Beginner

[Down2bizDiver]

I love my GoPros, 1 and 2. I use Eye of Mine case. No bulk, no messing around at depth, always ready for the shot, light weight and easy to pack and transport, inexpensive. Video from last week's trip:
Giant Manta Ray Lays a Bomb in HD - YouTube

[bugbittengirl]

...Thanx for all the advise....now it is decision time....funds are limited...so it boils down to more diving vs. better camera equipment and less diving.....

[Mark Derail]

I love my GoPros, 1 and 2. I use Eye of Mine case. No bulk, no messing around at depth, always ready for the shot, light weight and easy to pack and transport, inexpensive. Video from last week's trip:
Giant Manta Ray Lays a Bomb in HD - YouTube

Nice vid! Sent comment & like on Youtube also. Great control on video, smooth panning. Was it on your arm?

[Mark Derail]

...Thanx for all the advise....now it is decision time....funds are limited...so it boils down to more diving vs. better camera equipment and less diving.....

Go with More diving, and get a disposable for the 0-10 feet range, and use your new SKILLS to be an awesome snorkeler & free diver. Use the disposable then.

The PADI OW has a chapter on how to free dive, it works. I don't use a wetsuit with weights freediving though, just fins/mask/snorkel. Less work getting from car to beach.

Be calm, floating, then 3 quick breaths, fourth breath a half breath just to equalize your ears, and dive like a duck, just kick with the fins once.
Use your half breath to equalize...you'll be in the 10 feet range, no ear pain, just a 1/2 second from the surface.

Now the hard part - resist the urge to surface immediately. If you're in good health, you can easily last 1 minute. I last about 30 seconds on choppy ocean.

If you want to practice on dry land, be calm, do 3 quick breaths when your pulse won't be any slower - and run quick for 5 seconds - then stop, and time how long you last, and run quick back to where you where. It will give you confidence.

* best practised on the beach with curious onlookers...
* If you can last 30+ seconds between two quick runs...it means you have time to dive to 10 feet, frame and grab a shot, and slowly float back up.
* practice in water that has no waves first, like the deep end of a pool
* practice "jumping" out of the water with your fins on the way back, to grab a lungful of air, and while airborne, put your snorkel on and blow the water out.

My last trip and I was to get near the 20' range - but I need to equalize twice that deep - which is my current limit. However, I found it more satisfying staying in the 10-12 feet range, and practise framing and getting a picture.

I got better pics freediving than scuba diving, because of the lighting conditions, my strobe / flash is too feeble.

[Carolhardinn]

That discussion really works well for me.