On Saturday, November 14, 2009, I dove with Jo (divemaster) from Ocean Concepts. We did two dives, the Mahi, a 95 foot deep dive on a ship that was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef and Makaha Caverns, a 50 foot deep dive on a shallow coral reef with lava tubes and swim-throughs.
This was my first certification dive for Digital Underwater Photographer. Since I was in Jo's group, we were first in the water. There were 19 divers and three "guides", so they paired up all the divers and the three guides each took a group.
Visibility was good - about 60 feet. When Shawn came up from attaching the mooring line, he said to me to get in and descend immediately since there were lots of Spotted Eagle Rays and the big Giant Barracuda hanging out over the wreck.
I told Jo I would see her on the bottom and did a giant stride in and descended immediately. The Eagle Rays were there just as he said in a couple of big groups.
Spotted Eagle Rays
I was experimenting with White Balance on this dive since I was working on the Digital Underwater Photography certification. I learned a lot by doing that, but most of my photos from this dive are pretty bad. I did manage to get some good ones, but only when I reset my camera and used flash or took wide angle shots in a more normal fashion.
Right on the stern of the wreck, I found a Sculptured Slipper Lobster, a Desirable Nudibranch, and a Commerson's Frogfish.
Sculptured Slipper Lobster
Desirable Nudibranch
Commerson's Frogfish
The Giant Barracuda was there too, but I could not get a decent photo of it.
Jo led the group out a little way off the starboard side and pointed out a Panther Flounder.
Panther Flounder
Right by the Panther Flounder was a pipe with a big Yellowmargin Moray Eel - the real reason we had come out there.
Yellowmargin Moray Eel
While I was hanging back and taking photos of the Panther Flounder and the Moray, the rest of the group headed back over to the wreck. I noticed a huge group of Spotted Eagle Rays that were slowly coming in the direction of where I was. I positioned myself where I thought they would come to and began taking photos and a video. They turned and swam directly over me as I laid on the bottom.
Spotted Eagle Rays
Once again, I ended the dive as I usually do on the Mahi, by slowly ascending up the mast. As Jo was swimming by toward the mooring line, I took this photo. It shows the wreck better than any photo I have taken so far.
Jo over the Mahi
While I was ascending, the big group of Spotted Eagle Rays decided to do one more pass right over the wreck, so I was able to get some more great photos.
Spotted Eagle Rays
Right at the top of the mast, there was a little Yellowtail Filefish hiding down in a hole in the coral.
Yellowtail Filefish
I did my safety stop under the boat and then swam up to the ladder and climbed out with 500 psi left.
On the second dive, we made the normal tour through Makaha Caverns. I was still experimenting with the camera settings since this was the second Digital Underwater Photographer certification dive. I took quite a few photos, only a handful came out. I am still not sure what was happening, but they were all out of focus.
Rough-Spined Urchin
This is a new nudibranch - the first I have seen.
Violet Gill Nudibranch
There was a huge Titan Scorpionfish. I shot it over and over and finally scared it away. I just could not get a good photo. This is the best of the worst!
Titan Scorpionfish
I rarely see these little guys anyway, but this is the first time I have seen two together. They are so tiny, only a few inches long.
Dwarf Moray Eels
When we got back to the boat, my batteries were dead and I was frustrated with the camera. I ended the dive and got back on board with 900 psi left.
