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It’s March and while most of the country is still struggling with winter, here in Southern California a bad is a day when we need to wear a sweater. Many of my hardy dive buddies are diving our wonderful Channel Islands and loving it despite the 56° water. The rest of us are thinking ahead. We have two trips coming up this year, and all I can say is, Let’s go diving! |
Tips for Travel in Tough Times Back to Photo Basics - Glossary of Terms Last Chance! Solomon Islands MV Spirit of Solomons May 31 – June 9, 2009 Annual Fall Whale Shark Expedition |
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Yes, we know what you’re thinking: can I afford to take a trip this year? And even if I can, even if my circumstances haven’t changed, should I? Here are some thoughts on how to get in that exotic dive vacation without breaking into a sweat.
I’ve been diving 57 years, started taking pictures 43 years ago, owned 39 camera systems, took 57,000 pictures, give or take a few, before I took up digital, and summed it up in 15 minutes.
The Way I See It is a retrospective of my picture-taking years, showing changes in dive gear, changes in underwater photo equipment, changes in image quality, and most especially, the changes in our understanding of the sea and respect for our environment.
Join us for a burger and meet some very nice people. And see what I am sure will be an engaging presentation. The images are mine but Evan Sherman is editing it and his work is always amazing!
For: South Orange County Dive Club
Time: 6:30
PM
Place: Fuddrucker`s Restaurant
23621 El Toro Road, Lake Forest, Orange County
Trying to make sense of all those articles on digital cameras? They’re hard to follow if you don’t know what the words mean. So it’s back to basics: defining the terms you really need to know.
Absorption: The blue filtering effect of water. Sunlight consists of all the colors of the spectrum. Water absorbs light selectively, one by one as depth increases, filtering out the warmer colors first, so that at depths of 60-70 feet, only hues of blue and green remain.
Ambient light: Available sunlight underwater used as a source of illumination. Also referred to as natural light.
Amphibious camera: A specially-designed camera that can operate both underwater and on land. All ports, caps, and controls are sealed with O-rings.
Angle of acceptance: The maximum angle at which light enters a particular lens. Also referred to as angle of coverage and angle of view.
Aperture: An adjustable opening which regulates the precise amount of light passing through the camera lens when the shutter is open. The size of the aperture is referred to as the f-stop.
Aperture priority: An automatic exposure system in which the photographer selects the f-stop and the camera automatically determines the corresponding shutter speed for a correct exposure.
Apparent distance: The refraction of light underwater creates a magnifying effect which causes objects to appear 25 percent closer than they actually are. A lens, like the human eye, sees and records apparent distance underwater.
ASA: An abbreviation for American Standards Association. See ISO.
Automatic exposure: When camera and strobe communicate electronically to create a correct exposure.
Backscatter: When suspended particles in the water are illuminated by light from a flash, they reflect the light back at the lens. The particles appear as specks or snow in the photograph or digital image.
Beam angle: The angle of a strobe’s light beam, expressed in degrees.
Bit: Stands for binary digit, the smallest unit of digital information. Eight bits equals one byte.
Bitmap: A method of storing digital data that maps an image pixel out, bit by bit. The density of the pixels determines how sharp the image resolution will be. Most image files are bitmapped, which results in jagged edges that become apparent when you enlarge the image.
BMP: Bit-mapped Files, a standard Windows image format. Denoted as .bmp file.
Click here to read the rest.
Click here for a pdf file you can download and keep
Did we omit a word you want explained? Please email it to me and I’ll include it in our next newsletter: orca2@cox.net
We’re just about to close the trip but we do have a couple of spaces open and if you decide quickly, we can save them for you! It is a most extraordinary place with sites and sea life to delight everyone: giant fish schools, pygmy seahorses, an unending variety of tropical fish in dazzling colorations, and perhaps the world’s most perfect reef structures with mammoth seafans and huge soft corals. This is where you will see mantas and whale sharks, WWII ship and aircraft wrecks, orcas and, if you dare, a saltwater crocodile.
7 nights, 8 days aboard the MV Spirit of Solomons
6 days of 5 daily boat dives
All meals and snacks daily
Boat guides, weights and belt
Roundtrip airfare Air Pacific from LAX
Roundtrip domestic air
Airport meet and greet in Honiara
Departure tax and Visa
All prices are double occupancy
Single Supplement available
Not included:
Diving permits, Nitrox, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, Fiji extension
Price subject to change
2 nights, June 9 & 10, at the Tanoa Hotel in Nadi, Fji
Two free days to relax, sun, shop or whatever
The Ultimate Tiger Shark Dive
With Aqua Trek
1 night in Pacific Harbor, 1 night at the Tanoa Hotel
Please click here for more images and more info on the Solomon Islands trip.
