Galapagos Trip on the Darwin Buddy liveaboard

[DazedAndConfuzed]

yeah, wondering about that too. have 3mm and was wondering if that would be enough for feb/mar. I never felt the need for more than that in all my warm water experiences and thought maybe I could get away with that. If it feels cold, my body somehow could find up enough fluid to warm myself up for up to 3x per dive.

 

[DazedAndConfuzed]

I was wondering how close are those school of hammerheads, and how close does the big fish like the hammerheads come to you? Just wondering what type of wet lens to bring down and whether an external strobe would even help at all.

And since my primary camera's video is 240p, I was going to also bring down my P&S to do video and maybe super macros. It has a 25mm lens and 720p video. Is it even possible to fiddle around with 2 sets of gears in such scenario? Too much task loading? I wish I could set up both on my strobe's tray, but I would have to do some DIY for a double stacked camera set. I will likely carry the P&S on my wrist, or find some way to mount it to the strobe's arm.

 

[farsidefan1]

Dang, I would love to do that trip but the temps are waaay too cold for me. I'm thinking of changing my moniker to warmwaterwuss. I dove the red sea in 77 degrees wearing a t shirt but I was only doing 2 dives per day and I spent a lot of time shivering away my gas. My sister in law wore her 7 mil suit and said that she was fine in it but anything less would have been inadequate. Thanks for the report. In my dreams I'll join you. Of course the water will be 84 degrees...

 

[edpdiver]

I am going on a trip on this boat in the Galapagos next year, and can't wait. Thanks for the report!
-Erwin

 

[divekraz]

I was wondering how close are those school of hammerheads, and how close does the big fish like the hammerheads come to you? Just wondering what type of wet lens to bring down and whether an external strobe would even help at all.

And since my primary camera's video is 240p, I was going to also bring down my P&S to do video and maybe super macros. It has a 25mm lens and 720p video. Is it even possible to fiddle around with 2 sets of gears in such scenario? Too much task loading? I wish I could set up both on my strobe's tray, but I would have to do some DIY for a double stacked camera set. I will likely carry the P&S on my wrist, or find some way to mount it to the strobe's arm.

I have a Light and motion 90 degree wide angle Lens on a stingray housing on a Sony HDR-CX550V 64GB HD Handycam Camcorder. Regarding bringing additional equipment, Keep in mind the current is very strong at times, up to 2 knots, as that's generally where you get the big guys. You need to find a spot you can wedge yourself into or hold onto something with one hand and generally try taking pictures with one hand while fighting the current. You need to determne the amount of drag to carry, task loading, and ablility to use the equipment according to your setup and abilities. The hammers, as a rule, do not like the exhaust bubbles so will only come in as close as the person closest to them, so if your hanging in the back of the group try to get higher. Having said that I could get within 20-50 feet from them, occasionally 10 feet. The whale sharks and other sharks, manta rays, mola mola, etc. could come within touching distance. I hope this helps you.

 

[Shasta_man]

3mm, ha, ha, ha...

 

[nimoh]

I think I am putting Darwin Buddy on my list, thanks!

 

[DazedAndConfuzed]

I have a Light and motion 90 degree wide angle Lens on a stingray housing on a Sony HDR-CX550V 64GB HD Handycam Camcorder. Regarding bringing additional equipment, Keep in mind the current is very strong at times, up to 2 knots, as that's generally where you get the big guys. You need to find a spot you can wedge yourself into or hold onto something with one hand and generally try taking pictures with one hand while fighting the current. You need to determne the amount of drag to carry, task loading, and ablility to use the equipment according to your setup and abilities. The hammers, as a rule, do not like the exhaust bubbles so will only come in as close as the person closest to them, so if your hanging in the back of the group try to get higher. Having said that I could get within 20-50 feet from them, occasionally 10 feet. The whale sharks and other sharks, manta rays, mola mola, etc. could come within touching distance. I hope this helps you.

thanks for all the info. Maybe it is a good idea to be far away from everybody else. Regarding the reef hook again, I heard you have to hang with your back facing the current, so the reef hook will be useless? Or have it go from your BC, under your legs and to a rock behind you? That would be very odd.


re 3mm, got my 5mm already. Now, my wife with a 3mm and 3mm shorty, that's what I am a little worried about.

 

[divekraz]

Depending on the month your diving, a 3mm is plenty in most areas. The boat does offer semi dry 7mm which is probably a good idea, especially in the colder months. My wife and I both had a 3mm and shorty which worked for the one really cold dive at 58 or 60 degrees depending on whose computer you looked at. A new 7mm would've been a better choice for that cold dive. The other locations I used a 3mm, sometimes with a vest, both are well used, and was fine. You definately need to wear a full suit for protection as your hugging the rocks alot of the time in the current. I've never used a hook before even though we have several, so don't know if it would've been easier to film or not but next time we're at Cocos or other high current spots I'm going to try it and see how well it works. I've got a feeling that unless your holding onto it your going to spin which defeats the purpose of freeing up a hand to film.

 

[DazedAndConfuzed]

if i could, I would be bringing my 5mm and 3mm...who wants to don up that big 5mm for snorkeling (I presume we can do that, what else is there to do with dives over at 2pm). But I am trying to pack as light as possible, possibly having all the dive gears as carry-ons.