2019 Wrap Up

Fall has been crazy busy and I can’t believe it is the end of the year already.

Back in September I spent a week with Sangat Island Dive Resort diving the WWII wrecks of Coron, Philippines. In the summer of 1944 the Americans were attacking Manila and the Japanese tried to move ships out to save them. Several ended up the Coron, Palawan thinking they would be safe only to be sunk in the longest-range air attack ever launched from aircraft carriers at that time. I spend time on eight ships exploring the insides of the wrecks and the lovely marine life on the outside. The article just came out in X-Ray Magazine and you can download the latest issue for free here.

From the Philippines I headed to the Bahamas soon after Hurricane Dorian to find that the entire country was not destroyed as the media would lead one to believe. Aboard the Aqua Cat for a week, the Exumas and Eleuthera only experienced wind and rain and things were business as usual by the time I got there. I also visited Grand Bahama and while the damage was devastating around much of the island, tourism was ready to receive customers and start to get back to normal. Sometimes the best way to help is to go diving! The article can be read here.

The Fifth Annual Roatan Underwater Photo Fest was held at Turquoise Bay in November and it was so lovely to see so many familiar faces return and new faces as well. Weather conditions weren’t perfect, but I was amazed to see the quality of images the participants come up with even in difficult shooting conditions. Our generous sponsors so kindly donated prizes for our annual photo contest and the participants took home some sweet swag from Ikelite, Bay Photo Lab, Kraken Watersports, and Stream2Sea.

Right after the Photo Fest it was off to DEMA and the support for my book was overwhelming. Thanks everyone who stopped by, listened to my talk, and bought books. I love you guys. Special thanks to Ikelite for sponsoring me at the Author’s Corner. It was great to catch up with everyone too.

Some recent print articles in UK Diver Magazine have been posted online. You can read about my trip diving in Vanuatu and the USS President Coolidge here. And you can read about my obsession with the island of Saba here. Plus you can join me in Saba next September. The Ladies Dive and Art trip will be happening again September 12-19th, 2020 and the next week, September 19-26th we are going to invite the boys to. The second week can be an impromptu photo workshop or just a fun week enjoying the diving, hiking, and ambiance of Saba, whatever everyone is interested in.

December in Indonesia is becoming a thing and I spent some time at Siladen Resort diving Bunaken National Park. I won the trip during the Think Pink charity auction and I have the utmost respect for dive industry businesses that give back. I took a bunch of ‘pink’ photos and the article is on DPG here.

And finally, a new trip has been announced! Join me and the amazing Tobias Friedrich for an underwater photography workshop in the Red Sea, November 12-19, 2020. We will be spending a week on the Omneia liveaboard. Feel free to send me a message if you’d like more info.

I head back to Chuuk in a few days to spend some back on the Odyssey and I’m looking forward to some wreck diving. Next year has some fun adventures already planned and a few more in the works. I hope to run into you all underwater! Happy New Year and best wishes in 2020!

Alphonse Island, Seychelles

If you’re looking for some reading material here’s some of my latest articles.

Over at Over at Moziak UW Cameras I have blog on photographing the wrecks of Truk Lagoon (Chuuk). There’s also a new video from Chuuk here.

For some fun info and photos on Muck Diving check out DiveNewsWire. And Comparing Fisheye lenses while photographing sharks on Dive Photo Guide.

The latest issue of X-Ray Magazine is out and I'm so excited to finally share my amazing trip to Alphonse Island, part of the outer islands of the Seychelles. This island ranks on my list as one of the most amazing places I've visited and as a resort that values it's unique environment and is striving to make it better. Also - giant tortoises...and crazy-good diving. Can I go back please? You can download the article here.

Looking to go diving? There’s still time to sign up for the 2019 Roatan Underwater Photo Fest, November 2-9th at Turquoise Bay. For tech divers you’ll want to be on board the Odyssey, July 4-11th, 2020 for tech week, diving the deeper wrecks of the lagoon including the Aikoku Maru, Amagisan Maru, Oite destoyer, Fujisan Maru, San Francisco Maru, and more. September 12-19th, 2020 is the next Ladies Only Dive and Art trip in Saba and the next week, September 19-26th we’re going to let the boys come too. Send me a message if you have any questions or would like to join any of these trips!

