First pics with a strobe

Hi everyone,

I'm a beginner but rapidly getting deeper into this stuff. I just got an INON D-180 strobe and did my first dives with it in Jervis Bay (south of Sydney) over the Easter weekend.

I've included links to some of my favourites below, everyone tell me what they think? I'm very happy with how they turned out, but would really love constructive criticism more experienced people. Hammer me, as they say!

Setup: Olympus C-50zoom, PT-014, INON D-180 with small INON arm.

All shots taken in aperture priority, at f8, strobe on auto. Nudi and starfish taken in macro mode. (Are these good settings to use?)

I used cloudy white balance (my camera doesn't have manual). Is this good?

Processing: Just boosted contrast a bit on all, except starfish which is straight from camera

Nudibranch

Cleaner wrasses?

Starfish

Eastern blue devilfish

cuttlefish

Congratulations, they are very good!! For a first-time strobe user, they are remarkably free of backscatter. Good work!

The one thing I remember being told as a "newbie" is: remember that things appear closer underwater than they actually are. Be sure to set your strobe(s) so that they don't illuminate the water between you and where the subject actually is. You may think you have them set right, but remember that the subject is further away than you think.

Great beginning, definitely the cuttlefish is a photo for the wall.

"they are remarkably free of backscatter"

Wow, a strobe that eliminates backscatter!!!! Where can I get one

Joe