Sunday's (July 4) Maui pics

[ScubaAaron]

Gilligan,

When you are actually diving does it appear with the naked eye to look like the original picture or the processed one? And would a LC100 help to bring out the colors/look in cracks during a bright daylight dive or is it totally not necessary?

Aaron (who will be Diving in Maui in Aug so he looks at your pictures every day)

 

[Gilligan]

Yes, the clarity is pretty much the same as on both original and post-edited pics. The editing involves tweaking the sharpness and adjusting the colors somewhat. Most of what I photograph I find with the naked eye. I do have a small dive light hanging on my anchor line if I need it. I don't think you need a bright light here on day dives. The horizontal vis is usually 100 ft + on most days. A small light is good for looking into holes and crevices. I use the focus light on the strobe for that. I just don't want to carry any more stuff than I need. I have the camera in one hand and the kayak anchor in the other when I am drifting.
Don't forget the reefs here are mostly patch reefs unless you are hugging the shoreline or at Molokini.

PS: Be careful in your selection of dive operators when you come to Maui. A few are good and many are not.

 

[newtodive]

I have the camera in one hand and the kayak anchor in the other when I am drifting.

Hi Gilligan,

How hard it is to drag around your kayak while diving? Isn't that inconvinience for you?

 

[marpacifica]

The vis on your dives and the stuff you see and photograph I really envy.

Thanks for posting the before and after processing photos. Pretty amazing how a soft picture can be sharpened and color/contrast adjusted to bring out something more pleasing to the eye.

Newtodive -- I can't speak for Gilligan on the kayak towing, but I have a PADI certification for kayak diving (thanks to some inspiration from Gilligan's kayak website) and, no, it's not that much of a hassle to tow a kayak while diving. But I go in relatively calm seas and little wind. I would say that it takes a gentle tug to tow two kayaks tied to each other on the surface. Add some wind and chop, and the effort goes up, but I wouldn't put in during bad conditions like that.

 

[Gilligan]

newtodive,
Like marpacifica stated, it is not difficult to tow the kayak(s). I put in at about 8:30am and am back on shore about 10 or 10:30 before the Tradewinds come up. I don't try and tow against the current as that is too exhausting and not necessary.
Every now and then I get caught in the Trade's upon surfacing, if they come up very early. That makes for a quick breakdown and storage of gear along with a choppy paddle back to shore.