To attract attention, a photograph must show us something recent, something we have not seen before, says the ScubaDiving.com website.
To catch a scene stealer, it’s price going to a spot where there’s loads of life in all sizes, shapes and colours. Being in such a hot place, stuffed with marine life, wrecks and other fodder for lenses, you may’t help but shoot as best you may, overcome by creativity. In these locations it is clear.
INDONESIA
There is not any shortage of inspiration: Indonesia is a haven for macro creatures – all the things that’s weird, woolly, alien-looking and completely photogenic. The birthplace of magnifying glass diving, the Lembeh Strait is the epicenter of all the things macro, from the zebra bat to the ornate ghost spire. But you do not have to focus on Lembeh only for the mud – Bima Bay and Sangeang Island are among the many places that may deliver more weird stuff than you would possibly think you’ve got added to your shot list.
Guide along the best way: Local guides, from those aboard Indo Aggressor and Arenui to those at Wakatobi Dive Resort, keep an eye fixed out for the creatures. Some resorts require guides to finish 3,000 or more dives. All this implies you may never miss a bobtail squid, a stargazer, a pygmy seahorse, or the rest.
Great Finds: Indo is home not only to small things, but in addition to whale sharks, giant manta rays and mola molas, or sunfish. Near the Derawan Islands, a site visited by the Raja Ampat Aggressor, guests can snorkel with whale sharks, the biggest fish within the ocean, reaching a maximum of 40 feet in length; in other parts of the world, particularly a lot of the Caribbean, only snorkeling encounters are permitted. And since encounters with all these animals in Indonesia are often long-lasting, divers can take infinite photos and have time to record videos.
Citizen Science: One of the advantages of bringing a camera to Indo, as almost every diver does, is that when you take a photograph of a never-before-seen creature, it’s possible you’ll give you the option to suggest a reputation in your discovery. The psychedelic frog was named by three ichthyologists who first photographed it in 2008 near Ambon Island, the one known place where it lives. The species, often called Denise’s pygmy seahorse, first sighted within the Lembeh Strait in 1999, is called after finder Denise Tackett.
From a technical perspective: Because Indo is targeted by underwater shooters who’re known to spend lots of time at depth, there is no such thing as a shortage of nitrox and rebreather facilities. Wakatobi Dive Resort provides each. There are technical diving schools on several islands, offering not only the essential equipment, but in addition tuition.
KEYS TO FLORIDA
Easily available metal: This region is thought worldwide for its collection of precious metals. Shooters will especially like specially sunken wrecks similar to the USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, which has had its doors and hatches removed, allowing for greater shooting access into and thru the rooms of this former missile-seeking vessel.
What would Jesus dive into? The most photographed underwater attraction within the Florida Keys is the 4,000-pound Christ of the Deep statue near Key Largo. At a depth of about 25 feet, many waterproof cameras and even iPhones with waterproof cases will delay, allowing you to take selfies – just watch out because this version of Jesus is roofed in fiery coral.
Learn: The reefs of the Florida Keys are home to varsities of French grunts and blue striped snapper. Take a photograph after which wait just a few minutes for the fish to collect in the identical spot again, allowing you to get some wide-angle, cloud-filled shots of those yellow fish.
CAYMAN ISLAND
Natural look: With a seemingly standard 30-meter visibility across the Cayman Islands, shooters can rely rather more on ambient lighting than in other locations. Additionally, for the reason that wall starts at a mean of 30 feet on Grand Cayman and 20 feet on Little Cayman, even drop photos can rely heavily on natural light.
In the shop: Grand Cayman is home to several skilled shooters and attracts enough photographers that the Cathy Church Photography Center, situated on the Sunset House resort, is stocked with cameras, lenses, housings and some other upgrades you is likely to be inspired to buy while on vacation. Photography and filming lessons are also available.
Everyone loves rays: There could also be no higher place to nail an accurate photo of yourself than Stingray City. Home to 30 southern stingrays, this sandy diving and snorkeling spot is the right place to establish and wait in your shot. Since the depth is just 3 feet in some places, you may easily work with models even in the event that they aren’t certified to dive. Additionally, several cameramen visit the property at dawn, which suggests fewer guests and a likelihood to take photos within the rosy morning light.
Thing on the Shore: With shore diving opportunities off West Bay within the north, along Seven Mile Beach on the island’s west coast, and off the coast of George Town within the south, scuba divers have the chance to swim when the mood – and the sunshine – suits them best. Moreover, select a choose-your-own-adventure form of diving and it would be easier so that you can spend time taking photos with a model and without other divers within the background.
Regional Readers’ Choice Winners
Pacific and Indian Ocean
- Indonesia
- Palau
- Philippines
- Hawaii
- Red Sea
Caribbean and Atlantic
- Cayman Islands
- Bonaire
- Mexico
- Bahamas
- Roatana
North America
- Florida Keys
- California
- British Columbia
- North Carolina
- Washington
Note: Readers Choice is a platform where over 3,000 readers rate their experiences in Scuba Diving Magazine and the annual ScubaDiving.com survey. Winners are chosen based on average scores.
