we are planning on renting a camera when we spend a week in bonaire in may. we will be doing our checkout dives and then will dive the week. we have dove before via a resort course and were rather comfortable uw and felt we had decent boyancy skills for beginers but have no photography experience. we are considering the MMII. would welcome any comments on the camera and if it would be a better idea to get an autofocus camera

Russ, I am not an underwater photographer, but from what I read above, you are just getting your open water certification. Please consider taking a photography class from one of the many photo shops on the island. They will not only teach you how to take good pictures, they will show you how to steady yourself, what you can touch or not, how to protect the reef, etc. You will be adding a whole lot of distraction by putting a camera in your hand that you have not had to contend with before.

If you have read much on this board, bad buoyancy skills, especially when exhibited by camera toting tourists, is a sore point with many of us. Please consider taking a class, not just renting a camera, and learn to protect the reef while you capture memories to share with friends and family.

Russ -- you may be surprised at how much distraction the camera causes. When we were open water certified, I waited until the 5th dive (our first after certification) -- and took my little Canon auto focus/good to 16 ft. camera that I've used for snorkeling for years. I couldn't manage the camera & keeping my mask clear, keeping my buoyancy right, etc. -- too many things to adjust, too few hands! After that experience I read up a little on diving & photography. Everything I've read says to dive for a couple of YEARS before you try to take the camera with you. So my trusty Canon waterproof to 16' camera will be making the trip to Bonaire and I'll use it extensively -- while I snorkel!!!!! But it'll stay topside when I'm diving. Just my .02 cents worth! Jan

Russ,
I have to agree with the rest on this. Bouyancy control takes a long time to master and uw photography requires very good control. In a addition, they create a distraction to a new diver that can easily cause them to lose track of air supply or depth, not a good thing !!! May I suggest that instead, you go on one of the dives where a pro uw videograhper comes along and videos your dive. They do a great job, you don't have to buy if you don't like it and the cost is about $40 to $50 for the video. If you absoultely must do some of your own photography, at least wait until the latter part of your trip to give you time to practice your bouyancy. As for camera, many of the shops rent Sea & Sea MX-10 cameras, simple point and shoot and they do a good job ( I use one myself). Besides, photographers usally miss a lot of the dive do to the focus (forgive the pun) they must devote to bouyancy and framing the shot. The fish will be there next year.

And (adding my 2 Gilders worth), a MM II w/strobe is an outstanding camera. If you are planning to rent at home and bring it with you make sure they brief you on maintaining the seals and changing the film. The recommendations on bouyancy and checking you SPG are right on, assuming you are diving with a buddy they can help ensure you don't drop below minimums and stay clear of the reef. Autofocus cameras are usually SLR cameras in a housing (very expensive), the MX 10 is fixed focus and very easy to operate. I started there but quickly moved on. Photography is a great bonus when diving, you might ask the resort/dive shop about taking an U/W Photography speciality course. They are available in Macro (the little guys) and normal framing. Have a ball !!!

I have rented MX-10's in the past and taken them with me. Now I have bought one and will take it on this upcoming trip. I usually dive for a day or to to get acclimated to the environment and leave the camera in the room. After the first day or two I will then take the camera along. The MX-10 is basically just a point and shoot with just a control for strobe on or off and an f-stop adjustment. If you go to any dive shop that sells Sea and Sea you can pick up a book on using it and the MM-II. Book gives you lots of good tips on how to use it and how to judge apparent distance underwater so you will have better pictures. The point about uw photogs missing the dive is correct. You get so interested in what to shoot next you miss the big picture.

Have fun
Be in Bonaire this saturday
Barry Baker

As an u/w photography I would really advise you to wait. Capture the pictures in your mind and enjoy your diving, getting control of your bouyancy, navigation, keeping track of your air supply, etc. I did not start doing photography until after my 2nd or 3rd year of diving. Like all the comments above it's really difficult to combine everything especially for new divers. For now enjoy your diving and leave the photography for later. If you chose not to then I would advise taking a course where you have an instructor (preferably one/one).

Gail I must partiallly disagree with you on this one. Each person's abilities differ, if Russ feels comfortable with his buoyancy there is no time like the present and no place like Bonaire to start learning a new skill. Monitoring your air supply is of course paramount, but navigation in Bonaire is a matter of following the contour of the bottom. If it is getting less deeper you are headed for land. All but a few of Bonaire's dive sites are rated for beginning divers, so if Russ is strong with his skills and those of his buddy, I would say go for it. By posting here I assume he is aware of the on-going effort to protect the reef by avoiding ANY contact whatsoever. I do agree taking a course with one of Bonaire's U/W Photographer (dive instructor is not necessary)will enhance every U/W photographers ability.