D300 Wide Angle Green Water in BC

I just came back from a great weekend trip to Nanaimo BC to dive the wrecks. We had great weather and ideal diving conditions. Vis on the wrecks was 50 feet or better most of time!

This was also the first chance that conditions allowed me to shoot wide angle with my D300/Ikelite setup. I used the 8" dome with a Sigma 15mm FE for the entire weekend. I'm quite happy with the results of the D300 so far, and definately see improvements in focus speed and noise at 400+ ISO vs my old D70.

Diver observing a friendly WolfEel on the deck of the Cape Breton

Cabezon gaurding eggs, with perfectly adapted camouflage to match its environment

My buddy/wifey checking out the wreck. Notice the cool green water reflections in the bubbles!

The rest of the photos from the weekend in Nanaimo:

Photo Gallery:

http://www.pbase.com/davehicks/nanaimo_feb2008

Click for SlideShow:

http://www.pbase.com/davehicks/nanaimo_feb...;view=slideshow

It looks like you're getting nice results with the D300. The wolfish is a lot longer than the ones we have here in the Northeast. I've only seen then out of their burrows a few times...very cool.

The wolfish is a lot longer than the ones we have here in the Northeast.

Larry, I hear them say "everything is bigger up in BC". Don't know weather to be gullible and believe all I hear or not but the wolfeels I saw when I was there in '06 along with the rockfish, etc do seem to get bigger and bigger the farther north you go....

Larry I wonder if your atlantic wolffish actually get as large as the Pacific wolfeels, or if it is just the "farther north they get bigger thing?" It would be interesting to research and compare you know. They are such a captivating species that I know little about. Don't they say the wolfs are actually just sort of a really big blenny?

Dave,

I love seeing things from BC (being here in Florida it is probably almost exact opposites). And it looks like you have a pretty cool dive buddy there too, lucky you!!!

Thanks, Carol

Nice shots, you had good viz for wide angle.

The wolf-eels we get here are a bit different than the Atlantic variety. They are found from Alaska down to California. They are Anarrhichthys ocellatus. See Fishbase info

They are actually a giant Prickleback, and contain the same amount of vertebrae (~23 or so?). They are very friendly and like to be handled gently. The ones at the Seattle Aquarium that a few of us feed will do just about anything for a piece of squid.

As I understand it the Atlantic variety is pretty fierce and divers are wary of them...?

Jack

The wolf-eels we get here are a bit different than the Atlantic variety. They are found from Alaska down to California. They are Anarrhichthys ocellatus. See Fishbase info

 

As I understand it the Atlantic variety is pretty fierce and divers are wary of them...?

I have seen a few photos of the Atlantic variety here on the site before, and remember commenting that they look awfully similar, but more fish-like than eel-like. In any case they are one my (and pretty much everyones!) favorite creatures in the PNW. Ugly cute and so much personality!

Anyway, here are a couple more photos of this particular wolfeel showing off this weekend.

Very Cool Dave,

But yes here is a reference (and there are lots of others) that says they are part of the

"Blennioids"

Its a funny article and says where does the blenny madness end? As it is a really big and diverse group of fishes. Yes the prickelbacks are in that club too..... B)

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/blennioids.htm

Great Dave, hope to get up there again to see these neat fishes and I do agree they have personality plus!!!!!!

Thanks Again! Carol

I just came back from a great weekend trip to Nanaimo BC to dive the wrecks. We had great weather and ideal diving conditions. Vis on the wrecks was 50 feet or better most of time!

 

This was also the first chance that conditions allowed me to shoot wide angle with my D300/Ikelite setup. I used the 8" dome with a Sigma 15mm FE for the entire weekend. I'm quite happy with the results of the D300 so far, and definately see improvements in focus speed and noise at 400+ ISO vs my old D70.

Very nice shots looks real good on my screen. Really enjoyed them. 50 foot vis or better. Real nice also

Here are a couple of shots of the North Atlantic wolfish. The heads look to be similar in size but the body is definity shorter in the Atlantic species.

They seem to be more reserved that your west coast version. I see them mostly in their holes with their heads sticking out, rarely out in the open. The times I have seen them in the open they've quickly retreated to their den. About the only threat to divers would be from hand feeding them as I hear they have poor eyesight along with powerful jaws and nasty looking teeth. Although I do know divers that feed them and I've never heard of an injury.