Raja Ampat - April 2016

[mattia_v]

We spent a great week with Papua Explorers in Raja Ampat - liveaboard was both too expensive and didn't fit our travel dates well, and the idea of staying on dry land and relaxing in the hammock between and after dives was appealing. Great people, great service, and fantastic diving, although a week was simply to short. Definitely want to go back! As diving experiences go, it's been our favourite so far. Dive sites were mostly within 20-40 minutes boat ride, the Passage being a bit further out. Given what I've read about Misool, a liveaboard doing North and South may be the 'dream option' if I can get my girlfriend to agree to living on a boat for 2 weeks - I'm a touch more dive-crazy.

Total of 19 dives in 6 days, a few photographic highlights presented below.

Gear:
- Sony RX100 (original)
- Acquapazza aluminum housing with an m67-AD mount converter
- INON S-2000 strobe
- INON UCL-65 wet diopters (1 or 2, stacked, depending on subject matter)
- INON UFL-165 wet fisheye.

I have a UWL-100 with dome that I will probably take along next time, as the corners on the UFL are not always great, and there's quite a bit of vingetting which zooming in a touch does solve. It is much heavier both in and out of the water, though. Ample opportunity for wideangle and macro, animals large and small, and abundant sedentary life. It was also my second ever trip with a strobe (after renting one for 3 days a year ago), so the learning curve was pretty steep.

We also did a few dives in Komodo, still need to sift through those pics though.

Reef:

Reef Life by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Citrus Reefscape by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Reefscape by Mattia Valente, on Flickr

Big Stuff:

A trio of Mantas by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Flyby by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


How to sneak up on a scuba diver... by Mattia Valente, on Flickr

Medium stuff:

Octo #1 by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Peacock Mantis Shrimp #2 by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Squid by Mattia Valente, on Flickr

Small stuff:

Underwater floral arrangements by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Juvenile Clownfish Hideaway by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Nudibranch by Mattia Valente, on Flickr

Tiny stuff:

Pygmy Seahorse by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Skeleton shrimp by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Teensy Tiny Nudibranch by Mattia Valente, on Flickr


Link to full album: Raja Ampat - 2016

Comments and critique welcome.

I'm only just starting to get a good feel for underwater shooting, but do think the RX100 is a perfect compromise for me; I have an A7r, but the price and size of housings and wet lens solutions (let alone domes) is too much for me - I'd rather spend that money on dive trips and master this little gem. Or buy a second strobe for the wideangle stuff.

 

[Skeptic14]

Wow!

Looks like those were phenomenal dives and your pictures (wa and macro) are great! As someone trying to learn wa, your reef and manta shots are inspiring, thanks for sharing.

 

[mattia_v]

Thanks! Highly recommended destination for every diver. Loved it.

 

[stuartv]

Nice pictures!

One question: On the third manta pic, "how to sneak up on a scuba diver," what are the black bits? The triangle at the upper right and the think wavy black line down the right side.

 

[mattia_v]

I was flustered and the wet lens was screwed on crooked ;-)

 

[stuartv]

I was flustered and the wet lens was screwed on crooked ;-)

LOL! A picture with a subplot. Priceless! :-D