adamhanlon

I would contact Aquatica in Canada directly. They will be able to help you. I gather they are now supplying parts to owners in the UK. Adam

True, and I would not really disagree, but in their review of the G7X III, from the quote above, they are saying that its 24mm behind a flat port allows you to "shoot both wide angle and macro on the same dive." Surely it is the same for both? If the "advantage"of the Canon is that you can add an accessory lens to achieve a wider FOV, then the Nauticam option offers that same advantage: 1. Add the flip converter to the Nauticam housing, and can add any standard 67mm wide-angle converter. 2. Add the the N50 Short Port with Bayonet Mount, this allows the user to add WWL. I can't see why they suggest that this is an advantage unique to the G7?

I'm not sure where the information in this review is coming from. It is entirely and factually incorrect. With my (Nauticam) RX100 MKVI housing, the standard port offer the full zoom range...24-200mm. No problem using it for both macro and wide angle on a dive with the standard port if you wish. You can (with this housing) also add a flip adaptor to use wet lenses or chose to add ports that allow the use of other wet lens options if you chose. This is also true with the NA-RX100 VII housing. As sadly seems to be frequently the case with some of the Bluewater reviews, they have got their facts wrong... @PhilMed- All the RX100 series offers separate aperture and shutter speed dials? I'm not sure what you are suggesting here I don't find Sony's controls any more or less intuitive that Canon's and while I'm no fan of Sony's menus, I don't love Canon's much either! I don't really see this as being a significant difference, once you get used to them. I do prefer Canon's color treatment to Sony's but can normally fix this easily in post. The extra 100mm of reach on the Sony provides some really interesting options, both topside and underwater. The 200mm end is actually very usable. Combined with a macro lens, it offers an amazing super macro option in a very small bundle. The ability to use WWL lenses on Nauticam housings makes for really amazing wide angle performance.

Gulen is amazing, but a very different proposition! No guides, cool water (especially at peak nudibranch season in March) and super interesting (but definitely less abundant) critters. During the above mentioned season there are nudibranchs everywhere! They run a nudibranch safari, which is amazing and is great opportunity to get involved in some very cool citizen science. https://wetpixel.com/articles/the-shootout-2018-is-underway-in-lembeh-and-gulen The Lembeh vs Gulen Shootout may be running again in 2021...we ran one in 2016 and 2018. They are really amazing events.. https://wetpixel.com/articles/report-gulen-nudibranch-safari My feeling is that the Red Sea has everything that Cozumel can offer, but a lot more of it!

I kind of get the decision between the Maldives and the Red Sea (although as you mention, for macro, the Maldives does not present any advantages), but Cozumel is not in the same league as the other two destinations. It is a nice island and the diving is great, but it lacks the diversity of either of the other two. It is certainly no better for critters than the Red Sea. My experience is that bar spotted eagle rays, you would have the same chances of pelagics in the Red Sea as at Cozumel. Anything can (and does) happen at Ras Mohamed! Pelagic action is pretty much guaranteed in the Maldives... Shore diving is the Red Sea somewhat gets round the temperature issue.

Singapore and Indonesia have also joined the list: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3048659/coronavirus-here-are-countries-and-airlines-restricting This would be for anyone coming from or transiting via mainland China (including Hong Kong). Adam

