Scuba Diving

One of my passions: SCUBA. These are photos I've taken during a few trips to the Channel Islands on the live-aboards, "PEACE" (based in Ventura Harbor), the "VISION" and "SPECTRE" (based out of Santa Barbara) and during shore dives off of La Jolla and Monterey.

Friends and family members often ask why I strap on all that gear and descend beneath the waves - so I'm posting these photos to share a little of the experience. By diving, I've had the opportunity to explore an entirely new world, filled with all manner of strange and wonderful creatures. I've been privleged to have played with friendly Harbor Seals, pondered the delicate beauty of tiny nudibranchs and tube worms, surveyed spectacular underwater vistas of rock pinnacles towering above me in the gloom below 100 feet, ridden strong surge through narrow canyons and crevices, the walls covered by all manner of creatures, drifted amongst schools of rockfish illuminated by beams of light filtering down through kelp forest canopies, zoomed through near total darkness on night dives, my buddy and I outlined in bioluminescent fire and perhaps best of all, listened to the ebb and flow of the mysterious song of a living ocean.

These underwater adventures have been alternately exhilirating (sinking slowly into the abyss through dancing sunbeams), spiritual (drifting through gently waving fronds of kelp and sea grass), amusing (playing with lively sea lions with soft, friendly eyes), frightening (compass navigating underwater and realizing that you've lost your heading and your buddy is contentedly following you), and ultimately, satisfying.

I'm afraid that these poor photos are but a shadow of the wonders beneath the waves. Hopefully, you'll get the idea! ...

Technical details: All photos were taken with a Canon A1 Sure Shot underwater camera, borrowed from a good friend. Unfortunately, it was never really designed for what I've asked of it (it's supposed to be used primarily by snorkelers), but after buying all my gear, there wasn't much left over. Maybe one day ...

Using the little built-in strobe is pretty much impossible without huge amounts of backscatter so I've been forced to shoot at slow shutter speeds (it shows).

Click on pictures to view larger versions

I'm very OK!

A curious sea lion hovers, no doubt wondering why I'm so slow and clumsy

This friendly fellow followed us around for an hour ...

... and liked to imitate us!

Photos taken in the waters off Santa Barbara Island (Channel Islands, California) September 15, 1996. Depth: 20 -30 feet

Four Rubber-Lipped Perch in a kelp forest, Cathedral Cove, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. December 21, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.

Wreck of the Winfield Scott, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.

Sea Hare next to purple sea urchins. Near the Winfield Scott, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 15 feet.

A Spanish Shawl nudibranch and a (?) Rose Anenome. Cathedral Cove, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.

A dying squid at the end of its lifecycle, shown against a backdrop of eggs. La Jolla Shores, California. December 27, 1996. Depth: 60 feet.

A pair of friendly lobsters, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.

Can anyone ID this little guy for me? Please email me. Sand flats off La Jolla Shores, California. December 27, 1996. Depth: 30 feet.

A little seal friend approaches. Cathedral Cove, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. December 21, 1996. Depth: 25 feet.

Sneaky seal checks out my buddy's tank.

Fun-loving seal nibbles on Todd Buser's fins, looking for a playmate.

A playful seal poses.

SEAL'ed with a kiss.

Our little friend played hide and seek for about 20 minutes and let me pet him and scratch his belly while he poked about my gear, no doubt looking for edibles.

Scuba cat, Buttons Guerra, inspects the gear prior to a dive. December 27, 1996.

A sea lion swimming into the sun. Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.

Godbeams cascade down through the kelp canopy. Landing Cove, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. December 21, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.

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I'm very OK!	A curious sea lion hovers, no doubt wondering why I'm so slow and clumsy
This friendly fellow followed us around for an hour ...	... and liked to imitate us!

Four Rubber-Lipped Perch in a kelp forest, Cathedral Cove, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. December 21, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.	Wreck of the Winfield Scott, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.
Sea Hare next to purple sea urchins. Near the Winfield Scott, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 15 feet.	A Spanish Shawl nudibranch and a (?) Rose Anenome. Cathedral Cove, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.
A dying squid at the end of its lifecycle, shown against a backdrop of eggs. La Jolla Shores, California. December 27, 1996. Depth: 60 feet.	A pair of friendly lobsters, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.
Can anyone ID this little guy for me? Please email me. Sand flats off La Jolla Shores, California. December 27, 1996. Depth: 30 feet.	A little seal friend approaches. Cathedral Cove, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. December 21, 1996. Depth: 25 feet.
Sneaky seal checks out my buddy's tank.	Fun-loving seal nibbles on Todd Buser's fins, looking for a playmate.
A playful seal poses.	SEAL'ed with a kiss.
Our little friend played hide and seek for about 20 minutes and let me pet him and scratch his belly while he poked about my gear, no doubt looking for edibles.	Scuba cat, Buttons Guerra, inspects the gear prior to a dive. December 27, 1996.
A sea lion swimming into the sun. Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands, California. September 14, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.	Godbeams cascade down through the kelp canopy. Landing Cove, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands, California. December 21, 1996. Depth: 20 feet.