PeterN

A huge omission in my last post was not mentioning the wide angle wet ens that I now use with the GoPro. A huge game changer in my opinion. The Inon wide angle. More important than the GoPro 12 or 13 or ....

As Davide pointed out nothing beats good technique, buoyancy and all that good stuff we have all heard or read about before. Technology keeps moving forward at a quick pace. I began my passion for photography with a film Nikonos then went through all the iterations over the years with equipment (usually expensive too). Now I use a simple GoPro 11 with a tray and two video lights. I just posted my most recent video in the "showcase" Forum. Yes I'll eventually upgrade but I'll use what I have the best way I can until I break it or ....some real good promotional advertising will convince me I just need to have it !!! Well you probably know what happens next ... .

The "cool" thing that I like about Mr Bud is that it looks like a shipwreck. That immediately drew my attention.

Thank you for the kind words Davide. I'm using a simple "boomerang type" metal tray and two Sola video lights. I keep it really simple. I do believe the wet lens that I'm using is a game changer though. Close focus wide angle is my favorite shooting style.

Yes David still using the GoPro and Inon lens however the glass has some marks on it - not deep scratches but marks I can't remove with a simple rubbing. Any suggestions would be very appreciated. I need to protect that baby from scuffs!! I agree the white balance is something I need to approve. I am Red/Green color blind so I had my wife help me with the color on that one clip in Final Cut Pro. But it still needs improvement. Thank you so much for the constructive comment. It will make me a better videographer!

Unfortunately yes, but in small patches. Definitely bleached white though. Apparently the polyps are making a comeback with the change in seasonal water temps.

I watched your video, very cool lots of tiger sharks that's for sure. Tahiti is on my very short list of dive destinations in the next couple of years for sure. Philippians first this May. Looks like a bit of travel logistics to get to Fakarakava but I'm sure worth it.

Has anyone heard or dove either Cocos Islands, Galapagos Islands or Socorros Islands since this years 23/24 El Nino weather phenomenon? I would like to plan a trip to Cocos but would be interested in what the pelagic fish are doing. It's my understanding that El Nino warmer waters can affect the marine life.

The California Channel Islands are a fantastic dive destination. As i see it there are two main options diving either the Southern Channel Islands out of Long Beach or San Pedro or the Northern Islands out of Venture or Santa Barbra. Southern Islands include: Catalina, San Clemente, (my favorite), Santa Barbara and San Nicolas but this island is very weather dependent. Northern Channel Islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel Island. Usually local dive shops will charter boats and you can rent tank and weights with them. A really goos book with 98 dive spot descriptions is "A Scuba Diver's Guide to the California Channel Islands" By Dale and Kim Sheckler a resource I would highly recommend. Water is temperate a 7mm wetsuit with hood or even better and what i use is a drysuit. You can stay in Venture or Santa Barbra dive the Northern Islands and do a side trip up to Monetary do dive that area as well. I have few California scuba videos on my YouTube channel - Peter Neubauer I live in San Diego so i am close enough to have dove all the islands. Kelp forests are a great ecosystem to explore. Hope this helps

I have tried this lens but never really got the hang of it. I think you are absolutly correct about getting the working distance dialed in. The close up example is really nice though, thanks for sharing - I may have to give it another try.

I would love to see a decent macro lens for the GoPro. The Inon Semi-fisheye wet lens is a great addition for wide angle but i wish for a good macro lens.

Unfortunately I have to agree 100% Since I started diving in 1982 I have seen the decline. Cozumel in Mexico is a great example. My first time diving there was in the mid 80's before the cruise ship pier(s). I have been back several times and the amount of bigger marine life declines every trip. Local diving for me is here in San Diego, California and the decline in marine life is noticable from 30 years ago. Sunflower stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides) now critically endangered, white plumed anemones (Metridium farcimen) seen on our deeper wrecks were common - not so much anymore and abalone are just some examples. Fish larger than 3 feet or 1 meter are rare in the local kelp beds. I remember reading all the diving related periodicals warning us of these changes but apparently to no avail. Because as you say "the sea looks like it always has from above ...." Sad but true. Older divers have a point of reference newer divers only know what the see now. Peter

I flew to La Paz from Tijuana (I live in San Diego which is very close to the border) with a group of photographers in September and we did not encounter any problems in La Paz. I have flown into San Jose del Cabo a couple of years ago and did have issues. So I wonder if it's solely an issue in Cabo? Bummer but at last with prior knowledge perhaps one can circumvent any issues.

A short video from my most recent trip to Grand Cayman. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate with rain and wind to the point where we were not able to make the crossing on our liveaboard charter to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Video shot with a GoPro 11 and an Inon UFL-G140 Semi fisheye conversion lens. Two Light & Motion Sola 3800 video lights complete the rig setup. Constructive criticism always welcome if it helps make my videos better. Peter N

Beautiful looking fish nice capture.

Wow nice work, fish soup is an accurate description. My wife and I will be on our first Philippine dive adventure in May (Tubbataha and Malapascua). Thanks for the inspiration.

Excited to be part of this new u/w photography community. I'm an active diver from San Diego, California that enjoys international dive travel and diving locally here in San Diego and the rest of California. I started U/W photography back in 1982 with my trusty Nikonos IV and moved through all the iterations from film to the digital age. i now enjoy shooting video and have a YouTube channel which can be found at Peter Neubauer