Early morning dive

On a recent morning dive, this morning actually, I experienced something unusual. My sinuses have been acting up, but that's mostly because I haven't been diving in a few weeks. At least not in the volume before now.

The short sightedness of local management has "blessed" me with being in charge of my own scuba shop temporarily. It's really cramping my style.

I can't really teach because I work in the shop on the weekends, and most people plan to dive at this time, because they work during the week, when I'm off. So I'm making due with what I can, but then a domino of 'things' keep occurring; pools closed, another pool manager is a jerk, people can't drive that far, people don't have cars, people don't care...

Regardless, I still have to get in the water. Did a shallow exploratory dive a few days ago, and the sinuses acted up a little. Today, I could 'feel' bubbles moving through. A little blockage now, and kinda sore. I'm also tired.

Rest is not on the menu however, as this morning it was 0500 and driving to dive in the water; after the dive, rush off and go open the store. (Timing was good though, so now I think I can do this again, and again, and again...)

I love early morning time. I'm one of those sick morning people. I remember being awake before the whole house when I was a kid, eating cereal and watching cartoons, sometimes out in the woods before the house is up. Now I drink coffee and go diving with my best dive buddy in the world. (Sorry, a little sappy, but still.)

Mr. 328359

Took a different angle on things today. There's tons of plankton and small fish right now, everyone  is complaining about visibility, not realizing that right now it's food they see for all the sea life they get to enjoy.

Anyway, below are some pictures of our dive buddies from this morning, I really missed them and was happy to see so many friends around. Took some liberty with creativity today as well, not something I commonly do. Hope you enjoy.

Negligent posting, or just busy?

I missed last weeks post, so I'm trying to get a jump start by writing first, then adding photos so we'll see how this goes.

Firstly, HOLY COW!! I've shot over a thousand photos (yes, 1000+) in the past week. I think the camera is protesting as now it has dust on the mirror, but I'm also hard on things, so who knows for sure. Going the next day or so to get a cleaner for the mirror artifacts, which only show up on long exposure.

10sec exposure showing artifacts

Leather Base in Depot Island

During all the shooting this past week, had to pamper the camera so I bought a custom strap for it. There's a little shop in Mihama (American Village = tourist trap) where you can get all kinds of things made from leather (Leather Base). I was originally hoping they could make a protective case for my camera, but they don't have the tools. So, just the strap please. Turned out pretty nice and is very comfy. Besides, can't go wrong with handmade leather!!



There was a Cherry Blossom Festival in Nago (sakura no hana) , and a Sunflower Festival (himawari) near where I work (shot that for about three days!!)



I'm tired of flowers. Now I know why other photographers despise flowers. There's only so much you can do, and they don't really do anything. With this in mind, I took this photo (insert faded beauty). Maybe I'll start shooting flowers in 'repose'.


Of course I say this as the azalea festival gets ready to start...




Got back to shooting in the water. I've been in the water this whole time, but mainly teaching and I don't take a camera or anything as it is distracting to the students and Divemasters. Students can have cameras, but only on their last dive and only after any left over skills have been completed.

Slight increase in number of nudibranchs in the area. Robert THE Divemaster has a identification goal for the little sea slugs and with me looking for sponge, lets just say there's going to be plenty of slow, photographic dives.


Expanded my training abilities and added Search and Recovery Specialty Instructor and Underwater Photographer Instructor to my repertoire. Obviously I'll be adding more as the money comes in, but that's slow coming here. I'll keep working at teaching scuba and doing photography. Looking at doing stock photos to make a little side cash, and maybe revisit some online consulting I used to do.

Exploring time lapse photography over the next month or so, so there will be videos eventually. More planning and gear involved here, and the spending of money of course. I'm going to try and DIY most of it, but motors are complicated, so I'll get off the shelf for that.

Well, back to more photos!!

Uneventful week, well, for me maybe...

Not to much happened last week. Usual playing with the weather, waiting to dive. Finished a solo student who left for Sydney Australia on vacation. Now he gets to dive the Great Barrier Reef!! Score +1 karma point for me!!

Took some surface photos on Tuesday around Oyama Port. A little shack where they serve some delicious bento...and have a plethora of cats. I'll be returning there for another shoot to document the street-art (grafitti). The local government seems to have gotten funds to paint over everything very recently, so I've been trying to capture it before it is 'corrected'.

The new camera is making me picky about my underwater camera. The last few weeks I've been having strobe/flash issues. Things are washed out, double exposed, underexposed....not exposed. It's frustrating considering how difficult it is in the first place to capture some of these images.



The 'business end'

Took a moment to catch the last of the Sunabe Seawall that I had failed to shoot after we first arrived here. Still, it's rather timely considering 'progress' is being made. There will be a full publication of the seawall eventually, I have all the old street-art before one section was completely renovated.

'New' seawall on the right

The most popular beginner entry point for scuba



Can't wait to see the final results, I'll be shooting this site during construction, so stay tuned!!

Remember:

Take out the trash, and leave only bubbles!!

Kin Red Diving

So I spent most of the morning today identifying marine animals from a photo shoot Robert L and I did on Sunday. Pretty interesting dive site, only the third time I've been there, but I have to say a dream for a photographer.

Left side

Right side

Buoyancy is key in this area

The area has a nice entry point with easy access, and isn't to deep either (10m/30ft). However, be
forewarned, the bottom is VERY silty. You so much as look at the bottom and you can destroy visibility. There is no current to speak of, so if you do muck it up, you either have to move on or give up on making a shot. Don't be 'that diver' if you go there, especially if there are local photographers there, you'll be sure not make any friends.

Robert and I saw Thor amboinensis and Holothuria turriscelsa as well as some beautiful sponge formations (my specialty) and a couple of nudibranchs, with Blue Dragon (Pteraeolidia ianthina) being a regular show for the day.

Watch out for fishermen,

The structures to the right (pylons) are the primary place to go for shooting but you have to watch out for fishermen. Most of the shots were in the shallower area (3m/15ft). This is also an area that can't handle to many divers at one time, so if it looks busy, you're probably best going somewhere else, especially since visibility is a primary concern here.

Keep in mind when you dive sites like this, if it's a primarily local dive spot, be courteous. Park properly, don't be loud, pick up your trash. Robert and I picked up trash while we were there, even though it wasn't ours, it doesn't matter if it's yours or theirs, pick some up. Help Ty's environment!!

As always, leave only bubbles, take out the trash, and I'll see you below.