Hi there,

I would like to ask for advice.

Context: we are going to Komodo and Bali next October. My current setup is Nikon D500 with Isotta housing, but I have still the old rig (D300+S&S). My two main lenses are Nikon 105 or 85 mm for macro and Tokina 10-17 Fisheye (sometimes + kenko) for wide.

 

The thing is that I’m starting to think that maybe I could dive with both rigs, for having macro and wide.

Does anyone has dived with 2 complete rigs; am I totally nuts?

Or better forget the idea and mount macro or wide and live with it? 😅

I've worked in Komodo NP - I would say forget it on most if not all sites in the park.
Too much current (drift profiles, think Tatawa Besar, Siaba Kecil, Karang / Taka Makassar, not too mention Cauldron, or more "stationary" but often ripping dives like Castle and Crystal Rock or Golden Passage in the north, ...), inadequate dive profiles for lugging two rigs, and also the fact that sites themselves are pretty easily separated between macro and wide angle sites.

Two rigs in the water could be pulled off on more protected sites like Siaba Besar, Mawan or even Batu Bolong, but these are not really macro sites, so I wouldn't try to complicate things further in what can sometimes be a complicated diving environment, and just carry one rig underwater, which can already be a handful.

Since you're diving Bali as well, might be easier to focus on macro in Tulamben for instance, and just focus on wide angle in Komodo - with the odd dedicated macro dive if you're doing sites like Cannibal Rock or others in the South, or Waeniliu or night dives in the central area

hope this helps!

cheers

ben

Edited yesterday at 11:30 AM1 day by bghazzal

Hi bghazzal, makes complete sense!

Thank you very much for the input.

Initially had in mine do mainly wide angle in Komodo, but seeing some macro picture and taking in consideration that I am going from resort, that means three dives but without real possibility to change setup on the boat, the paranoia of two rigs started. 😅

Thanks again for the help, much appreciate it.

Cheers.