Troporobo

I forgot that you’re an LSD user (no aspersion intended!). I withdraw my battery advice.

Tim, my macro rig is very similar to yours, although different strobes, but it’s not nearly as negative. I’m curious why you need the boosters? I can do 3 macro dives taking maybe 80-100 exposures each time without changing batteries.

Many excellent points here that I also struggled to internalize for a long time until it finally clicked: find a nudi with as little behind it as possible, set exposure so that the water column is black (or dark blue, etc), set the strobe to expose the subject. It’s certainly possible without a snoot. This was taken in Anilao on a sunny day at moderate depth. ISO 100, f16, 1/160

I have a large inventory of those! 🙄. Let us know how to send them to you. It sounds like a very interesting project that I’ll be happy to contribute to.

Rich, this is just about perfect from my perspective. You’ve distilled the essence of much of this community. I’m sure you didn’t write this as the WP Manifesto but it could be that for me. Thanks a lot for taking the time to craft it and share!

This is a fantastic addition to the site. Preserving the knowledge base and making it easily accessible is real value addition. Thanks Rich!

There was a similar project documented on the old site some years ago. Might be worth searching Eric’s archive to see if that thread and is valuable photos were preserved https://wetpixel.echeng.com/

“Eric Cheng, who ran Wetpixel through its glory years, recently downloaded the entire site and being a software whizz, set about creating an extensive Wetpixel Wiki to chart the history of Wetpixel and the first 20 years of digital underwater photography.” The History of UW Photography

Inevitable, but still sad

Definitely a “code brown” moment at first, but a very cool encounter. I’m amazed that the shark was so chill with you swimming alongside with lights. Thanks for sharing!

OK now, around here you can’t just drop a statement like that, the peanut gallery demands more info! At least give us some hints - please!

Another good news story from the south Pacific. "Samoa’s Marine Spatial Plan provides a national framework for the sustainable management of 100 per cent of the country’s ocean. The plan expands national marine protections through nine offshore marine protected areas and a formalised network of coastal community marine protected areas. Together, the areas protect 30 per cent of Samoa’s ocean, approximately 36,000 square kilometres." Samoa puts ocean protection plan into action

I would be happy to pay (within reason!) for a heavier carryon. Unfortunately Fiji Airways won’t allow it, full stop.

Where I am currently based in Fiji, all my trips involve a flight on an ATR turboprop with a strict 7kg weight limit for carryon bags. I have a great Lowepro roller that holds everything I need, but it's 4.5kg empty and fully loaded it weighs 13 kg. So I have had to get creative. I decided to carry only the valuable and fragile stuff in a backpack, and put arms, clamps, etc into my checked scuba gear bag. So here is what I carry onboard: camera and lens and trigger in housing, macro port and lens, two Inon strobes, a Kraken focus light, my wrist computer, and two sets of batteries for the camera and strobes (not shown). I found some cheap sort-of insulated lunch bags for school kids that happen to be just the right size. The housing goes by itself in one bag, and everything else goes in the other bag. I wrap the miscellaneous stuff in a layer of bubble wrap to prevent scratches, but sine the bag is never out of sight I am not worried about things getting banged around. All in, the total weight is just under 6.5kg. There is room in my commuter backpack for a few travel essentials too. Water bottle is 1.5 liters for scale. I am happy to be a m4/3 user!

You can get to most dive destinations in the South Pacific with a direct flight (or one stop in the Solomons for PNG) from Fiji. There are many options for affordable longer-term rentals around Nadi, often listed on AirBNB. There isn’t a local listing site here, but if you booked a week or two for a start you’d have the ability to look around and find a place that suits your taste and budget.