Diving the Channel Islands in August

[Big Fic]

I'm diving on the Sand Dollar at the first of August at the Channel Islands. Here's some questions for you regulars:

I'm going to want to take pictures of the Kelp and Sea Lions so I will take my 18-55mm.

I've seen some nice macro pictures also so I will take my 60mm macro.

How do you decide which to use on which dive?
Are certain dives better for one or the other?
Anybody have any experience with Sand Dollar?

I'm not to familiar with SoCal diving so I guess i'm just wondering what to expect.
Thanks in advance.

 

[robint]

I'm diving on the Sand Dollar at the first of August at the Channel Islands. Here's some questions for you regulars:

I'm going to want to take pictures of the Kelp and Sea Lions so I will take my 18-55mm.

I've seen some nice macro pictures also so I will take my 60mm macro.

How do you decide which to use on which dive?
Are certain dives better for one or the other?
Anybody have any experience with Sand Dollar?

I'm not to familiar with SoCal diving so I guess i'm just wondering what to expect.
Thanks in advance.

I think I can answer this for you as we (me and hubby) were noobs to Calif diving a few years ago. Our first couple of dives were just "wow, look at that, wow, look at that!" We spent much of the time just enjoying the kelp forest and getting to know it. We had other divers on the boat point out nudies to us, we had never seen one before (diving only in Fla, Caribbean, cold water lakes, etc.). So what I am trying to say is that you should start out with the 18-55mm lens. After a couple of dives, and once you figure out how to find nudies, you may switch to the macro. Just my thoughts. We are heading out to Calif for our 4th trip in Aug also but on another boat.

robin

 

[scottfiji]

hey Brad

the 18-55 will be good for closeups of kelp , and garibaldi shots.

sea lions are usually not seen at catalina. they are seen at the rookery at santa barbara, the boat will tell you when and if you are going there.

good macro is usually found at the sites with deeper rocky reefs, just ask the boat captain if the site has deep (past 45-50ft) rocky reefs.

like Robin said, you can start with the 18-55, and then switch to the 60mm once you know what macro subjects you can easily find and shoot.

here's some photos from catalina from 2 days ago to get you thinking about the trip

Scott : photos : catalina june 21st, 2008- powered by SmugMug

Scott

 

[Big Fic]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Can't wait to dive California.

Very nice pics Scott.

 

[rsldonk]

My dad just booked a trip for both of us, I believe on the Sand Dollar for that weekend, so I think we may end up seeing you on the boat.

 

[Noboundaries]

Can't help with the camera info. I use a point and shoot. But the boat is great! My wife and I went diving on the Sand Dollar in May for a day trip to Catalina. We showed up the night before, grabbed a bunk, and saved the cost of a hotel.

The Sand Dollar's website is right on. Great food, friendly people. The captain is very customer oriented, doing everything within his control to ensure you have a great dive experience on his boat. You get the idea he really loves what he's doing and his crew enjoys working his boat.

Hmmmmm, might have to see if my wife and I or daughter can get on one of those 3 day charters the last week in July.

 

[robint]

I would love to hear about about your trip with Sand Dollar. Please post a Trip Report with pictures when you get back!
With the economy/airfare/prices I think we will be spending more time traveling to Calif for diving and less for big out-of-country trips for now.

robin

 

[dschref1]

Quick comment r.e. Sand Dollar....

Captain, George is great.
Crew, they are great.
Boat, good. George bought it about a year ago (I think) and has spent big $ to improve it. Still esthetic work to do but it functions very well.
Boat, has Nitrox!

Note: Last weekend the boat was chartered by Scuba Sciences, a dive shop from AZ. I had to book through them rather than direct with the Sand Dollar. I talked with the dive shop prior to booking, when I asked if it was a class they said, "only a couple of students". Of 25 divers, only myself and one other were certified. 23 divers were students/instructors.

The good news is that George and the crew did their best to give me good service and diving even if the Scuba Sciences group was... ridiculous.

I'll be sure to dive Sand Dollar again, just not when Scuba Sciences is chartering the boat.

 

[robint]

Quick comment r.e. Sand Dollar....

Captain, George is great.
Crew, they are great.
Boat, good. George bought it about a year ago (I think) and has spent big $ to improve it. Still esthetic work to do but it functions very well.
Boat, has Nitrox!

Note: Last weekend the boat was chartered by Scuba Sciences, a dive shop from AZ. I had to book through them rather than direct with the Sand Dollar. I talked with the dive shop prior to booking, when I asked if it was a class they said, "only a couple of students". Of 25 divers, only myself and one other were certified. 23 divers were students/instructors.

The good news is that George and the crew did their best to give me good service and diving even if the Scuba Sciences group was... ridiculous.

I'll be sure to dive Sand Dollar again, just not when Scuba Sciences is chartering the boat.

we have tried to book with Sand Dollar a several times and after getting referred to a dive shop, discovered that they either didn't have any spots to give up to us or the trip was only for certification of students. It seems to us that the primary user of Sand Dollar are certification classes, booking out the whole boat for 2-3 days. Too bad.

 

[drbill]

It really doesn't matter which lens you put on before the dive... you'll need the other one underwater. That's my experience with most underwater still photogs. Being a videographer, I have the range for whatever I see unless it is really close (under 10"). I do have to decide whether to put a diopter on or not before I go under.

You might want to spend the first few dives focusing on the big picture and then later alternate between shooting that and the small stuff. Of course the DM on board will undoubtedly give you clues as to what's best at each site.

Keep something in mind... those folks up north in the Sandy Barbara and Ventura area often think there are just 4 or 5 "channel islands." There are actually eight, four northern and four southern. They seem to forget their "poor" neighbors to the south.