South African water classification

Hi Guys,

Been to SA before but mainly working with pole cams from boats etc. Planning an extended project soon and just want to get an idea of gear considerations for SA. It looks like I'll be doing a lot of reef and shore diving so want to clarify whether I should be looking for and including either green or blue water cc filters in the equipment? Anyone with extensive SA Experience? A shout is welcomed.

Cheers,

Mark.

I've only been once to Gainsbaai Mark, but it was definately very green type water - perhaps not as green as we get in the UK, but certainly getting that way.

I'm pretty sure the further north you go on the east coast the more bluer the water becomes. I'd actually like to know myself as I'm going back there next year! Not sure about the Atlantic side though.

Cheers, Simon

Cheers Simon,

Yeah, guess I should have mentioned I'll be around the Durban area.....

Been to Gansbaai too, what a blast that was.

Cheers,

mark.

Hey Mark,

I was in filming in Durban Protea Banks area and used the cc green water w/ Z1 and white balanced on hand/slate. Worked and looked good, I would bring both Blu/Grn as the water changes there due to the crazy currents, and viz drops day to day. So what you working on there?

Mahalo Bro

Scott

Hey Scott,

Good to hear ya. Thanks for the pointers. Will look for CC filters in the UK on my return next week. Anyone know where I can find them?

Working on Tiger Sharks mate......... snappy!!

Hey, Antibes entry this year made up from the stuff I shot in Lembeh. You done anything with yours yet? I'll contact you via email regarding some other stuff.

Cheers,

Mark.

Hello Mate,

One that springs to mind is:

www.camerasunderwater.co.uk

They do them and their Gates suppliers

Dive safe

See you soon

DeanB

Mark,

I am a frequent user of my CC filter in almost all conditions. The water on Sardine Run would change from Greenish to Blueish in minutes. The currents shift quickly and are quite layered.

I had my best success NOT using my filter at all...esp in shallow shots. An added benefit is a preserved an f-stop of detail as well. I WB on surface and pink slate/hand.

I recommend testing and previewing a variety ofmethods.

Shawn

If you are doing the Aliwal tiger sharks, then bring both and switch on the day. Aliwal tigers have had their feeding habits changed now due to too many ops feeding the sharks. So it's almost year round now.

Being near the continental shelf, you get funky upwellings. The Umkomaas/Scottsburgh area has a few rivers which when the tide is wrong can turn the viz to 3-5m and green. I've had 25m blue as well. NE and SW winds can blow out and cause bad viz as well.

If you are shooting with Nat Geo, I'm pretty sure you're using Blue Wilderness and they launch from Rocky Bay.

Watch out for the limbatus. They are now quite brave and feisty due to the constant feeding.

Cheers Drew,

I'll be down there as a one man band representing the Remote Imaging Deptartment at Nat Geo. "Crittercamming" the shark species down there looking for species interaction behavior if any, yep I'm planning most of the work to be with Mark Addisson, should be a blast. Seeing what the Ocean throws at me during potentially six months of filming. Just waiting final decisions and OK's from everyone involved.

Thanks,

Mark.

That sounds awesome!!!! Very jealous Mark....

Drew: What's a Limbatus???

That sounds awesome!!!! Very jealous Mark....

 

Drew: What's a Limbatus???

Hey Jonny, this is Limbatus, looking forward to hanging with 'em. Real happy with the mission, just hope I can deliver the goods. Drew, might be planning to shoot topside with HVX200 so could be picking yer brains for that soon.

Cheers,

Mark

Cheers Drew,

I'll be down there as a one man band representing the Remote Imaging Deptartment at Nat Geo. "Crittercamming" the shark species down there looking for species interaction behavior if any, yep I'm planning most of the work to be with Mark Addisson, should be a blast. Seeing what the Ocean throws at me during potentially six months of filming. Just waiting final decisions and OK's from everyone involved.

 

Thanks,

Mark.

That's my point, Mark. The Aliwal C. limbatus and G Cuviers are not exhibiting their natural behavior anymore. The limbatus would run the hell away when a cuvier turns up. Now they know there's no need to since it's a drum feed. Some operations even hand feed the cuviers. Aliwal is great for capturing shots but behavioral stuff is best done away from the feeding area. The tigers use to hunt rays etc. Now they just buzz around along with the limbatus. So you get your interspecies action but I don't know how "natural" it is.