Dive #18 [ 08:40 | EAN31 | 35' | max.30m, avg.20m | viz<10m | Alcyone ]
Dive #19 [ 11:42 | EAN33 | 30' | max.30m, avg.20m | viz<10m | Alcyone ]
Dive #20 [ 15:42 | EAN34 | 57' | max.26m, avg.15m | viz.15m | Manuelita ]
Dive #21 [ 18:20 | EAN34 | 42' | max.14m, avg.9m | night | Manuelita ]
Empty blue at Alcyone. Whitetip warm-up tumble at Manuelita.
At night, we once more mingled with an ever increasing multitude of whitetips, for some up close and personal moments :o) Somehow I found myself in the middle of the pack again, loving every second of it. Sharks bumping into my camera & torch, squeezing by underneath my arms. While sometimes hectic indeed, it never got chaotic, and I always felt completely at ease.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Hammerheads
Dive #15 [ 08:22 | EAN32 | 42' | max.22m, avg.16m | viz.20m | Dos Amigos ]
Dive #16 [ 11:15 | EAN33 | 44' | max.30m, avg.19m | viz.20m | Dos Amigos ]
Dive #17 [ 15:32 | EAN31 | 46' | max.22m, avg.14m | viz<20m | Manuelita ]
Hammerheads by the dozen, whitetip bustle, marble rays & schooling fish under Dos Amigos Grande's arch and pairing jacks at Manuelita.
Dive #16 [ 11:15 | EAN33 | 44' | max.30m, avg.19m | viz.20m | Dos Amigos ]
Dive #17 [ 15:32 | EAN31 | 46' | max.22m, avg.14m | viz<20m | Manuelita ]
Hammerheads by the dozen, whitetip bustle, marble rays & schooling fish under Dos Amigos Grande's arch and pairing jacks at Manuelita.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Close encounters!
Dive #11 [ 08:01 | EAN31 | 41' | max.30m, avg.22m | viz.15m | Alcyone ]
Dive #12 [ 11:05 | EAN32 | 35' | max.29m, avg.22m | viz.15m | Alcyone ]
Dive #13 [ 15:40 | EAN32 | 55' | max.16m, avg.12m | viz.10m | Silverado ]
Dive #14 [ 18:28 | EAN32 | 40' | max.19m, avg.12m | night | Manuelita ]
Hammerheads relatively close and a pack of resting whitetips at Alcyone. Not a single silvertip in need of cleaning at Silverado, but we got face to face with a red lipped batfish and a snake eel.
Great night dive among prowling whitetips, hungry giant trevally and brave lobsters scurrying about. Caution: Beware of the sea-urchins!
Dive #12 [ 11:05 | EAN32 | 35' | max.29m, avg.22m | viz.15m | Alcyone ]
Dive #13 [ 15:40 | EAN32 | 55' | max.16m, avg.12m | viz.10m | Silverado ]
Dive #14 [ 18:28 | EAN32 | 40' | max.19m, avg.12m | night | Manuelita ]
Hammerheads relatively close and a pack of resting whitetips at Alcyone. Not a single silvertip in need of cleaning at Silverado, but we got face to face with a red lipped batfish and a snake eel.
Great night dive among prowling whitetips, hungry giant trevally and brave lobsters scurrying about. Caution: Beware of the sea-urchins!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Fish weather
Dive #8 [ 08:30 | EAN31 | 46' | max.29m, avg.18m | viz.15m | Dirty Rock ]
Dive #9 [ 11:27 | EAN32 | 47' | max.28m, avg.19m | viz.15m | Dirty Rock ]
Dive #10 [ 15:22 | EAN30 | 49' | max.30m, avg.17m | viz.20m | Viking Rock ]
Pouring rain. Any wetter and the fish will be flying around. On the bright side however, we got to mingle with jacks, saw dolphins swimming by and had some hammerheads coming a bit closer than usual.