@Interceptor121 The PADI Self Reliant Diver is officially recognized by CDWS and allows those that hold it to dive without a buddy. There is no problem getting hold of gear to dive without a buddy. I have done it on numerous occasions with multiple resorts and operations! Here is the official guidance: http://www.cdws.travel/documents/rules-regulations/CDWS SOLO Diving Policy-V6 (2).pdf (PDF) The "local laws" argument is propaganda put out by dive ops in order to earn income by providing guides. When I worked there, we used to tell people it was against local "law" to wear gloves, which is also incorrect. But it was a good way of deterring them from wearing them...:) http://www.cdws.travel/documents/rules-regulations/gloves and knives.pdf @sinetwo Na'ama Bay itself has limited diving. I would recommend one of the hotel further North that have the "Gardens" as their house reefs. These reefs are used a "destination" for the day boats operating out of Na'ama Bay! There is really nice hard and soft corals, along with host of macro critters. I have seen both mantas and a whale shark there (but this is very rare!). Ras um Sid has a great house reef (again a destination reef for the day boats), and there are definitely macro opportunities, but it is a relatively small reef compared to the Gardens. I would also agree that there are great options at other venues in the Red Sea. Nuweiba's house reef was great for muck diving, but it is challenging to get to as flights to Taba have not resumed yet. I dived a fair bit at Port Ghalib, and it has excellent macro, but it is all done from boats, which increases the cost and tends to limit repeat visits to the same areas of reef. In general, it takes me a few visits to figure out how to get the best of the subjects that are available. As others have pointed out, February is a windy and relatively cold time in the Red Sea. When I lived there and in subsequent visits, I wear a drysuit! Shore diving avoids all the hassle of cold wetsuits out on boats all day and is much more pleasant!

Do your Self Reliant Diver qualification at home. There are a number of UK operations that offer it. The advantage of shore diving is that you can visit the same spots multiple times and really get to know where the critters are, what times they emerge, how the light is etc. This is incredibly productive photographically. I would argue that it is much more productive than any of the normal "coach tours" that most non photo specific liveaboards or day boat operations provide. In fact, it can be more productve than this trips too... Adam

You will have to do your own spotting..which is a good experience in itself. Dive operations are great and efficient, but not particularly photo friendly. Unless you have a buddy, I would plan on diving without one (get a Self Reliant Diver certification). The advantage to this is that you get to chose when and where you dive too. If you don't want to do this, I am sure they will provide a DM for a fee, but don't expect them to find critters for you..

If you are after a macro trip, shore diving around Sharm would be a great option. Lots of really good varied macro life. Nudibranchs, Octopus, shrimps, porcelain crabs, morays and heaps of fish portrait material. With full frame, a 105mm is great! Try the Hyatt Regency. Their house reef is the Gardens, and offers some really good macro opportunities. Adam

There is a full list of airlines that are either reducing or stopping their flights to and from China: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-02/coronavirus-these-countries-airlines-restrict-travel-to-china Adam

Micronesia appears to have banned travel from any country with confirmed cases of coronavirus: "...the FSM emergency declaration casts a wide net, banning travel from the United States and over a dozen other countries where the 2019-nCoV has been confirmed." And: "There is a complete travel ban on visitors from China to the FSM. For people traveling to the FSM from other countries with confirmed cases of the coronavirus, they are required to spend 14 days in a country or territory without the virus before they will be allowed to enter Micronesian ports in Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk and Yap, Mr Panuelo's declaration stated." Details are here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/408617/fsm-marshall-islands-step-up-coronavirus-travel-bans And the official announcement is here: https://gov.fm/index.php/component/content/article/35-pio-articles/news-and-updates/262-clarification-of-the-public-health-emergency-declaration?Itemid=177 Adam

Updates: At least some flights that fly into or route via Hong Kong have now been cancelled. Alex Dawson reports that flights into Truk (Micronesia) are also affected.

To get the ball rolling, Wetpixel's friend and long-time community member Douglas Seifert ( @Yellowmon ) reported that the Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority suspended (https://news.pngfacts.com/2020/01/png-authorities-shut-down-entry-ports.html) all online visas, on-arrival visas and flights and other entries from Asia. This was subsequently reversed today (Friday 31 January), and now only individuals that have visited Wuhan Province are not allowed to enter.

The coronavirus outbreak in China has started to affect travel. Currently, this has mostly impacted travel to and from China, with airlines suspending flights and government issuing advice on travel to the country that effectively nullify travel insurance. For Government advice on travel, possible resources include the US State Department (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/china-travel-advisory.html), the UK's Foreign Office (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china) or the Canadian Government (https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/china) among others. As the situation develops, we ask that the Wetpixel community post in this thread their experiences, in order to help others to adapt or modify their travel plans.