yahsemtough

Use Shadows in Aperture editing after to ease a little of the frustration.

There is also NCUPS. But, like David I find I enter very few anymore.

There are wide angle opportunities in Bonaire. I think there are in just about any destination, but some require a little more work and luck. Bonaire generally is good for turtle encounters which lend them self well to wide angle shooting. Also the Salt Pier if available to dive provides for interesting wide angle opportunities. Various piers and docks also tend to have schools of fish congregating around them so they also can be a good opportunity. I agree that I tend to carry macro more while in Bonaire but, do load up the wide angle and shoot when I find a site that works. That is the plus to Bonaire, you can go back after your macro dive and shoot the wide angle that you have found. Cheers Todd

Apparently they have been able to date harpoons found in the whales and some date back that far. I was stunned to hear.

I was running the GoPro camera on top of my housing when in the water and captured this Bowhead encounter in the arctic this week. Momentarily I was not sure what to do as the 75 tonne whale was heading right towards me. Then instincts kicked in and I got some images. You can hear my camera. Sorry, I am not an experienced video guy but you get the idea. https://vimeo.com/47750786

A picture of me with one of the Bowhead whales. Amazing size as this is just the tip of the whales nose and they can weigh between 75 and 100 tonnes. Apparently the second largest whale only to the Blue whale.http://www.flickr.com/photos/tmintz/7803982932/in/photostream/lightbox/

On route back from the arctic after an amazing trip. Day after day amazing encounters with Polar bears and Bowhead whales combined with stunning scenery in the National Park in the the Canadian arctic. Snorkeled with about 20 Bowhead whales, some which have been dated to 200 years old. We were within 10 meters of Polar bears on the boat. Last remaining portion of the ice age Penny ice cap and Coronation Glacier. Now time to start editing.

I wish I could but will one day. I will be up in the arctic then. Cheers Todd

Great work Shawn! I am starting to think I should see this action myself. Ditto Phil. Kudos! Todd

I am with my fellow Canadian Mike on this one Drew. You take a pot shot at Canadians like that we may send our submarine after you when we get it functional. Todd

Very sorry to hear your first experience with your set-up did not go as you had hoped. I do not shoot the camera you mention so I cannot comment on the specifics as to why your set-up created the problems you experienced. I do however shoot an Aquatica housing and this one would be my fourth. I have had only one time when water has got into the housing and that was user error and rushing the process. I was cleaning the housing for a soak at home after a trip and did not watch as I sealed the backplate onto the housing. The o-ring pinched. Fortunately no camera was in the housing and I learned from my mistake. User error. I have hundreds of dives in Bonaire and am well versed with the sand on the o-ring. It is a fact of shore diving and the wash/surf that occurs in the shallows. But, it is impossible for the sand to get in and around your o-ring unless you have not seated the back plate and o-ring properly. I make a habit of continually checking my o-ring before replacing the back plate on the housing every time I open it. I do not necessarily remove the o-ring but check it for anything that may have been grabbed by the grease etc. I have also found sand on the outside edge of the o-ring with my Seatool housing and my Sea and Sea. I do know that certain levers and, sometimes even the zoom gear can catch on another lever or arm when inserting the camera. (This can happen with any housing) I use the baseplate as a guide as to how well the camera is seated. If the baseplate does not slide easily and the rear locking mechanism fit perfectly without any pressure then I know the camera is seated as it was designed to be. The backplate should sit easily on the back before locking it down, then I know everything is insert properly. I then give it a quick check and fire a few shots and once in the water I always check the housing on first dip for bubbles and or water. I should also mention I have subjected my housings to some of the most difficult conditions, the arctic, and while sand is not a concern ; ) I have had absolutely no problems with o-ring seating even in the harsh, cold conditions. As for the extension ring it is unfortunate that the sales person did not properly explain the need for the extension ring. You did mention it was one of the first off the line so it is possible the salesperson was not aware of the need. I do not have the mini dome so I also can not speak from personal experience with that piece of gear. Sorry to hear about the issues you experienced. I know we all hate to not be able to create images on dives but I am sure lots of us have made errors in housing set-up that have prevented us from shooting on dives. I remember pointing out the Nikon lens cap to a good buddy one dive a hundred feet down. Cheers Todd

Get a large water bottle and leave it in the back of the truck to use after the dive to rinse off with. Easily refilled after drinking the initial bottle.

Extremely small dive boat for a week with 4 other guys and a bag of Cheetos. Very scary! Todd

Fantastic encounters and I agree that white calf is beautiful. Cheers and thanks for sharing. Todd

Very nice work. Todd