We go every October because it is the best time of the year to dive one of the best destinations on earth. You know, we’ve been a lot of places, and there are several we favor. But usually we have to travel a long, long way to get there. And those trips are expensive. Only the Sea of Cortez offers an amazing dive adventure so close to home. Big animals. Big schools. Big time fun! Whale sharks in your face. Mantas close enough to touch. Sea lions dive bombing and nipping at your fins. Morays, morays, morays. Jacks and barracudas schooling. Dolphins in the wake. Giant jawfish found nowhere else. 100+ vis. 85° water. blue skies and calm blue seas. Exotic. Exciting. Jacques Cousteau called it "The World's Greatest Aquarium." And a mere two-hour flight from Los Angeles! We love La Paz!
We love it so much that our son Evan married Niccole there. And come October 2009 we will celebrate Joe’s 80th birthday there!
October 7 - 12
5 Nights, 6 Days, 3 Days of Diving
$1079
October 7 - 12
5 Nights, 6 Days, 4 days of Diving
$1239
October 7 - 14
7 Nights, 8 Days, 5 Days of Diving
$1539
All Packages Include:
Accommodations at the La Concha Beach Resort
Ocean view room, double occupancy
American breakfast
3-tank diving
Whale Shark Spotter plane
Box lunch, snacks and beverages on dive days
Boat guides, tanks, weights, belts
La Paz Airport transfers
Hotel & Diving Taxes
Gifts and Prizes
Per person, double occupancy.
Land package only. Does not include airfare. Gratuities not included
Prices subject to change
Single Supplement, please add $56 per night
October 7 – 12
$469
October 7 – 14
$594
Accommodations at the La Concha Beach Resort
Ocean view room, double occupancy
American breakfast daily
La Paz Airport transfers
Hotel & Diving Taxes
Gifts and Prizes
Per person double occupancy
Land package only. Does not include airfare
Gratuities not included
Prices subject to change
Last year the cost of air to La Paz slowly escalated from the mid $400 range at the beginning of the year to over $800 in the Fall. It was unprecedented and surprised all of us who have been making that journey for years. Many of those who joined us opted to fly into Cabo and rent a car and then drive to La Paz. It’s a roughly three-hour trip. So if the nonstop flight works better for you, we offer a word to the wise: book now!
As of this writing, nonstop flights from LAX to LAP on Alaska Airlines is $430.20 plus tax for a total of $497.70.
We usually book the 11:20am flight from LAX, arriving in La Paz at 2:40pm (there’s an hour time difference, We take the 3:20pm flight return flight, arriving home at 4:50pm. Alaska flies this route Wednesday, Saturday and Monday.
Check it out: www.alaskaair.com
The LCD Optical Magnifier has been designed specifically for use with Sea & Sea point-and-shoot underwater digital camera systems, models DX-5000, DX-8000, and DX1G. It is also compatible with other compact underwater camera systems made by other manufacturers. Modifications may be required. Customization is available. The primary function of the Magnifier is to enhance viewing and reduce glare on the LCD screen of compact underwater camera systems. It has been designed and engineered by underwater photographers for underwater photographers.
It will adjust to the proper distance to ensure the LCD screen is magnified and in sharp focus. With increased magnification, the symbols/icons on the screen are easy to read. Glare and reflected light are reduced and the ability to compose the shot is increased several fold
Cost: 2-inch Magnifier is $125
2.5 inch Magnifier
is $150
Shipping is additional
To read more, click here or to download an order form, click here. Or call Joe at 949-448-0499
We are happy to announce that a new website developed exclusively for divers. DiversOne was created as a social utility for sharing trip reports, dive reports, underwater photos and videos, reviews, comments, social events, and all things scuba dive-related!
The founders are Trev Lattin and Dave Lanza. We know Trev since 1991 when he was taking advanced classes at Liburdi’s. He is a man with a big warm smile and a mission. As well as bringing divers together, he has committed the site to causes that help protect our water planet.
We think you will find this site a valuable addition to our sport.
Take a look: www.diversone.com
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