I'm a pro photographer topside so I wanted to try some different stuff with lighting underwater...it sure is a totally different animal trying to shoot things that never stop moving! This was my first diving in over 7 years and first with underwater digital photos...what a difference from film! Several of you helped me buy all the gear I needed on another thread and, in general, it all came together nicely. There wasn't a lot of big stuff to shoot - sharks were non-existent and if they were around stayed about 100 feet away. I loved the macro stuff...used the 105mm with the +2 and even +4 diopters to get very close.
The list of lenses used is on my site but the one lens that I'm not sure worked so well was the 12-24mm with the +2 diopter...even with the diopter, my initial thoughts are that the images are soft at the edges. I'll need to look more closely. TTL with the DS-160 strobes was terrific...I didn't think it would be a big deal but let me say it was a huge help and I could just shoot what I wanted when I wanted. Based on what I read elsewhere about flash ttl only being "nice to have", I wasn't expecting much - but my opinion is that its great to have. I did dial in about -1.5 stops of ttl flash compensation (in camera) when shooting wide with a lot of blue water and only about 1/2 stop with macro....overall, I'd highly recommend the DS-160 strobes and the ttl benefits. Definitely adjust the flash compensation in camera and not on the back of the housing as there isn't enough latitude with the dial on the back of the housing - use that for fine-tuning ttl exposure only as its added to the flash compensation in camera.
The Ikelite D300 housing performed flawlessly - the one big change I made to my topside shooting style is that I moved the autofocus from the shutter release to the focus lock button. I will move my topside shooting style to the same method. It's really not possible to use the shutter release button to focus and then recompose the shot as it's just too sensitive underwater with the housing. Some of the controls can be a little difficult to use underwater like the C/S/M switch...its doable but I wouldn't even attempt it in murky water. All the other controls are easy to access. My biggest mistakes involved the 105mm and putting the port body back on the housing. You have to be very, very careful not to hit the M button on the 105mm! I had a dive wasted entirely because I hit the M button, had a +4 diopter on, and couldn't focus manually due to some surge! Also, I changed the focus lock setting from normal to short as I found the D300 wouldn't change focus quickly enough for me. The majority of the time I was in C focus mode from what I recall. Always test your autofocus prior to jumping in the water!
Here's a link to the pictures:
http://underwaterphotographer.momentskept....tographers.html
Feedback is always appreciated .... and thanks again for all your help.
John.
Very well done. First time diving in 7 years or not. Where in the heck did you find that black toadfish? I'm assuming you went out on the Peter Hughes boat and didn't just take her picture. Do they still stop on the outer island and cook you a Cheeseburger in Paradise? I went on the second trip of his first boat down there in 92 and I still think about that beautiful wall diving. 
