Tabla de contenidos para 2/2019 en Scuba Diver/Asian Diver

SNIEC is strategically located in Pudong‘s key economic development zone. There are two nearby public interchanges for bus and metro: one named “Longyang Road Station“, about a 10-min walk from the station to the fairgrounds; and one named “Huamu Road Station“, about a 1-min walk from the station to the fairgrounds. BY PLANE The expo centre is located halfway between Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport, 35km away from Pudong International Airport to the East, and 32 km away from Hongqiao Airport to the West. You can take the airport bus, maglev or metro directly to the expo centre. From Pudong International Airport By taxi By Transrapid Maglev: from Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road Take metro line 2 to Longyang Road Station to change to line 7 to Huamu…

MOOREA, FRENCH POLYNESIA By :Renee Capozzola (ADEX VOO Singapore 2019 Photo of the Year Shortlisted Entry) Title : Sunset Rendezvous What : Stingrays and paddleboarder When : June Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Sigma fisheye 15mm f/2.8, Nauticam housing, 2x Sea&Sea YS-D1 strobes “I wanted to capture an over-under shot of the stingrays at sunset during a recent trip to Moorea. Getting this image required multiple attempts over several evenings due to some bad weather and the inherently limited window of time to shoot sunsets. I also needed the stingrays to be in a photogenic position. These two stingrays didn’t seem to mind my presence, so I continued to approach them slowly. Just as I started shooting, a paddleboarder came into the background of my frame. My immediate instinct…

One of the most reliable places to encounter not just the biggest marine creature but also the biggest animal to have ever lived is Sri Lanka. Although the subspecies found here is known as the “pygmy blue whale”, it’s only slightly smaller than its cousin. Although their numbers have been improving since the whaling ban of the 1970s, blues are slow to reproduce and are still considered endangered, with an estimated global population of fewer than 15,000 whales. In Sri Lanka whales gather over the winter months to feed in the ocean depths. In between dives for food, they can be seen near the surface, which is the perfect time to drop in to try to get your shot. They are extremely challenging photographic subjects and a high degree of…

While the global population of bowhead whales are considered of low concern, the Okhotsk Sea bowhead population, in the far east of Russia, is “Endangered”. We were very lucky therefore to find countless bowheads in a shallow water bay. At the time we thought it most probable that they were hiding from nearby killer whales. After several calm weather days, the sediment in the water settled and the visibility improved. I approached the whales using a paddleboard, and when I was close, I dived to the seafloor to wait for a whale to swim by. Bowhead whales can live as long as 200 years, tops among all mammals Where : Okhotsk Sea, Russia When : July–August Sea Temp : 5–8°C How : International flights arrive to Khabarovsk. From there, you’ll…

In Antarctica, emperor penguins dive from an ice floe. The largest of all penguins, the emperor stands at most 1.3m tall and can dive to 500m. Renowned photographer and explorer Laurent Ballesta would spend days on these floes where the animals did not fear humans. Each diver on the team carried with them around 200 pounds during their submersions, sometimes as deep as 60m (200ft) below the surface. It took Ballesta seven months to recover from these icewater dives, after suffering damage to his nerves from the extreme cold. A diving trip across the Southern Ocean will likely exceed $10,000 per person! Where : East Antarctica* When : December and January Sea Temp : –2 to 1°C How : Since Antarctica is not a country, passports are not required for…

An 18-hour crossing via liveaboard vessel from the Pacific coast of Mexico brings you to the incomparable Guadalupe Island. Most operators will spend two or three days diving in cages here, where great white sharks are known to gather in significant numbers. This location has become one of the most popular among professional photographers interested in capturing images of this legendary predator, as it boasts stellar visibility often beyond 30m (100ft). Portrait of a great white shark swimming in midwater Where : Guadalupe Island, Mexico When : August–October Sea Temp : 18–22°C How : Fly to San Diego, USA. Arrange a trip through a registered operator, based in either USA or Mexico. Some operators transit to Ensenada, Mexico Type : Cage diving Conservation Status…

“That was just incredible!” gushes Maria Gomez, a volunteer diver from Medellin, Colombia. We’ve just surfaced from a coral outplanting dive at Pickles Reef in Key Largo, Florida. Maria and I successfully put 10 endangered staghorn corals back onto the reef. The other dive teams on our boat also restore 10 corals each. High fives are heard as we announce our totals: 40 corals restored for the day. “It feels great to use your best hobby for a good purpose, doesn’t it?” adds Maria. Our boat glides along the turquoise blue water back towards land, and Kyle Krause, a local 17-year-old tells me, “It was a new view of things. Really cool.” He’s right. It’s not every day we get to touch an endangered species, let alone act to help…

1 FASTEST SHARK Text by UW360 Photo by Mike Korostelyov The waters off Cape Town are famous for their sharks. Besides the great whites, sevengills and the blues, this is one of the few places in the world where you can even try diving with shortfin makos. These animals are easily recognised by their astounding mouths full of teeth, and an almost iridescent shimmer. But be warned, it is the animals’ speed and size that can be incredibly intimidating, evolved to help them prey on powerful tuna and even other shark species. Shortfin makos grow to four metres (14ft) and weigh roughly 700kg (1,500lbs). Makos are sometimes encountered by divers in the Mediterranean, Baja California, and off Rhode Island. Makos are considered the fastest sharks, with speed bursts topping…

