SwiftFF5

Yeah, my wife and a couple of others in the group that I travel to Roatan with routinely carry magnifying glasses underwater. I love that Arrow Blenny shot, but all of yours are really nice.

One other thing to consider is an external monitor. I exclusively shoot video, so that was essential for me, but it certainly makes it much, much easier to see what is or isn't in focus. It does add a lot of cost and complexity to your apparatus, though, and adds to the drag of the system while swimming. So, there are trade-offs, but for me, an external monitor helps immensely.

Lol, I can certainly understand that part. Whenever I clean up the dog hairs from my single Golden, it looks like I should be able knit a sweater from all the hair.

Thank you, I appreciate that - and sorry for the thread hijack.

I agree that this is likely to take a while to resolve. Also, I want to point out that Biorxiv is for preprints, that is, they have not gone through peer review yet, so be very cautious about anything published there. It could well be correct, but also might have errors in methodology or analysis, for example. I am not saying that it is wrong, but to read papers there with a higher than normal level of skepticism.

To those of us who are firefighters and EMTs (ie, first responders), DRT = Dead Right There

Congratulations, nice work! (BTW, as aside, DRT has an entirely different meaning to EMS first responders...).

Wonderful images, thanks for sharing. They are inspiring.

Having been to Cuba and having dived the Gardens there, I can tell you that the crocs move pretty quickly and follow focus is important. I was shooting video, so this may not apply to you. However, they do get close, so a shorter lens is probably good as TimG says. One meter or less is not uncommon. It is a very cool experience, have fun! I would love to go back someday.

Very nice, thanks for sharing. I will be in Roatan again in a couple of weeks, and can't wait.

I love that shot of the tunicates, beautiful color.

That must have been an amazing trip. Thanks for sharing.

Back in the dark ages, when I worked as a mechanic's assistant in a gas station at 16 years old, we would use Coke to clean the corrosion off auto battery terminals. The phosphoric acid in it works well for that, but then you need to flush it thoroughly with fresh water to remove all the sugar. I have used this trick multiple times since then.

Thanks, 'll be there in mid-February - hope you have great trips as well.

Very nice, I recognize some of those spots. You found more nudibranchs than I normally see, so I guess that I am going to have to look closer. We just bought our airline tickets for our next trip back to Roatan, and I can't wait.

Yes, I have seen lots of those in Roatan, but never knew what they were. Now I will have to check them for the skeleton shrimp. I had no idea that they might be there. Thanks!

I use A2 Hosting for several domains. As I recall, it is $9.99 per month.

There are several threads here already on this topic. Here is a link to one of them:

Nice work, I can see why they would want to use that for marketing.

Yes, I did have to try a couple of positions before I was really happy with them. I have mine set just barely below my line of sight, so that it is easy to look down slightly to use them. Good luck.

Like @Bill1946, I use the stick-on lenses in my mask with good success. They are certainly the cheapest option, so you could try them first, and if they work - great. If not, you aren't out much money, and can try something else.

FWIW, Edmund Optics is a great resource. I may have to look through their catalog to see if there is anything that might help you. https://www.edmundoptics.com/ If you want to look through their selection of beam splitters, you have quite a few choices: https://www.edmundoptics.com/search/?criteria=beam%20splitter# .

I don't shoot stills, but have an interest in optics, so I took a look at your design, and it looks like a great idea. I wonder how well the 50% mirrors hold up to seawater. Any idea? I do like the design, though.

As always, Tim_G's suggestions are a great place to start. In addition, we need to know a little about you. Are you already a diver? What kinds of things are you looking to photograph - wide reef scenes, your dive buddies, tiny, macro subjects? What sort of budget do you have in mind (be aware that underwater photography is always more expensive than you think that it will be)? That will help us get an idea of which direction to start directing you.

What I tell our new divers (and try to do myself) is to equalize every time I take a breath while descending and again while ascending. I have always had some trouble equalizing, and this has helped me a lot, along with descending very slowly and deliberately. If I am going to be making many repetitive dives in a row, I may also take Sudafed (the real stuff that you have sign for at the pharmacy, not the "over the counter" stuff), and/or may spray a little Afrin decongestant in my ears (not the nose as you would normally). The Afrin in the ears trick helps very quickly, and was something that a Harbor Patrol diver told me about quite a few years ago. Of course, those are not approved uses for either medication, use at your own risk, I am not medically certified to give you advice, etc. etc.