Hi, I’ve been diving off and on for over 40 years. I was certified as a rescue diver through YMCA (now SEI) when I was 17. About 6 years ago I got the bug again after a couple amazing dives in French Polynesia while on vacation. I picked up a GoPro Hero 7 back then, enjoying being able to show non-divers what I saw underwater. I returned to Polynesia a couple years later to Rangiroa and Tikehau. Wow! Tikehau is definitely my happy place! Again, pictures and videos captured with a GoPro—not great, but easy and good enough as souvenir video/pics. Last May I went to Fiji—Savusavu and Taveuni. I started wishing for the ability to better capture the amazing sights. Upgrading to the GoPro13 didn’t scratch the itch—I need lights and/or filters and/or a wet lens. As I plan to retire next spring, I looked for trips and adventures. I quickly latched onto Bali, Philippines, Indonesia—all great macro sites. Stuff I can’t really do with a GoPro. Now I’m down the underwater photography rabbit hole. I bought an Olympus E-M10 IV with AOI housing, 60 mm macro lens and port, two Backscatter HF-1 light/strobes, and a wet lens for my GoPro. Heading to Coco Dive for 2 weeks in March/April to study with Mickey Charteris and practice before heading to the west Pacific next Fall. I’ve decided it’s best to separate underwater photography from “social” diving on vacation where I’ll still use my GoPro and maybe a small camera/light rig to capture moments. Speaking of “social” diving, I just booked a vacation cruise with spouse and friends from Phuket to Langkawi with a week in Thailand before and a week in Penang/Singapore after.
I neglected to mention I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA.
