I actually wanted to use “I Can See Clearly Now” as the title for my blog but Di quietly whispered that she had recently used that exact title for a recent blog. So, in my desperation, I reached out and grabbed the first idea that came to mind. Not sure if it’s the best title – in fact, I’m not sure if it was a great song in its day either but hey, I live on an island in the middle of nowhere so I’m sure the title will be fine.
Tourists that pass often comment that we live in paradise and that we’re living the dream. I guess if you took out the tourists and the large amount of plastic rubbish that floats past from time to time then, yes, I guess we’re living the dream. But even paradise has caveats. For us underwater photographers one of those caveats is clarity. Not clarity of mind, though that does help when you’re trying to justify what the hell we’re doing here, but visual clarity. The ability to see our underwater environment. I like taking photographs of big things. Probably because my eyesight is so bad. At least I can see what I am trying to photograph. Di, on the other hand, searches for small grains of sand that happen to move. Macro photographers, seriously. Because she has her head stuck in the sand most of the time, the clarity of the water isn’t so important to her – here are some of her recent shots with her new Olympus EM-10 Mark IV proving the point:
For me, the complication is that not only do I require good visibility, but I also prefer minimal current (try hanging on in 4 knots of current with a large camera rig!) and preferably sunshine and flat seas. Not too much to ask really. I’m not sure if it’s climate change or natural cycles but our weather this year has been very different from previous years. This makes it hard to plan trips to some of the better dive sites because you need stable weather, not wind blowing dogs off chains, and sea conditions that aren’t classified as a washing machine to be able to dive many of the sites. Not too far from where we live and within an hour’s boat ride, we can access some great dive sites where visibility sometimes exceeds 40 metres and usually sits around 30 metres. At home we generally only see somewhere between 5 – 10 metres with the odd 20-metre day. So, breaking out and diving in 30-40 metres is a big drawcard.
Recently, we had the great fortune to experience some sunny stable weather and glassed out seas for a couple of days so we jumped at the opportunity. As a result, I thought I’d load you up with some of my photos from our recent trips and show you how we waste our time here in paradise…
Beautiful photos, Bruce & Di! All that paraphernalia that Di snapped you with, Bruce, looks like you are wrestling with a giant spider crab! Keep up the good work you two.
Thanks Bro – yes, it’s a substantial amount of gear! Hope you guys and the family are all well xx
Great photography Bruce and Di.
I enjoy looking at all this marine life and all the bright colours that we don’t see when we go to the reef off Cairns.
Does your diet consist of mainly fish?
Thanks Gail, yes the day trips out of Cairns don’t really paint the real picture. Were fortunate as the reefs here, in West Papua, are very much alive and full of marine life. To quote a famous Shark, Bruce, “fish are friends not food.” so our diet is very well rounded but does include some fish.
Amazing pics & Bruce, you and Di never cease to amaze us with your ability to both capture your world and articulate through your talented well written Blogs. You are both very professional writers.
No I just have a bloody good editor. But Di is a good writer. Thanks Annie.
Wow and wow, the underwater world you live beside is outstandingly beautiful. Have you both grown fins yet?? We’re at the start of an 8 months caravan trip and we both have the feeling of being untethered which is how I imagine you both must feel, far away from the ordinary life. It’s quite something.
Thanks Rosemary yes it is quite a unique feeling. Enjoy the trip we are planning a shorter one with caravan in the middle of the year.
Absolutely stunning Bruce, we recently dived Dumaguete in the Philippines and after a couple of Macro dives “muck runs” with friends we happily spent the rest of the trip out at Apo Island enjoying 30/30 dives with beautiful fish and coral. Not to disparage Di’s remarkable work, it is equally awesome, but blue warm water with big fish is hard to beat!
So glad you got to enjoy your passion!!!
Thanks Tom I agree it is hard to beat. I’m just trying ntoi track down some friendly sharks who will be happy to model for me.
Wishing you all the best with that. Nudies seem much more compliant Di😀
well yes, but finding them is the hard part Tom!
Hey Bruce your photos took me back to last year when we were in Raja Ampat on a slightly bigger boat but the snorkeling was just as amazing
Fish life under docks especially. Didn’t have a camera so your pics are especially good to remind me of how lucky we are to have seen this and it’s your back yard 😀😀
Thanks Rob, our backyard does bring it on sometimes and it is amazing when it does.
You are my heroes, living your dream. Gorgeous photos. Keep ‘em coming!
Good god woman, the amount you guys have packed in makes us look slack. Your our hero’s and yes we’ll keep the photos coming.