Lost my digital virginity...

...thank's everyone who contributed in various threads: William H, James, Michael V, Arnon, Davichin, Giles, Newbie, Jean, Chris, Tom, Drew, Carol, Jack C, Anthony P, John (jarhead), Martyn aka Rattus...

It's so fun spending money

Christian

Some of the results from a trip to Mozambique a week ago.

VERY nice Christian!

Great wideangle shots there. You've got some good impact, especially in #1 and #3. Cool.

Martyn

A star is born!!!

why did we help you ?!!!

You will have to tell us about the trip! (hotel, divemasters...)

Impressive! And really amazing to be your first time with a digital. Post some more please!

Luiz

P.S.: I am moving the topic to a more appropriate area (the Photo Gallery)

Great opening!

Really impressive images, I like most the first and the third.

I'll be happy to ear more about your trip to Mozambique, this place is high in my wish list

Those whaleshark shots are great. Great start, the D200 is great isn't it?

Thank's for the encouragament. A few more pictures.

About Mozambique; it's one of the best places for mantas and whalesharks in the world. They have the largest recorded population of mantas worldwide of the Inhambane peninsula (the researcher Andrea Marshall has spent four years there now) and perhaps of whalesharks as well. The latter research project has just started by a kiwi named Simon Pierce from the University of Queensland (Australia). They both do weekly lectures for visitors in one of the local pubs - really interesting and admirable.

There are a couple of reefs which has manta cleaning stations and it is more or less guranteed to se mantas - one operator even has a 500 Euro back gurantee... On one of our dives it was like an airport with manta after manta coming in. Whalesharks are not that commonly seen on scuba, but you see them when you go to and from the divesites, and the skipper will stop the boat for everyone to go in and snorkel with them.

The reefs are not that impressive inmo as coral growth is sparse and not very developed. There are however some very nice black coral "forests". Sharks, besides white tip reef sharks and zebra sharks, are rarely seen in this area. Diversity of fish is pretty good, but it is the numbers and size of e.g. groupers that is the big draw (besides the mantas and whalesharks). No big schools of barracuda or jacks. Lots of honeycomb morays and lobsters. In spring (southern hempshere) they also get migrating humpback whales. We saw one breaching about a hundred metres from the zodiac - very impressive.

Viz, as one can expect in filter feeder waters, is seldom great, but acceptable from time to time.

There are a couple of well run dive centers. Not really set up for serious UW-photographers, but they will do their best to accomodate your needs. I went with a dive center called Tofo Scuba, which is the oldest and most established one in the area. Their owner, John, has scouted many of the dive sites in the area. To be honest, I wasn't too found of the layout of the diving. Too big groups and too much herding. Not exactly ideal for photography. But then again, it would probably be possible to arrange a special "photo-boat" if you booked a group.

Easiest way to get there is via South Africa. Either drive on your own through the Kruger park up to Maputo and on to Inhambane, or fly from Johannesburg to Maputo and then on to Inhambane. There are a few dive travel agents in S.A. that know the area well and regularly arrange trips. I booked via one of them - Shark Alley Team.

cheers

Christian

very impressive Christian!!

love that manta shot, and hey... lecturing in the pub?!?!? my kinda place!