Overcast sky, relatively deep dives and rather poor visibility alas ain't what you'd call ideal conditions for underwater photography without strobes... meaning taking down my compact Sea&Sea DX8000G digital camera would be a futile exercise. Luckily, video is another matter, so for memory's sake and your visual needs, I'm trying to capture some moments with a housed Panasonic Lumix FS5 compact digital camera.
Dive #9 [ 11:27 | EAN32 | 47' | max.28m, avg.19m | viz.15m | Dirty Rock ]
Dive #10 [ 15:22 | EAN30 | 49' | max.30m, avg.17m | viz.20m | Viking Rock ]
Pouring rain. Any wetter and the fish will be flying around. On the bright side however, we got to mingle with jacks, saw dolphins swimming by and had some hammerheads coming a bit closer than usual.
Overcast sky, relatively deep dives and rather poor visibility alas ain't what you'd call ideal conditions for underwater photography without strobes... meaning taking down my compact Sea&Sea DX8000G digital camera would be a futile exercise. Luckily, video is another matter, so for memory's sake and your visual needs, I'm trying to capture some moments with a housed Panasonic Lumix FS5 compact digital camera.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Action!
Dive #4 [ 08:04 | EAN30 | 53' | max.30m, avg.19m | viz<15m | Manuelita ]
Dive #5 [ 11:01 | EAN31 | 51' | max.27m, avg.15m | viz.10m | Manuelita ]
Dive #6 [ 15:09 | EAN34 | 48' | max.25m, avg.14m | viz.15m | Manuelita ]
Dive #7 [ 18:22 | EAN31 | 53' | max.16m, avg.10m | night | Manuelita ]
A few scalloped hammerheads (3-4m) keeping their distance, whitetip reef sharks (1–1½m) resting on sandy patches or slowly patrolling around, marble rays weaving by and a relatively large school of jacks hovering like a dark cloud above us. That is, Cocos usual suspects.
Highlight of the day was our night dive on Manuelita's shallow side, where dozens of whitetips immediately joined us to pack-hunt by the light of our powerful torches! An incredible experience indeed :o)
Dive #5 [ 11:01 | EAN31 | 51' | max.27m, avg.15m | viz.10m | Manuelita ]
Dive #6 [ 15:09 | EAN34 | 48' | max.25m, avg.14m | viz.15m | Manuelita ]
Dive #7 [ 18:22 | EAN31 | 53' | max.16m, avg.10m | night | Manuelita ]
A few scalloped hammerheads (3-4m) keeping their distance, whitetip reef sharks (1–1½m) resting on sandy patches or slowly patrolling around, marble rays weaving by and a relatively large school of jacks hovering like a dark cloud above us. That is, Cocos usual suspects.
Highlight of the day was our night dive on Manuelita's shallow side, where dozens of whitetips immediately joined us to pack-hunt by the light of our powerful torches! An incredible experience indeed :o)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Under pressure
Dive #1 [ 08:19 | EAN34 | 51' | max.13m, avg.10m | viz.15m | Bahia Chatham ]
Dive #2 [ 11:17 | EAN34 | 52' | max.29m, avg.16m | viz.10m | Isla Pejora ]
Dive #3 [ 15:41 | EAN34 | 51' | max.21m, avg.12m | viz<15m | Manuelita ]
Except for the check-out dive, all diving is done in two separate groups from two zodiacs. Most dive sites are located off the main island, around rocks or seamounts. As these are relatively small, both groups usually dive different sides or sites.
Cocos being an oceanic island, swept by sometimes breathtaking strong currents, divers must be confident they can handle rough conditions and blue ascents with SMB deployment from 5m or deeper. Water temperature rarely drops below 27°C, so that's no challenge.
With up to four dives a day and initial depths varying between 20-30m, Nitrox, at 113$ for the week, is highly recommended, both for safety and extended bottom times. Deco dives are not allowed.