Summer Update: Timor-Leste, Tiger Beach, Saba, Travel and More

In December I visited the unique country of Timor-Leste and was really impressed by the shore diving accessible just out of Dili. With muck diving and reefs comparable to Bali, but without hardly any other divers, I really enjoyed my week diving with Dive Timor. The article was published in X-Ray Magazine Issue #91. Download the whole issue for free here. Or view my article online here.

I’ve been writing several blog posts for Moziak UW Cameras and you can read those here.

If you want some tips on shooting wrecks I did a piece for Ikelite - How to get the Best Shots when Shooting Wrecks.

Diver Magazine published an article on diving Tiger Beach which is now online here.

The Saba Ladies Dive and Art trip in April was such a success we are going to go back and do it again next year. Join us September 12-19th for a week diving the amazing reefs of Saba while also getting creative and learning from some of the island’s amazing artistic ladies. We will be staying at Queen’s Gardens Resort and diving with Sea Saba. Two dives each morning followed by afternoon art classes. This beautiful island has amazing food, my favorite gin bar, yoga, hiking, and more. Send me a message if you have any questions and see the previous blog post for how this year’s trip went.

If you’re looking to go diving I have a few different trips coming up. The fifth installation of the Roatan Underwater Photo Fest will be happening November 2-9th and there are still spots available. I’m leading a trip to Raja Ampat on the Siren December 6-16th. Next year I’ll be offering a tech trip on the Truk Odyssey July 4-11th, 2020 (this is a rare chance to dive the deeper wrecks to Truk from the comfort of the Odyssey liveaboard. Tech certified divers only, 2 dives per day, depths from 165-220ft, CCR supported.) And I will be returning to Saba for the Ladies Only trip Sept 15-22nd…and possibly another week in Saba directly following that open to everyone.

Saba Ladies Dive and Art

I’m just back from the beautiful island of Saba, one of my favorite places in the Caribbean. I was sent there last year on assignment for X-Ray Magazine (article here) and I fell in love. The volcanic island is stunning with epic ocean views everywhere you go and the few people who live there just “get it” - they take care of their island. Saba has been protecting it’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems since the 80s and you can see the difference. When I’m diving in Saba I can’t help but notice the diversity of a healthy reef, not to mention, the diving is super cool - it is black sand (hot sand in some places due to geothermal activity below), mini canyons and lava-formed pinnacles. Above water there are numerous well-maintain hiking trails. The people are lovely, the food is amazing…and the island is filled with artists.

I have been wanting to do an all-girls diving trip for years and I knew Saba would be the perfect place - and luckily a bunch of my friends trusted my recommendation. The plan was to dive and get creative, but also have a stress-free, relaxing trip. We stayed at the lovely Queen’s Gardens Resort which is peaceful and beautiful and several of the artists came to us for classes, so we didn’t even have to leave the zen-like atmosphere of Queen’s (plus the greatest gin bar in the Caribbean is at Queen’s, so no reason to leave, imo.) I wanted to make this dive trip (SeaSaba) for all levels of divers with no judgement, no pressure, and just support and I really think the amazing women who joined me helped to make that happen. They helped one another, shared tips for improvement, brought snacks on the boat and shared, and there was so much laughing. I was remind that each and everyone one of us has our own insecurities, but when we are surrounded by positivity, we can share them and get useful feedback (which mostly consisted of - you’re crazy, your painting is beautiful.” I hope everyone left feeling lifted up, at least a little

Diving was only part of the experience - after spending the mornings on the boat we did daily afternoon art classes: painting, glass bead making, jewelry, and making leather handbags. We did yoga, we hiked, we also did a wine tasting and more than a little gin tasting and lots of eating. I swear, the tiny island of Saba collectivly has the best resturants in the Caribbean. I had such a great time and it was so nice to spend a week surrounded by friends. I really want to do this trip again…maybe September 2020…so watch this space! ;)

Fiji and Wrecks and Dive Trips

I’ve spend the past few months captaining the Truk Odyssey, which has been a blast, but super busy. Here are some of my latest publications:

If you’re interested in wreck photography, I wrote the Ultimate Guide to Wreck Photography over on Moziak UW Cameras. Watch that space for more articles on underwater photography tips.

In January I returned to Fiji after eight years and visited the amazing VoliVoli Beach Resort and dived with Ra Divers. I used to go to Fiji regularly when I was living in Hawaii and it was amazing to return to a place that has so many great memories and is still just as beautiful both above and below the water. Here’s my feature on DivePhotoGuide.

UK Diver magazine published an excerpt from my book earlier this month. You can view it online here.

You can order your own copy from Amazon and other book sellers.

Over at Ikelite they posted a review of last year’s Roatan Underwater Photo Fest. We had such a great time and Ikelite was a generous sponsor to our photo contest yet again. Want to dive and photograph the best of Roatan? Join Andrew Raak and me November 2-9th this fall at Turquoise Bay Resort. We do 2-3 dives a day, give talks on uw photo tips, are on-call to answer any questions that arise during the whole trip from setting up your camera, to on the boat and underwater, and nightly sessions on all sorts of topics like macro, lighting, editing, etc. There is also a photo contest at the end of the week with great prizes from lots of sponsors including Ikelite. Check out www.roatanunderwaterphotofest.com for more info, or send me a message!

X-Ray Magazine Issue 89

The latest issue of X-Ray Magazine is out and you can read about my adventures last fall in North Carolina. I still can’t get over how amazing diving the Graveyard of the Atlantic was. The wrecks were amazing and the sharks even cooler. I can’t wait to go back and explore more. I have an article on the wrecks on page 34, an article on Sand Tiger Sharks on page 41 and I’m part of How I Got the Shot starting on page 77.

Download the full issue here

The amazing crew over at Safety Stop Scuba podcast had me on an episode talking about my new book, saying no to straws, being a dive instructor and more. You can listen to the whole episode Here.

Adventure Sports Podcast

Blue Ribbon Eel, Lembeh Strait

Greetings from Fiji and Vanuatu. I just finished a week diving on the SS President Coolidge and Million Dollar Point, which are just as fantastic as everyone says it is. Check out my Facebook and Instagram for some photos.

Podcasts are apparently my new thing. :) Mason Gravley had me on his show to talk about my new book and diving. You can listen here.

Recently I also did a fun blog at Moziak Underwater Cameras on tips for shooting underwater macro, keep an eye on their website for my future contributions.

2018

Wow. What a year it’s been (and where did it go?)

The last couple of months have been crazy busy and a one of the highlights included finally making it out to the world famous Tiger Beach in the Bahamas with Master Liveaboards. You can read about it and see more photos on Dive Photo Guide.

I also had the absolute honor to be a host at the 2018 Capturing Critters in Lembeh photo workshop which was amazing. You can read the daily updates here.

My book was released a few weeks ago and the feedback has been amazing. Thanks to everyone who has purchased the book, I appreciate your support and getting messages from readers has been awesome.

The Airplane Graveyard is available here.

I hope everyone enjoys the last few days of 2018 and that your 2019 is your best year yet! I’m heading to Fiji and Vanuatu next month and then back to Chuuk. I hope to see you all out there and be sure to check out my latest trips - my Saba Ladies-Only Dive and Art trip in April still has a few spots and in November will be the 5th Annual Roatan Underwater Photo Fest. Happy New Year!

Podcast - The League of Extraordinary Divers

Wow.

So at DEMA I was asked to do a podcast interview for The League of Extraordinary Divers. Which was a bit intimidating. I feel like maybe The League of Normal Divers might be more my thing, but the amazing Tec Clark had me on his show anyway to talk about how I got into diving, some of the places I’ve worked, and about my book. I was suuuuper nervous (hopefully you can’t tell too much). So if you’d like to hear a little more about me:

Click here to listen

Thanks so much to Tec and The League of Extraordinary Divers for having me on the show. Give the rest of his episodes a listen - he has interviewed so many of the amazing people in the dive industry including some of my favorite diver idols like Dick Rutkowsk and Stan Waterman. It’s nothing short of an honor to have my name anywhere near the real legends of diving.

Nikon 8-15mm Fisheye Lens with Ikelite Ports

I spent most of the last three months shooting with a Nikon 8-15mm Fisheye lens courtesy of Ikelite, who so kindly let me borrow it to see how it shoots behind both of their dome ports (the 8inch and the compact 8inch dome). It was excellent (and added to my Christmas wish-list) and it did well with both ports. I took it to Bikini Atoll, Roatan, and Tiger Beach.

We knew it would be great behind the large 8inch but we wondered if the compact port would cause the edges to pull a little. I didn’t find that to happen and actually prefered the compact dome inside wrecks (in Bikini Atoll) where I was swimming through tight spaces and unable to back up or get further away from my subject. The small port let me get closer (and the lens focused even when almost touching the subject.)

Ikelite posted some of the results here:

Compact 8inch Dome Images

Large 8inch Dome Images