Video: Heisler Park (12-3-2009) Night Dive

[leabre]

Greetings,

I headed back to Heisler Park last week with J.A.S. and shot a night video with the new JVC FM1 and Ikelite video housing. This is actually my shortest video.

I decided to try the JVC how it compares to the Flip. It has a number of advantages: first, it can record 1080p (30 FPS) but it's 720 (60 FPS) is crystal clear when panning. So I keep it in 720 mode. It takes an SD card for storage (Flip is built-in memory) and has a macro mode so you can get about 1-2 inches from the subject. With the Flip, any closer than 3 ft loses its focus. It picked up the colors quite well on this night dive without any saturating effects that the Flip would create. It also has a wider viewing area than the Flip.

The only downside to this camera is that it takes crappy low-light video on the surface. When the Flip would happily capture what little light in a dark room there is, the JVC was pitch black. Also the JVC does not have replaceable batteries so for repetitive diving on a boat you'll need to skiip a dive or take two cameras with you.

In all, I will add this camera to my inventory and start using it for night dives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne8oBRCICoM

 

[pacificgal]

Hi. NorCal'er here. I saw your video (December's night one and November's day one) and went to the Heisler Park website. Looks like a beautiful dive spot. How do you accomodate for the max 3 hour parking? Single dives or very short SI's? Or is there a trick? I may just be inclined to make a special trip down south to dive this location.
Thanks for any additional info you can give.

 

[leabre]

Hi. NorCal'er here. I saw your video (December's night one and November's day one) and went to the Heisler Park website. Looks like a beautiful dive spot. How do you accomodate for the max 3 hour parking? Single dives or very short SI's? Or is there a trick? I may just be inclined to make a special trip down south to dive this location.
Thanks for any additional info you can give.

No trick. Just feed the meters again. They are $2/hr. tho, these days, and only take your credit card. Bastards!

Anyway, they don't actually check whether you've been there or not for 4 hours. But there are places where you don't pay at all (Heisler isn't one of them).

When you heading down? Ping me and we'll schedule a dive.

 

[mselenaous]

Thanks for sharing, leabre.
Pacificgal, come down in Feb for the SoCal Scubaboard meet-n-greet at Heisler Park.
There are a couple fo threads in the SoCal forum about it.

 

[pacificgal]

I just might, thank you for the invitation. Watching the video, Heisler looks like it's got it all, what beautiful wildlife, and the access looks pretty easy too.
I wouldn't mind taking a vacation day to drive down for the weekend.
If you're every inkling to go to Monterey, the offer stands here, too!
I should be hitting my 100th dive around Christmas or New Years, on #91 now. Now I want to see more of California diving.