Dive #2 [ 11:17 | EAN34 | 52' | max.29m, avg.16m | viz.10m | Isla Pejora ]
Dive #3 [ 15:41 | EAN34 | 51' | max.21m, avg.12m | viz<15m | Manuelita ]
Except for the check-out dive, all diving is done in two separate groups from two zodiacs. Most dive sites are located off the main island, around rocks or seamounts. As these are relatively small, both groups usually dive different sides or sites.
Cocos being an oceanic island, swept by sometimes breathtaking strong currents, divers must be confident they can handle rough conditions and blue ascents with SMB deployment from 5m or deeper. Water temperature rarely drops below 27°C, so that's no challenge.
With up to four dives a day and initial depths varying between 20-30m, Nitrox, at 113$ for the week, is highly recommended, both for safety and extended bottom times. Deco dives are not allowed.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Puntarenas - Cocos Island
Not feeling too great until noon, when suddenly I'm just fine again and hungry. The sea's actually amazingly smooth, with long flat swells. The blue sky's showing off some dramatic 3D cloud formations.
We're twenty divers on this trip, all Germans except for myself, and surprisingly most happen to come from Bayern, that is, the Bundesland I currently call home. To take care of us, there's a crew of eight: captain/divemaster, three divemasters/boatdrivers, chef & assistant, steward and engineer.
Cocos Island is located about 530km west of Costa Rica's Pacific coast, a 32 hours sail for the Okeanos Aggressor (length: 33m, beam: 7m, draft: 3m, cruising speed: 10 knots, max 22 passengers).
We're twenty divers on this trip, all Germans except for myself, and surprisingly most happen to come from Bayern, that is, the Bundesland I currently call home. To take care of us, there's a crew of eight: captain/divemaster, three divemasters/boatdrivers, chef & assistant, steward and engineer.
Cocos Island is located about 530km west of Costa Rica's Pacific coast, a 32 hours sail for the Okeanos Aggressor (length: 33m, beam: 7m, draft: 3m, cruising speed: 10 knots, max 22 passengers).
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
San Jose - Puntarenas
After an early breakfast, where I get to meet some of the other passengers, we're all checked into a mini-bus by Rudolfo, for our transfer to Puntarenas, where the Okeanos Aggressor is waiting for us. The ride, commented all the way by Rudolfo, only takes 3 hours, including short stops at a roadside eatery, fruit-stall (cashew nuts, 1500 CRC) and supermarket (1/2l Powerade, 600 CRC).
At the dock, the ship's sturdy Costa-Rican crew welcomes us and quickly loads all our stuff on board. I'm sharing the four bed bow cabin with Jürgen. With four it'd be rather crowded, but being only two, we've got plenty of space to move around and stow our things. Each cabin has its own toilet & shower and adjustable AC.
Settled in we immediately also set-up our dive gear on the large aft deck. After a quick shower, we're served a light lunch and get briefed about standard boat safety procedures.
The weather's pretty nice, but I've strapped Petra's sea-bands around my wrists anyways. Note that anti-seasickness pills are available on board, personally though, I'd rather avoid any medication unless absolutely necessary. Besides, should the crossing get rough tonight, resulting in hard slamming of the bow, I guess I could always try to get some sleep on one of the couches in the main deck's salon?
At the dock, the ship's sturdy Costa-Rican crew welcomes us and quickly loads all our stuff on board. I'm sharing the four bed bow cabin with Jürgen. With four it'd be rather crowded, but being only two, we've got plenty of space to move around and stow our things. Each cabin has its own toilet & shower and adjustable AC.
Settled in we immediately also set-up our dive gear on the large aft deck. After a quick shower, we're served a light lunch and get briefed about standard boat safety procedures.
The weather's pretty nice, but I've strapped Petra's sea-bands around my wrists anyways. Note that anti-seasickness pills are available on board, personally though, I'd rather avoid any medication unless absolutely necessary. Besides, should the crossing get rough tonight, resulting in hard slamming of the bow, I guess I could always try to get some sleep on one of the couches in the main deck's salon?
