By Jake Richter - NetTech on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 4:54 pm: |
I had been itching for a pleasure dive (and to try out my video lights with my housed video camera) for days, so after I wrapped up a particular project yesterday afternoon I finally thought I had found my opportunity - I also needed to clean the ReefCam which was getting a bit crusty. A phone call and some last minute unexpected business delayed me enough that I didn't get into the water until nearly 5:30pm, just in time for a twilight dive. I think it helped that he was orange while the gorgonian was dark brown. Anyhow, I had a good time [creak] moving my [creak] lights [creak] in order to provide him with good lighting so I could get some good footage. After a few minutes I decided it was enough (no doubt the poor thing was happy about that too) and I started my return to the ReefCam, having finished about half of my Nitrox tank. I kept looking for more seahorses and for frogfish, but to no avail, but them I literally stumbled over another(!) green moray - this one was smaller and more photogenic. (I was using the still photo imaging mode of my video camera for these shots incidentally, and none of them needed to have any color or contrast/brightness adjustments made in Photoshop, amazingly enough). I was surprised to find the second green moray because I thought they were rather territorial, and this one was maybe 200 feet from the other one's current lair. After getting my fill with Mr. Green the Dux (the second), I filmed a nice spotted trunkfish, a goldentail moray feeding on particulate matter in the water, and figured I'd had it as good as I was going to get it. However, as I neared the ReefCam, I came across a blue spotted coronetfish, whom I filmed (but didn't take any digital photos of - sorry). He seemed okay with my attention for a little while, but got annoyed after a couple of minutes and swam off. Naturally, I followed for a bit, playing with my color filter and lighting some more along the way. He stopped, let me shoot some more video, and then took off into the increasing gloom. At that point, with my air supply getting low, it was time to vacate the water, which I did, to discover the sun was about to set, painting the sky with amazing orangey-pink pastels. All in all a fantastic dive, which fully justified my decision to play hooky from work. Jake
|
By Gail Thomas on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 5:07 pm: |
Wondweful report Jake. We'll be staying at the Black Durgon July 6 - 13, and now I have a goal! To find the seahorse! Great photos too. Thanks for the report. Anxiously awaiting this 3rd trip! Gail
|
By Darryl Vleeming on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 5:11 pm: |
Wow,
|
By Kay Powers on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 7:19 pm: |
Oh Jake!!! I hope someday to be able to do a daily report just like yours.
|
By Alan & Joan Zale on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 8:09 pm: |
Thanks for posting the photos. They are great and give me something to shoot for in August.
|
By Meryl Virga on Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - 11:46 pm: |
Jake love the straight on view of the moray....I think they are one of my favorite creatures....good angles and shots....hope to see more,,,,You should market your photos on your tee's they would sell like hotcakes.....(to us anyway!)
|
By Jake Richter - NetTech on Thursday, May 9, 2002 - 8:38 am: |
Thanks! I used my Sony PC-100 MiniDV Cam in a Light & Motion Mako housing. Above photos were taken in the 1152x852 still photo mode of the camera - so very low resolution to start with. Lighting was all just via video lights. I took the photos into Photoshop, cropped them, scaled them down, sharpened them, and the result is what you see above.
|
By Lorraine Meadows on Thursday, May 9, 2002 - 9:03 am: |
Glad you took some time off to"smell the roses" and share your pictures.Great shot of the seahorse! (my favorites)
|
By Glen Reem on Thursday, May 9, 2002 - 12:28 pm: |
Jake,
|
By Andrew Clark on Thursday, May 9, 2002 - 2:39 pm: |
Ow! Ow! Ow! The PBD hurts. 13 days.
|
By Cynde Lee on Thursday, May 9, 2002 - 3:33 pm: |
OK, now that I have gotten THAT out of my system...thank you jake for taking me on a "dive at 5" in my most favorite place in the world....I felt myself there with every fin kick...my only conselation is that I got to hang out at the Long Beach Aquarium last night and get tested on my species ID...looking at them through the glass...I think I better read your report again and again and again and again...Oh and Andrew it has been 8 months since Bonaire...the only cure for BPD is to go back...
|
By DARLENE ELLIS on Thursday, May 9, 2002 - 3:33 pm: |
Jake!!! Oh, wow!!!! I was vizulizing myself right by your side during that awesome twilight dive!!! Thank you so much for the very discriptive way that you presented your dive. As I read it I truely drifted away and the pictures were just the finishing touch!!!!! Thanks my friend!!
|
By Andrew Clark on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 8:35 am: |
Cynde for me Post Bonaire Depression becomes Pre Bonaire Depression as soon as my next reservations are confirmed. Jake exasperates the syndrome with such detailed reports and great photos causing me to vibrate harder in anticipation of my next dive on Bonaire. Now only 12days to go!
|
By Ginny Stokes on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 12:39 pm: |
Andrew, I like your new definition of PBD - and I've got it too...but it's something like 280 days till our next trip back!
|
By Cynde Lee on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 5:00 pm: |
andrew....12 days...phttt...i can't complain too much because in 4 weeks we will be spending the week on catalina island (off the southern california coast) diving for the week...won't be quiet as warm though, water is still hovering around 59 degrees
|
By Carole Baker on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 6:21 pm: |
Great report and photos, Jake...sounds and looks wonderful. I love that time of the day in the water...all sorts of activity ending and beginning. Thanks again and see you next week! CArole (Shutterbug)
|
By DJ on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 7:59 pm: |
Jake,thank you great report and wonderful pictures.You certainly make us all envious. Look forward to seeing you in July!
|
By Becky Grennan on Monday, May 13, 2002 - 12:28 pm: |
Great report, Jake. Thanks for making it so entertaining. I agree that I felt as if I was diving along side you.
|
Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites