Spotted Moray, Town Pier, Bonaire
You would wonder why anyone would crave saltwater! Well, it isn’t a taste craving, but an experience craving. I believe there is a no more relaxing place in the world than sitting on a sandy bottom beneath warm, tropical blue water. There are no sounds or intrusions other than your breathing and your own thoughts, and maybe some curious fish. I have heard from some people that have tried diving complain about claustrophobia due to the equipment. But to me it is the opposite, it seems like there is no other place that I feel freer. The quietness and feeling of weightlessness is quite calming.
For various reasons, my wife and I haven’t been on a saltwater dive trip since 2006. Despite being awhile now, the completely relaxed state of laying on the bottom blowing bubble rings above me remains a cemented feeling in my mind.
Although we have been actively diving in Michigan, they are obviously quite different. That is about to change with plans to return to Bonaire, a little desert island off the coast of Venezuela known for its diving, that we have been to a number of times now.
Despite being familiar with this place, a lot has changed with respect to my photography since 2006. The biggest difference is that all of my previous underwater work has been on film, and all of my topside shooting since then is digital. So I am in the process of updating my underwater equipment to digital as I painfully think about my investment in my film gear being worth a coral polyp sized fraction of what it cost new. Although I could still use it, the thought of scanning slides and limitations of working with film underwater should remain firmly in the past.
I think my photography has changed since then as well, hopefully for the better. When I look back on my older underwater images, many of them are just mediocre to me now with a few favorites here and there. The best ones still remind me of the many great experiences I have had with wildlife underwater, like the spotted eel pictured here, photographed from a previous night dive in Bonaire on Fuji Velvia 50 film. Although interaction with eels is pretty limited, for good reason 🙂 , they are fun to watch as they weave effortlessly in and out of the reef. It is simply amazing when you think about the variety of life that can be found living under a town pier.
I do wonder how the next batch on digital will fare in comparison, and what lessons I may learn and be able to apply. In many ways, I feel like I may be the last remaining underwater photographer to upgrade to digital. After such a long hiatus, the craving for saltwater, and going digital, create a hunger that will soon be satisfied.
Thanks Lana and Tomas.
@Tomas – when it is that deep with no sight of the bottom, I can understand it would make some people nervous. Mostly it can just be disorienting without the visual reference when you are underwater. But you usually don’t have to worry about sinking into the abyss if you are neutrally buoyant.
Another interesting post, Mark, especially the first paragraph, at least for me. Even though I like open space I feel hopeless and almost feared to death when in water without seeing a floor. Diving in not deep waters with coral reef it might be completely different experience. Great photo by the way.
Lovely photo! Almost abstract, y’know? The colors are great.
I grew up on Long Island & spent many hours at the beach. Since then the ocean has become too much of a distant, revered memory. Ironically I had plans to hit the Gulf Coast this past Summer, but then we had the Deepwater Horizon spill & unfortunately, contrary to most newscasts, we still have a lot of oil fouling the coast and the marshes. Who knows when I can get there now. Lesson learned–strike while the iron is hot. <:\
wow! i really like detail of the image 🙂 haven’t try to capture any underwater pictures myself. must be a great experience.
thank you! Yes, it is indeed a great experience.
This is a beautiful photograph. As the others have said, I look forward to seeing your new underwater digital photos. I would love to see some above the waves images of that remote island too, if it is at all photogenic.
Thanks David. Topside is mostly dry, flat desert…but I’ll see what I can come up with.
Monte, Earl, Roberta – thanks, but I prefer you keep your expectations low. 🙂
How exciting. I will be eager to see the images!
Mark, an amazing photo here of the Spotted Moray…WOW those colors! It’s good to satisfy you’re cravings, within reason, and it doesn’t mater if you’re first or last converting to digital underwater –bring back some great photos and most of all, have fun. 😉
I will look forward to seeing what you bring back, knowing it will be good. 🙂
Hi Mark, I totally know what you mean! I spend all year that I’m not in the sea thinking about when I can next get there. I’m jealous you can blow bubble rings 🙂 Last week we got in the water for the first time in 6 months! I don’t usually leave it that long as you know. I think I’ve got some good pics in the bag ready to get around to processing. Good luck with buying all your new gear. Expensive but worth it 🙂
@scuba_suzy
Thanks Suzy, looking forward to seeing the pics.
This slide scanned beautifully, it’s great. I’m willing to bet that your new digital equipment will be more forgiving that film and if you get a decent size memory card, you will be able to shoot more than 36 exposures in one dive. I can’t wait to see what you can do with it.
You hit the nail on the head Ken, having only 36 meant you had to be very, very choosy and were limited at how much you could play around with. Thanks!
Unbelievable! Though I can’t entirely agree with you on the idea of feeling freer when diving–I’m terrified of deep water–this picture almost makes me want to try. The colors and clarity are absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m definitely awaiting the posts from your next dive with great anticipation.
It is a completely different world Cat. Thank you very much.