Monday, July 20, 2009
Orquideas Inn
Transit day at the Orquideas Inn. I'm sharing a room with Jürgen, a German diver & underwater photographer.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sonthofen - San Jose
Train from Sonthofen, via Ulm, to Frankfurt (5h). Flight from Frankfurt, via Santo Domingo, to San José (15h). Door to door a 27 hour journey. Traveling this far west, I actually went back 8 hours.
Currency: 1 Euro = 820 CRC , 1 USD = 0.7 Euro , 1 USD = 580 CRC
Currency: 1 Euro = 820 CRC , 1 USD = 0.7 Euro , 1 USD = 580 CRC
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Packing day
My flight being with Condor I'm only allowed 20kg, so for an additional 50€ I bought myself an extra 30kg so as to be able to pack just about any dive gear I might need. When diving around a small island in the middle of the ocean, you don't want to make any compromises regarding SCUBA & safety equipment.
Preparing & packing all my stuff took about five hours. My dive bag weighs 24kg, my clothes & toiletries trolley 8kg and my hand luggage 10kg (incl. laptop and heavy dive light battery).
Preparing & packing all my stuff took about five hours. My dive bag weighs 24kg, my clothes & toiletries trolley 8kg and my hand luggage 10kg (incl. laptop and heavy dive light battery).
Friday, July 17, 2009
Last-minute booking
After an early phone call from Tauchreisen Roscher confirming availability and price, I gave myself one hour to quickly check things out before calling them back to book my next adventure!
Departure's in two days so I've got no time to waste :o) Action!
Departure's in two days so I've got no time to waste :o) Action!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Trip enquiry
Sent an email to Tauchreisen Roscher enquiring about a last-minute offer for a 10 day dive trip to Cocos aboard the Okeanos Aggressor.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
IUCN
Two days ago I got a rather lengthy ego flattering email from IUCN via Flickr, requesting permission to use my finned shark photos in a publication about endangered marine animals, meant to raise awareness about conservation issues and inspire people to action.
These sad pictures actually already got some broader public attention before, thanks to volunteers and web reporters, but this time they'll be exposed to an even larger audience:
With phrasing like:
IUCN publishes the "Red List of Threathened Species" among others.
These sad pictures actually already got some broader public attention before, thanks to volunteers and web reporters, but this time they'll be exposed to an even larger audience:
... We have decided to produce a book targeted to the public to raise awareness about the latest issues facing ocean animals. Our aim is to inspire people to action through a collection of witty but true stories and inspiring photos of marine creatures. The book is called: "Adrift, Tales of Ocean Fragility". ...
... The book features twelve stories of different ocean animals such as lobsters, sharks, tropical corals, abalone, wrasse, eider ducks, tuna and more, each illustrated with stunning photos. ...
... The book will be launched at IUCN’s World Conservation Congress this October - this huge conference takes place every 4 years and is the largest regular gathering of conservation organizations - we are expecting 8,000 people this year. The press will be invited to the formal launch of the book. The book will be sold at aquariums throughout the world and online through various re-sellers. ... The book has no commercial intent whatsoever. All proceeds from the book will go to conservation projects focused on marine species. ...
With phrasing like:
You will be prominently credited on the photo credits page of the book ... to help give your photos more profile.and
This is a great opportunity for you to help the cause of marine conservation, and to achieve a small slice of fame for your photography!, how could I possibly have said no :o)
IUCN publishes the "Red List of Threathened Species" among others.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
TillyTec LED 1000 underwater light
Having a movie project in mind needing illumination, I once more turned to TillyTec, maker of lights for divers venturing into darkness. And came back home with a bright new TillyTec LED 1000.
⊕ Modularity & expandability.
⊕ Power: 100W halogen equivalent output according to the manufacturer's specifications (5000°K, 25000 Lux).
