Twas The Dive Before Christmas

[MaxBottomtime]

Conditions went downhill faster than Santa through a chimney. After experiencing some of the best visibility of the year yesterday Kevin, Merry and I were treated to sandstorms at Halfway Reef and Golf Ball Reef. Current and wind waves added to the fun at GBR. It wasn't too bad on the reef itself but bobbing on the surface was no present. At least we get to sleep in for Christmas.


Still, we had fun looking for tiny critters. Merry and Kevin spent time looking at microscopic animals up in the kelp while I found the usual subjects on the rocks below.


Photos at Twas The Dive Before Christmas

 

[flyboy08]

Great pix!

 

[drrich2]

Indeed! That 1st octopus shot was extra nice, but liked the nudi.s, too. Nice how with the macro you can still get good shots in low viz. conditions.

Richard.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

For most of those shots my lens was within two inches of the subject. The best way to get around dirty water is to eliminate as much as you can. It's a constant struggle to get enough light on something that close without lighting up too much backscatter, all while holding still to keep the photo sharp. Just when everything is going swimmingly, your subject goes swimming away. That's why I like nudibranchs.

 

[blue steal]

Really love the shot of the scallop. I can see all those tiny eyes. We found conditions at OML on Sunday quite good.

 

[jonhall]

Great pics! If that was Christmas Eve, just think what Santa might have left down there on Christmas Day!