JMC22

I take this blower with me on my trips - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FXSBL29?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4

You may want to look around for a Nautican MFO-1, it really helps with the focus on the 90mm macro lens

Welcome to the forum & we look forward to seeing your pics as you progress

Just throwing it out there - Someone is selling a Sony flash trigger on marketplace, its not very expensive if you only shoot in manual mode if it fits your camera

I shoot the MFO-1 with a Sony 90mm Macro lens & my biggest take away is how much faster and cleaner the focus is with the lens

BUT the good point if there are other boats is that there are also other guide searching for good things... Agreed, sometimes having more guides in the water searching for critters is a good thing - more eyes the better

Are you sure that flash trigger works with your strobes? The Backscatter Smart Control Optical TTL Flash Trigger provides super-accurate, automatic flash exposures with Olympus/OM System and Sony cameras using Backscatter strobes. The Olympus/OM System trigger is TTL compatible with the Mini Flash 2, Mini Flash 3, Atom Flash, and Hybrid Flash, while the Sony trigger is TTL compatible with the Mini Flash 3, Atom Flash, and Hybrid Flash. The Backscatter Smart Control Optical TTL Flash Trigger is more than just a TTL trigger, it also can be used for manual triggering, rapid firing over 30 frames per second, and HSS (high speed sync), all built into a self-contained USB-C rechargeable unit. My suggestion is get a UW Technics TTL if you want to shoot TTL & manual - if you want to shoot just in manual, save some $$ and get an Underwater Light and Magic trigger (I think there is one for sale here in the Marketplace)

I'm a fan of the Sony 28-60mm lens over their 28-70mm - I shoot the 28-60mm behind the Nauticam FCP-1 & I like the versatility of the lens I'm off to Yap & Palau in February & will pack this lens for my trip..

Nudi Falls is I believe the most popular dive site in Lembeh - it's not uncommon to see 1-2 other boats there, but I have never had any issues with other groups as most will stagger their entry to not overlap in the water

So true, once you get the bug - be prepared to start chasing the rabbit down the hole with everything out there to choose from for shooting in different environments. At this point when I do my checkout dive at the start of each trip without my camera rig, It feels weird...lol

Personally, I tried using the Kraken 5.5 V3 monitor on a recent trip to Komodo (Sept) & found I liked my 45* viewfinder better as I could get a better perception of focus and framing - but this was just my experience as I know other love the monitor over the view finder - unfortunately it might come down to trying them both for yourself as to your own personal preference - one other note to consider if going the route of the monitor - it's very heavy in air & in water. Also, I still shoot the Sony 90mm macro lens as I can't see (afford) to get the 100mm lens & port - with the 90mm lens I notice a night & day difference with the MFO-1 on when using especially in the hunting/focus department - I hear the 100mm focuses better and faster but I bet it still helps in the picture dept with the flat port it's paired with. I would recommend that if you're looking to save a few $$ - find a 90mm set-up for sale, invest in a MFO-1 & MFO-3 & if you do some extreme macro photo - the SMC-3 - and it would all come in probably less than a new 100mm lens & port

Following - I will say that Australia was on my radar a few years ago but has fallen off it....

Being it is sold by Nauticam, I can see that (high) price being charged - I don't personally see a need for this extra weight on my rig

I have done several P to P trips at the Murex resorts and highly recommend them - I prefer doing Manado, Banka then Lembeh route personally - starting with wall diving and a plethora of turtles in Banka, then Manado with the reefs & macro & if you're lucky a Dugong could make an appearance - ending up in Lembeh for macro critters & one of the best resorts I can recommend. The dive groups are usually 4 per DM & they are really great in finding critters Flying in and out of Manado is easy - either Scoot Air in Singapore or Guarda air in Jakarta It's such a great diversity trip and highly recommend it

I was at both resorts about a year ago & mostly used my macro set-up, at Dumaguete it was all macro but at Puerto Galera you can find some reef scapes and critters sites where I shot my FCP wide angle