⊕ Burn time: 195' on my Green Force Flexi II NiMh battery.
⊕ Robustness.
∅ It is not possible to dim the light's output, nor change the beam's angle from e.g. spot to flood. Remark that while you can slightly adjust the beam's focus while underwater, it's not really recommended to do so, due to the risk of flooding should any dirt have lodged itself on the lens's o-ring.
⊕ The clear glass lens can be replaced by a frosted one for more diffused lighting purposes.
⊕ A Goodman handle is available as optional accessory, and highly recommended for e.g. cave or wreck diving, where having one's hands free for other tasks may be crucial.
⊕ Great light both for recreational & technical diving.
→ LED 1000 in action while night diving with & filming white tip reef sharks around Cocos Island
→ LED 1000 (with diffuser) in conjunction with a HID 35 (with flood reflector) while cave diving in Mexico
⊕ Modularity & expandability.
⊕ Power: 100W halogen equivalent output according to the manufacturer's specifications (5000°K, 25000 Lux).
⊕ Burn time: 195' on my Green Force Flexi II NiMh battery.
⊕ Robustness.
∅ It is not possible to dim the light's output, nor change the beam's angle from e.g. spot to flood. Remark that while you can slightly adjust the beam's focus while underwater, it's not really recommended to do so, due to the risk of flooding should any dirt have lodged itself on the lens's o-ring.
⊕ The clear glass lens can be replaced by a frosted one for more diffused lighting purposes.
⊕ A Goodman handle is available as optional accessory, and highly recommended for e.g. cave or wreck diving, where having one's hands free for other tasks may be crucial.
⊕ Great light both for recreational & technical diving.
→ LED 1000 in action while night diving with & filming white tip reef sharks around Cocos Island
→ LED 1000 (with diffuser) in conjunction with a HID 35 (with flood reflector) while cave diving in Mexico
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
DYK Rejsespecial 2007-2008
In April 2006 I did some deep wreck exploration in the Gulf of Thailand from the M/V Trident live-aboard.
A year later, Jamie Macleod, owner & captain of the Trident, asked me if I could help out Dmitri Gorski by letting him use some of my underwater photos taken during that trip. Honored by the request, I of course obliged :o)
This month, Dmitri's five page article about technical diving in Thailand, together with four of my photos, got published in Scandinavia's main dive magazine: DYK (Rejsespecial 2007-2008).
A year later, Jamie Macleod, owner & captain of the Trident, asked me if I could help out Dmitri Gorski by letting him use some of my underwater photos taken during that trip. Honored by the request, I of course obliged :o)
This month, Dmitri's five page article about technical diving in Thailand, together with four of my photos, got published in Scandinavia's main dive magazine: DYK (Rejsespecial 2007-2008).
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
PADI
I became a PADI certified diver in 1993 and an instructor three years later. I officially remained a PADI pro till the end of last year, after which I stopped paying for the honour. (read why below)
From 2000 to 2006, I paid my yearly membership fee to PADI Europe (headquartered in Switzerland), even though I lived in Denmark and thus technically belonged to PADI Nordic (headquartered in Sweden). The reason being that I wanted to be kept up-to-date in English, an option not offered by PADI Nordic.
My affiliation to another region was not a problem until 2006, when I tried to order some teaching material from PADI Europe. My online order was processed alright, but got cancelled later on by PADI Europe, which subsequently also decided all by itself to transfer my membership to PADI Nordic. For seven years PADI Europe cashed in my membership fees, sent me self-promoting newsletters, self-congratulatory magazines & eternal guideline updates; but when I actually wanted to use their services to get some teaching done, they suddenly remembered only local headquarters were allowed to sell me anything. As if I care where a manual actually comes from when I order online. A week later I got a welcome letter from PADI Nordic. In Swedish. And I no longer had access to the online shop. So I had to tell my student to get the necessary course material from a Danish dive shop at twice the price.
