Trip Report Pictures: Sea of Cortez off the Rocio Del Mar Liveaboard - September 10, 2022

[Soloist]

Just returned from our trip to the Sea of Cortez on the Rocio Del Mar liveaboard. Perfect weather with dead calm seas (sorry @Trailboss123). The visibility, especially on the northern sites, was less than great, but considering hurricane Kay hammered Baja the week before (sorry @Trailboss123) we can’t complain. It was raining seal lions at San Pedro Martir and there were roughly 20 whale sharks, including juveniles, feeding at Bahía de Los Ángeles.

Here are some pics from the trip. Sadly it will take some time to produce a video out of some 400 clips.

 

[Trailboss123]

Outstanding photos! Are you or Lisa taking those pics and what type of camera and lighting set up?
Glad things went better for you. How was the water temp at those southern sites around San Pedro Martir that were sooo cold for us the week prior?

 

[Soloist]

Here are a few more…

 

[bethie]

Wow!! I wish I was on that trip. Oh wait... I WAS! Thanks for the fantastic pictures and for being so dedicated at taking them.

 

[Soloist]

Outstanding photos! Are you or Lisa taking those pics and what type of camera and lighting set up?
Glad things went better for you. How was the water temp at those southern sites around San Pedro Martir that were sooo cold for us the week prior?

Thank you! Everything was extracted from video using a GoPro Hero 6, 2X BigBlue 4000P video lights and a BackScatter 10X flip lens (no red filter). Regrettably the warranty replacement for our Hero 9 arrived a few days after we left for Phoenix, however, GoPro customer service was excellent.

Fortunately the water temperature returned to normal at 84 degrees with the northern sites running a little cooler. I was wearing my @MAKO Spearguns 3mm and was comfortable the entire week. We ran into a few thermals, but they actually felt refreshing. Again, we are sorry your trip did not go off as planned.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Nice pics. Before I got into scuba, when I lived in California, I used to go down to LA Bay for sea kayaking. Other than spearfishing for dinner I didn't give much thought to the underwater world. Your pics inspire me to return and check it out from below.

 

[Soloist]

Wow!! I wish I was on that trip. Oh wait... I WAS! Thanks for the fantastic pictures and for being so dedicated at taking them.

Thank you @bethie. We were happy you were there too. We couldn’t have asked for a better panga group to dive with (baring one glaring exception).

 

[uncfnp]

We boarded the boat the same Saturday Trailboss was scheduled to leave. The conditions top side could not have been more perfect but viz was definitely down, especially at the more northern sites. So much so that the boat unanimously voted to spend a third day at San Pedro Martir.

The Captain then gave us a third option, to push through 3 dives that morning then do a Safari trip through the channel and look for large pelagics. Another unanimous vote so during a late lunch the Captain pulled up the anchor and headed north. We spotted whale spouts and tails twice but was unable to get close enough to launch a zodiac. At sunset pods of dolphins surrounded the boat. It was beautiful.

A few topside photos.

 

[rmorgan]

Everything was extracted from video using a GoPro Hero 6, 2X BigBlue 4000P video lights and a BackScatter 10X flip lens (no red filter).

These are such nice images. Is it a challenge to get focus distance with the Hero and the macro lens? I’ve struggled with a Vaquita with a flip-up magnifier and the range is quite narrow. Anyway, kudos on these and I hope you post the video.

 

[Soloist]

These are such nice images. Is it a challenge to get focus distance with the Hero and the macro lens? I’ve struggled with a Vaquita with a flip-up magnifier and the range is quite narrow. Anyway, kudos on these and I hope you post the video.

Thanks! Five of those pics (seahorse, nudibranch, lobster and giant jaw fish) were taken with a BackScatter 10X Close Up Lens, so not quite macro shots. All of them were quickly color corrected in the Apple Photo app on my iPad on the plane trip home. An actual underwater photographer may get a good laugh at the guy sporting the tiny GoPro rig, but I’m ecstatic with the results and it’s stupid simple. There was an individual on the same liveaboard with a camera setup that (literally) cost more than a new BMW! Our rig was less than a thousand bucks. Stating the obvious here, but the video lights are the most critical component for usable closeups.

I was seriously looking into the Paralenz a while back. How do you like it? Do you use a tray or mount it to your mask? I’m a loyal GoPro user at this point. They just sent me a new Hero 9 replacement even though mine was a few months out of warranty. I’m really impressed with GoPro customer service and the product to the extent I bought the new Hero 11 last night.

I’m working on a thorough answer describing my experience(s) and usage of the flip lenses, so it will have to be in a separate post.