Cozumel dive trip photo, Dec 14-28, 2008

[waterloodiver]

My first Cozumel trip, it's absolutely amazing.

I picked Dive With Martin based on the review on SB, they are very good op and price is decent. got AOW cert, did 16 boat dives and 1 night boat dive. I'm very satisfied with their service, as a newbie diver and U/W photo taker, Cozumel is my perfect destination.

My U/W photo gear: Canon G5 with Ikelite Housing, Ikelite DS-51 Strobe, Strobe was setting on Manual. My old Ikelite DS-51 Strobe was flooded at 1st dive in Cozume :shakehead: I thought my last chance was asking for help on SB! I posted this thread:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cozumel/264639-help-im-cozumel-now-my-ds-51-dead.html

thanks mattboy again for bring me a new DS-51 Strobe at Dec 23, so I got 4 days diving with full setup, here are some photos:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/3160505962_13b0cfe2e5.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/3159764555_aef47e330a.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/3159730303_2e2ffc4483.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3160637238_bdbf565bb6.jpg?v=0
Night Dive

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/3159805909_e193c15c28.jpg?v=0
Night Dive

I didn't put down my camera during the dives without strobe, but the pictures definitely no as good as those using strobe:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/3160711864_4c4cf94900.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/3160459256_14ec6a10a0.jpg?v=0
Internal flash.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3159651753_80a8e08e0e.jpg?v=0


I hate to say this, but the most exciting dives happened at the last diving day, I decided to do a Solo Shore Dive out side Hotel Casa del Mar, I took some pictures at the reef, then I kept swimming forward, no more reef just sand, I was thinking about turning back, but a Eagle Ray showed up, I was so exacting and tried to get close to it, air ran low quickly, after 1st dive, I took lunch, rent another tank, jump in water again, didn't see any Eagle Ray, I thought it's gone, but couple of minuets later, 3 of them came back! I learned lessons from 1st dive, just stay at bottom and wait, they were just swimming around me, when they came close and feed in sand, I took pictures, spend more than 40min with them, had to return at 900psi, amazing dive!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/3179088612_0af65b0889.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3162586926_3e974da669.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/3163020240_eb37b3b552.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/3162595236_b0908e126a.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3162590784_f3b7b4d896.jpg?v=0


For more pictures, please visit my gallery on flickr:

waterloodiver's photo sets on Flickr (http://flickr.com/photos/88573764@N00/sets/)

Thanks for reading and here's a big fresh "Cake" from my backyard for everyone!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3207964596_5eee834179.jpg?v=0

[deeper thoughts]

Great pix

[firstdive2005]

Good for you on you cert. Your pictures are great. I am there in 5 days, pics like these keep me up at night. I love the shot of the face of the ray, too cool. I am going to be sitting out from Villablanca doing that everyday. By all means post more. I'm sure you took more than that. good diving, kev

[waterloodiver]

Good for you on you cert. Your pictures are great. I am there in 5 days, pics like these keep me up at night. I love the shot of the face of the ray, too cool. I am going to be sitting out from Villablanca doing that everyday. By all means post more. I'm sure you took more than that. good diving, kev

I'm so jealous! can't wait to go back, you will have fantastic dives and beautiful pictures :cool2:

too many photos to post, you can click the following link to check all of them, thanks for looking.

waterloodiver's photo sets on Flickr (http://flickr.com/photos/88573764@N00/sets/)

[stortecky]

Those were some great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

I also saw an eagle ray in front of Casa Del Mar. I went through about 600 psi pretty quick trying to chase it down to get a good pic. I did not think that they would normally show up there. When I am back there I will have to try to keep going after the "reef" if you can call it that ends.

[ggunn]

I hate to say this, but the most excreting dives happened at the last diving day...

You just gotta love that spellchecker, eh? ;^)

[DenverDiverErin]

Glad you had such a great trip to Coz. Your pictures were amazing - thanks for posting the Flickr link. Someday I hope to take underwater photos like that!

[boomer68]

Great pictures. There is quite a bit to see in front of Casa Del Mar if patient.

[jjwdiver]

VERY nice pictures!!!

[Ed Hatfield]

Great photos. I think it's amazing that the rays hung around long enough for you to get 120 pics!!! You must have been excreting in your wetsuit.

[Gdog]

Nice!!

[cicopo]

I'd say you did very well for a new diver, and I really like the shots of the Eagle Ray. Thanks for tiding me over until my next trip, which is not far away.

[sharky60]

great pics!! welcome to the family. Glad you liked DWM, great guys over there.

thanks for sharing.

[BaileyM]

What awsome, amazing photos! You are so lucky. I don't have an underwater camera yet; saving up for Christmas! I was diving in Coz recently with Blue Magic Scuba - took me to Barracuda, San Juan, Canterelle - saw TONS of eagle rays! It was my first time seeing them. What an experience!