Photographing in peasoup

Just thought you'd enjoy this picture, and keep it in mind when you think you have poor viz. When diving in the Bahamas or wherever, thinking the visability could be better. Maybe it could, but keep in mind it could be worse. A lot worse. THIS is poor viz!

The picture is taken on the Norwegian west coast, usually a great place for diving, but this time of year there is pollen and algea in the water.

This ROV was on it's way down to do archeological work at 170m, when I tried to snap a few. Using 10mm on a Canon 20D I almost collided with the darn thing before even seeing it!

Darn algea, I cross my fingers the water will clear somewhat within a months time when I return.

yeh but a very cool ROV !!!

I know the feeling up in Canada we get that a lot, nice shot and tough one to get, look like you had quite a bit of swell out there.

cheers

Cool! What vessel and ROV is that?

Cheers

James

Yes Viz'art, had a bit of swell, though this was on a good day. In fact i had two photosessions with the ROV to even get this picture. First time around in the water, second time from a boat , just dipping my camera into the water. Better from boat, as it was bit of a current to struggle with as well when in water.

james: the boat is called Cehili and you can catch it in the Pacific as a dive charter in about six months!(http://www.cehili.com) As for the ROV, it is a specially designed marine archeology one. Equipped with such things as a "force feed" grip arm, suction tools to pick up ceramics, vacum/blower to remove sand etc. Pretty cool, and they (the arceologists) are now able to perform the first ever deep water excavation. With that I mean they are just as thorough and delicate at 170 m as they would be with a brush and and spoon on land.

Snappy:

To learn more about deepwater archeology, check out the Deep Wrecks expedition website:

http://www.pastfoundation.org/DeepWrecks/

They used what I consider one of the finest ROV's in the world, the Sonsub Innovator.

Cheers

James

interesting! You may be interested to know the excavation is being conducted using the ROV on a specially designed excavation frame (100m x 100m) placed over the wreck. The ROV docks there, thus sitting steadily at a chosen height above the artifacts. Therby eliminating the chance of any artifacts being crushed if the ROV were to park at bottom instead. Also there will be a minimum of disturbance created by the thrusters, as no thrust is needed to keep the ROV hovering. This creates working conditions for the marine archelogists much like they have on land, with millimeter precision.

Here is a picture taken from the ROV (original file 22MB), showing the arm in operation. The arm is holding the "hoover"/blower and gently removing sand around the artifacts.

Snappy,

I just had a look at your website - wow, you do some intense work!

Which camera are you using on your ROV for stills? 22mb - that's pretty impressive!

I saw a good article about ROV cameras recently in the back issues of Underwater Magazine.

Cheers

James

Thanks for the kind words about my website, James. As you may have seen it is being given a new layer of paint, just not quite done yet..

As for the ROV I should point out it isn't mine, nor is the canon powershot G6 (i seem to remeber ) that is attached to it. I was, however, given access to it and being able to do the set up and click the mouse while looking at the screen on deck.

If you 've been working with ROVs etc you will recognize the scenes in these photos. The one taken in the corner is remotely shot as well, I was really getting into the spirit of the whole ROV thing!

Better viz and weather, eh? :-)

J

And wearing shorts too! You guys have it too easy!