Hi everyone

I thought I would briefly introduce myself first before I start asking loads of questions.

I don't get to dive as much as I would like and instead of photography I've recently been doing a divemaster course. I'm hoping to get back out with a camera asap hence why I've found this site. I only have access to a compact camera and on the first dive trip that it and I went on I managed to take this image.

I'm probably off to Thailand in May so I'll be scouring this site for tips.

Welcome to wetpixel BelchingMatt...

You will find a minefield of excellent info on this forum..From a bunch of shooters who will sell their families to give you the information you require..

Happy hunting.

Dive safe

DeanB

welcome Matt... nice screen name!

i lived in Coogee for 6 months once upon a time

Hi Matt,

Welcome! Can't wait to see more of your photos from Thailand!

Best,

Tom

http://www.tomstackphoto.com

Hey Matt,

Welcome! I am afraid I had never heard of Coogee so I could not resist and had to look up where it was. Other than being near Sydney, this is what Wikipedia had to say:

"Coogee is said to be taken from a local Aboriginal word koojah which means "smelly place", or "stinking seaweed", a reference to the smell of decaying kelp washed up on the beach."

So you are "Belching Matt" from "Smelly Place"! RockOn!

BTW - thats an awesome shot for your first try from as compact. Nice work

Justin, see if you can look up Coogee Bay Hotel as well...

Ooo i spent many a night and day drinking there....

Justin, see if you can look up Coogee Bay Hotel as well...

 

Ooo i spent many a night and day drinking there....

Here is what I got: http://www.coogeebayhotel.com.au/liquor_barn.aspx

"As the name suggests, The Coogee Bay Hotel Liquor Barn is one of the largest drive thru bottle shop outlets in NSW"...there was also a big picture of you as their star customer.

Wow - a "Drive through liquor barn". I'm freakin' moving there! I think I may open a "Dive through liquor barn" right off the beach just for Mike...

How does a 'HO' hold her Liquor...

Bye the ears...

The old ones are the best

And I'm not talking Pro's

Dive safe

DeanB

That trip was the first time I had used the camera and housing, but it was probably a few hundred pictures down already. I'm certainly no professional but I think I can compose maybe one decent shot per hundred I take. OF course the rest of it is being in the right place at the right time.

Now when it comes to the Coogee Bay Hotel I've lost count of the times when I've been asked to leave due to being drunk, but at least they let me back in next time.

I've not had the fortune of visiting Canada or the US in my time so far, but I have been through Singapore a few times on my way back to the UK, my spiritual home. One name I do certainly recognise is Chipping Norton. I've visited there many times.

Well, well..

The world is a small one...

Whats your link with this small Cotswold market town then Matt. ???

I know we used to have a Magistrates court here

And apparently a "Massage" parlour.

Getting warmer..Am I.

Dive safe

DeanB

Now when it comes to the Coogee Bay Hotel I've lost count of the times when I've been asked to leave due to being drunk, but at least they let me back in next time.

Hmmmm..... drunken English at the CBH.... sounds familiar!

I hung out with about 50 of them

But i only got kicked out a couple times..

Luckily i lived at the backpackers just next door