After having done the theory, we travelled to Thailand to do the actual open water training. While the Thai dive shop we used as a base fully assisted me, PADI however once again left me standing alone & fuming, refusing to accept my instructor credentials for instant online certification of my student. The reason: in order to be able to certify new divers in Thailand you have to be a member of PADI Asia (headquartered in Singapore). Meaning, I guess, I'm supposed to temporarily transfer my affiliation each time I want to teach & certify while on holidays somewhere outside my region?
When a year ago I moved to Germany, PADI Nordic & Europe joined forces and professionally screwed up again. Starting with PADI Nordic ignoring my request for re-transfer to PADI Europe (probably waiting to cash in my membership fee first) and followed by PADI Europe mishandling my membership renewal for 2007 (despite direct e-mail contact). So I stepped out. After 10 years as a PADI pro.
Today, out of the blue, PADI Europe sent me a congratulatory letter, thanking me for my continued support of the organization, significant role in its growth and felicitating me -about one year late- with my tenth anniversary as a PADI member. I guess they haven't realized yet I've left the association. That or they're in total denial. They also assume I must be pleased to know that I'll even be listed in the 2nd quarter "Undersea Journal" in recognition of my commitment. Second quarter? Either it already came out several months ago, or it sure is several months late. Not that it matters, at least I'm not getting that nonsense any longer.
Hyped-up recognition is alas what PADI is very much about: badges for anything, certificates for whatever and pins to prove it.
From 2000 to 2006, I paid my yearly membership fee to PADI Europe (headquartered in Switzerland), even though I lived in Denmark and thus technically belonged to PADI Nordic (headquartered in Sweden). The reason being that I wanted to be kept up-to-date in English, an option not offered by PADI Nordic.
My affiliation to another region was not a problem until 2006, when I tried to order some teaching material from PADI Europe. My online order was processed alright, but got cancelled later on by PADI Europe, which subsequently also decided all by itself to transfer my membership to PADI Nordic. For seven years PADI Europe cashed in my membership fees, sent me self-promoting newsletters, self-congratulatory magazines & eternal guideline updates; but when I actually wanted to use their services to get some teaching done, they suddenly remembered only local headquarters were allowed to sell me anything. As if I care where a manual actually comes from when I order online. A week later I got a welcome letter from PADI Nordic. In Swedish. And I no longer had access to the online shop. So I had to tell my student to get the necessary course material from a Danish dive shop at twice the price.
After having done the theory, we travelled to Thailand to do the actual open water training. While the Thai dive shop we used as a base fully assisted me, PADI however once again left me standing alone & fuming, refusing to accept my instructor credentials for instant online certification of my student. The reason: in order to be able to certify new divers in Thailand you have to be a member of PADI Asia (headquartered in Singapore). Meaning, I guess, I'm supposed to temporarily transfer my affiliation each time I want to teach & certify while on holidays somewhere outside my region?
When a year ago I moved to Germany, PADI Nordic & Europe joined forces and professionally screwed up again. Starting with PADI Nordic ignoring my request for re-transfer to PADI Europe (probably waiting to cash in my membership fee first) and followed by PADI Europe mishandling my membership renewal for 2007 (despite direct e-mail contact). So I stepped out. After 10 years as a PADI pro.
Today, out of the blue, PADI Europe sent me a congratulatory letter, thanking me for my continued support of the organization, significant role in its growth and felicitating me -about one year late- with my tenth anniversary as a PADI member. I guess they haven't realized yet I've left the association. That or they're in total denial. They also assume I must be pleased to know that I'll even be listed in the 2nd quarter "Undersea Journal" in recognition of my commitment. Second quarter? Either it already came out several months ago, or it sure is several months late. Not that it matters, at least I'm not getting that nonsense any longer.
Hyped-up recognition is alas what PADI is very much about: badges for anything, certificates for whatever and pins to prove it.
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