Chris's coldwater kelp adventure

[Chris Bangs]

Hi all, Yes indeed I am back. Got a new "DRY" S2 and recently finished a few dives here in Southern Cal.

first of all, the folks I met out here during my brief stay are just great! never have I felt so welcome! thank you! I have to take my hat off to these divers!

anyway, I managed to get some nice images on the 4 dives I did.

the first two were taken off Catalina Island at a site called Casino Point. the water temp was 15 c ( 63 F ) and the vis exceeded 20 m ( 60 ft ).

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/20620orange_fishy-thumb.jpg (http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11990/sort/1/cat/500/page/1)Image by Chris Bangs (Copyright) posted at ScubaGallery (http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/)

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/20620catalina-goby-thumb.jpg (http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11988/sort/1/cat/500/page/1)Image by Chris Bangs (Copyright) posted at ScubaGallery (http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/)

the second two shots were taken off the San Diego coast. we had originally planned to go to the Coronado islands but due the large swells we had to opt for a couple of wrecks , the HMCS Yukon, the RUBY E. conditions were nasty with lots of surge and poor vis ( about 5 m/15 ft MAX and a cold 12 c/55f ) I froze my tropical butt off!

anyway I still managed to get some decent shots. the last shot is a very tiny anemone that was attached to a piece of kelp on the surface. I consider it the best image of the trip.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/20620strawberry_anamones-thumb.jpg (http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11992/sort/1/cat/500/page/1)Image by Chris Bangs (Copyright) posted at ScubaGallery (http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/)

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/20620kelp_anamone-thumb.jpg (http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11989/sort/1/cat/500/page/1)Image by Chris Bangs (Copyright) posted at ScubaGallery (http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/)

[justleesa]

They are all great pics, but you are right - there is something special about the last one....

[alcina]

Sounds like a great time!

They are all nice shots, but I agree that the last one is something even more special!

[Chris Bangs]

Sounds like a great time!

They are all nice shots, but I agree that the last one is something even more special!

even better with a DRY digi cam. ;)

[alcina]

even better with a DRY digi cam. ;)

:rofl: :eyebrow:

[justleesa]

lol...I hope you are knocking on wood there Mr. Chris :)

[SeaYoda]

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

[Dee]

I hate to follow the crowd but I agree, that last one is amazing. The Garibaldi is really nice, too.

Glad you had a great time and your camera stayed DRY!

[Chris Bangs]

I hate to follow the crowd but I agree, that last one is amazing. The Garibaldi is really nice, too.

Glad you had a great time and your camera stayed DRY!

I actually got 6 frames of that tiny anemone. 4 of which all rival the one I posted. the anemone was less than 1/4 inch wide and I was hovering mid water holding the kelp in one hand ( it floats ) and holding the camera with the other, not very easy with a housed slr. not to mention freezing my tropical bunns, but the effort paid off.

[justleesa]

not to mention freezing my tropical bunns.

:rofl:!!!

[chippy]

Inot to mention freezing my tropical bunns, but the effort paid off.

Now you know how i feel every weekend!! ;)

Great shots, I really like the Jewel anemone one (2nd one from the bottom), but the last one is very nice too!!

[Chris Bangs]

Now you know how i feel every weekend!! ;)

Great shots, I really like the Jewel anemone one (2nd one from the bottom), but the last one is very nice too!!

had to use fast shutter speeds to compensate for camera shake ;)

also technical note, due to frozen hands, a dry suit that felt like I was wearing a suit of armor, and massive surge, For the first time underwater, On the macro stuff I actually set the SB-105s to TTL and set the flash compensation to -.5. the results were very good.

[Jetwrench]

Chris, they are all great!
63f. Heck, thats a heat wave over here. 15ft of vis? Typical. The best part is hearing a warm water diver like yourself will take a dip that requires more thermal protection than a T-shirt and shorts or a 3mm shortie. Thumbs Up for that!

Jet

[Chris Bangs]

Chris, they are all great!
63f. Heck, thats a heat wave over here. 15ft of vis? Typical. The best part is hearing a warm water diver like yourself will take a dip that requires more thermal protection than a T-shirt and shorts or a 3mm shortie. Thumbs Up for that!

Jet

I only use a T-shirt on those cold days when the water drops to like 81 f. hehehe

Anyway, after doing nearly 4000 dives in the tropics, it is always nice to experiance such a contrast in sealife. Yes, one CAN get numb to Coral and Parrot fish!

My dry suit had been in storage for almost 5 years. the last time I used it was working with David Hall on his Ocean Realm/ Rodales project in IZU Japan.

I was very concerned as i entered the water on the first dive having no idea as if the seals would do thier thing! I sucked down my first tank in 25 minuits, most of the air going in and out of the suit. got it down and the other dives were quite enjoyable and productive

[lukeROB]

but the effort paid off.

I agree chris. Wonderful image.
Prefect lighting, perfect DOF and interesting subject.
You are a true master of the art. ;)