Ken Kurtis

Despite somewhat unusual weather (a bit windier than normal and cloudy-to-overcast with one overnight of rain), we're having a wonderful time in Bonaire. Viz isn't quite as good as it normally is, probably running around 50-60 feet instead of the usual 80-100 but that doesn't mean we can't find great things to photograph. We've already seen the requisite Seahorse and Frogfish, and have also seen plenty of Tarpon, Barracuda, and turtles. Today (Wed) we found an enormous Midnight Parrotfish (which I happen to think are gorgeous) as well as two co-operative Squid. Tomorrow is our last day of boat diving (we all-beach/shore on Friday) and we plan on going to Forest, where there are two French Angelfish who got nuts when offered watermelon. The hope is to photo each person feeding some melon to the fish. On Friday morning, we'll do the Hilma Hooker, which will also be Wil Lemley's 1500th dive. Wil was one of my L.A. County ADP (Advanced Diving Program) students back in 1982 and it will be great to share this milestone with him, almost 31 years later.

I've been posting "Top 10" pictures each day in separate galleries on SmugMug ( www.kenkurtis.smugmug.com ). Take a peek!!!

We had yet another fantastic week at Manta Ray Bay Hotel in Yap last week which included an incredible 90-minute manta experience, a great shark feed, wonderful
Mandarinfish encounters, and a whole lot more. You can see the pix and read all about it through these links:


TRIP REPORT - http://www.reefseeke...rip report.html

A FEW PIX (w/other links) - http://www.reefseeke...ap 2013 pix.htm

SMUGMUG 100-IMAGE SLIDE SHOW - http://kenkurtis.smu...6060810_Xj6Pq5C

MAGICAL MANTA MORNING (video) -

"ROUTINE" SHARK FEED (video) -

MANIC MANTA MINUTE (video) -

Enjoy!!!!

- Ken

Back from Down Under and happy to share it all with you:

Trip report - http://www.reefseekers.com/PIXPAGES/Australia%202012/Australia%202012%20trip%20report.html

Pix, slideshow, & videos - http://www.reefseekers.com/PIXPAGES/Australia%202012/Australia%202012%20pix.htm

Enjoy!!!! (We certainly did . . . )

- Ken

Although it's hard to tell what the viz really is at night, it seemed pretty good, perhaps 20 feet or so. There's definitely "new" debris all over the
bottom from maybe 30-80 feet (presumably from the sand renourishment project, which is now completed) but it's also attracted a lot of crabs and other animals
to the area.

We had a fabulous 45-minute dive and I've cobbled together a 2-minute video from my GoPro which is on my YouTube account. Have your speakers on. Available
in 720P HD if your monitor supports that.

Redondo night dive 10 18 12 - YouTube

- Ken

For those interested (GoPro hero2 medium & narrow, dual Sola 1200 lights, magic Filter, +10 diopter at all times). Speakers on. Quality and full-screen controls lower right of player:

http://kenkurtis.smugmug.com/Underwater/Bonaire-2012-video/25804827_dD5975#!i=2135554323&k=WCKN99g

- Ken