and Mobula thurstoni (Smoothtail mobula). Both of these species are...

Nope, I agree with your post noting the reclassification of manta rays as a species of mobula ray by members of the scientific community. So, you can call any type of manta ray a mobula if you want to. It certainly doesn't matter to me what you call them. I'll continue to refer to manta rays...

Yes, I'm aware that the scientific classification of manta rays has been changed. They can redo the scientific classification all they want, but for most of us, a manta ray will continue to be a manta ray. Despite the genetic similarities of the species, physical characteristics are different...

I'm not sure why someone responded that Socorro was a great place to see mobula rays. Socorro is a go to place for manta rays not mobula rays. You'll find mobula rays throughout the Gulf of California during the summer into the fall. La Paz is a good place. Some of the dive ops there run night...

Nice image captures! Personally, I'm not crazy about the image distortion one gets with a fisheye, but that's just me. I'd love to see these without the field curvature. You did a great job with exposure and lighting! -AZTinman

It's a cool sighting for Southern California, but that Cortez angelfish may not be in for as much of rude awakening with the coming of cooler winter water temperatures as you think. It's a common species in areas of the Northern Gulf of California year around. Winter water temperatures in the...

Have you taken your camera diving yet?

As usual, Ken, your newsletter is a good read. Regarding your commentary on the Conception fire... Yes, Dr. Bill is correct. There have been numerous instances of lithium ion rechargeable batteries catching fire. Apple has had issues with these types of batteries used in iPhones and their line...

I was diving with bull sharks in a marine park in Mexico. My operator wasn't doing feeding dives and told me I couldn't use my strobes with bulls due to their sensitivity to electrical fields generated by the strobes. Rules of the marine park were clear with regards to the ban of strobe use with...