Unexpected Komodo Post

For some reason one of the other divers on the boat decided to let me carry his camera (Canon G15 so very familiar but a significant upgrade from my G12) for most of the trip. I'm not exactly sure why I got to use it but I think it's because he knew I has more experience with it and figured he'd get better pictures that way. Regardless, who am I to complain and I took full advantage of the opportunity.

I plan to split the first Komodo Dancer trip up into three or more posts spread out over the next two weeks or so. These posts won't be presented strictly in the order taken. Instead of the old theme-post format I'm breaking the photos up so each one has a bit of everything (some macro, some coral, some bigger stuff, etc).

Anyway, on to the first batch of pictures...

That's it for now. Look for the next post after I return to Labuan Bajo in a week or so. Manta (hooray!) pictures will be along eventually.

Final Pulau Weh Picture Dump

This is it until I manage to get my camera case fixed or replaced so I'm posting a few pictures that may not have made the cut otherwise.

Stop Me If You've Heard This Before

So, as usual, I have camera problems that are going to put this blog on hold for a while - this year it's the housing that failed so I can't take it underwater anymore. I do have a few more pictures from Pulau Weh to post before I leave for Komodo though so look for at least one more post in the next few days.

In the meantime, here's the only worthwhile picture I managed to take on the Sophie Rickmers dives. This picture of Rémy Dubern, my guide/buddy for the Sophie dives, was taken near the stern at 60 meters (@ 200 feet) shortly before I noticed the housing was leaking. I guess Fisheye wasn't kidding about that 60 meter max rated depth.

Miraculously the camera itself survived. The leak stopped above approximately 55 meters and I spent the rest of the dive carefully holding the case port-down to keep the water off the camera itself (this was extra fun during gas switches on the way up when I could have used both hands for more important things). Unfortunately the housing didn't survive the subsequent dives I carried it on to look for the leak. On the last Sophie dive it leaked again and the pressure differential on surfacing popped the glass out of the port. D'oh!

Although I should be able to replace the port in KL I won't be there until the second week of July. Which means no pictures of Komodo again this year unless I can rent or borrow a camera which is unlikely. Maybe I'll be inspired to take some surface shots or something.

Camera troubles aside I had a blast on the four tech dives I got to do on the Sophie, particularly on the last three which I got to dive on Trimix (Lumba Lumba just happened to have a couple bottles of helium available). On the last two dives we even made a few penetrations beyond just dropping into the cargo holds. I was originally somewhat dubious about this idea beforehand but found them exhilarating.