Capturing images of endangered or vulnerable animals underwater is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding pursuits for an underwater photographer. The aim is always simple – photograph a rare species without impacting on it to raise awareness, gain knowledge and ultimately help save a species. Before embarking on any shoot, a great deal of research has to be undertaken to ensure a successful trip. Without proper planning and research, you are very likely to come away empty-handed. By definition, endangered animals are rare so you have to know exactly where you should be looking for them. They also tend to be extremely shy and wary of humans, who are usually the cause of their conservation status. An understanding of the animal’s behaviour is also vital as it will help…

Mention Cuba to a diver and images of crocodiles come to mind. And there is no better place there to do it than at the Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) National Marine Park. Getting there is an adventure on its own with a six-hour bus ride from Havana to the harbour in Júcaro. This is followed by another five hours on a boat. This untouched paradise is dotted with mangrove lagoons where the saltwater crocodiles hang out. You will need some nerves, a good guide and, of course, a piece of chicken to get close to these amazing reptiles! Crocodiles are indicators of a healthy, balanced ecosystem Where : Jardines de la Reina, Cuba When : Year-round Sea Temp : 25–30°C How : Check with your embassy…

Presumed long-extinct, the now-legendary story of the scientific rediscovery of this bizarre fish began in December 22, 1938, when a fishing trawler pulled one up in its nets. It was then described by a scientist, but it wasn’t until 2000 that a diver named Peter Timm saw a coelacanth in South Africa off Sodwana Bay. The animals were encountered on a technical dive to 120m (400ft). At least two other divers tried the same dive with cameras and both sadly passed away. It wasn’t until 2008 that Laurent Ballesta was able to capture these remarkable images and safely return to tell the tale. Coelacanths favour deep water to 700m (2000ft) Where : Sodwana Bay, South Africa When : Year-round Sea Temp : 20–28°C How : Diving with the coelacanth is…

Snorkelling with a striped marlin in full hunting mode can be one of the most intense experiences in all of Nature. With speeds topping around 75km/h (50mph), marlin are among the fastest fish in the sea. They possess an intimidating bill (or rostra) used to slash at schools of fish. The bills of certain species have even been found embedded in the bodies of billfish predators such as great white and makos sharks.   A striped marlin hunting a school of mackerel some 65km off the coast of San Carlos Where : Bahia Magdalena, Mexico When : October–December Sea Temp : 24–27°C How : International flights arrive to Mexico City or closer still, La Paz and Cabo San Lucas. Check with your dive operator if Magdalena Bay is on their…

Every diver has a bucket list of dream islands. For me, the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean harbour a number of these idyllic destinations. The tropical atmosphere of the region is legendary where leisure and comfort beckon divers from afar. The welcoming local waters are crystal clear, perfectly warm, rich with life and varied terrain, as well as being home to a remarkable trove of World War II shipwrecks. The Northern Mariana Islands are a commonwealth of the USA, and are located at the northern end of Micronesia, approximately 2,000km south of Tokyo and 2,200km east of Manila. The Marianas consist of 14 islands stretching across more than 600km above the Western Pacific, just like a string of pearls scattered on the sea. DIVING AMONG MOUNTAINS The world-famous…

After a long first day of travel, our small group wasted no time on our second day. We quickly chartered a boat and headed straight for the world famous dive site known as Manta Point. We were understandably tired after air and overland travel, but fortunately for us, the Artotel Sanur hotel afforded us a good night’s rest and smooth transition to underwater adventure. The divers in our group were all smiles when we realised the walk to the dive boats was only a five-minute stroll from the hotel doors. To be honest, my expectations were low. I’d been to Manta Point before but unfortunately did not see any mantas so I never really understood the hype. Part of me was skeptical about the rave reviews this site has received…

If you are involved in an accident that threatens your life, the last thing you want is for those you call on for help to make inappropriate recommendations or fail to recognise the severity of your symptoms. At DAN, our staff is more familiar with dive injuries than just about anyone else in the world. Whether you are calling our emergency hotline, seeking medical information about diving or need help finding a local expert, we answer, and we provide the most practical, relevant and up-to-date information. Our commitment to providing divers with the utmost care is what sets DAN apart from the rest. For almost 40 years divers around the world have trusted DAN to be there when they have a dive accident – because we have been there. DAN…

In this incident, a diver was evacuated for recompression, but flew home sooner than DAN advised, and unfortunately the symptoms returned and persisted for some time. Could this have been avoided if the diver had delayed his flight home? The Dives A 28-year-old dive instructor completed a long 45m dive on mixed gas with decompression. The next day he completed a dive (on air) to 26m for 65 minutes and afterwards noted that he felt more tired than usual. Symptoms Present The following day, more than 24 hours since his final dive, he felt an ache/burn in his right shoulder and the next day, when DAN was called, he had some altered sensation in his hip and elbow. He had been receiving oxygen first aid for six hours without any…

1. BEST OF SHOW By :Lütfü Tanrıöver (Turkey) Title : The Mother When : June 2018 Where : İskenderun, İzmir, Turkey Equipment: Panasonic Lumix GH4, Olympus 12–50mm, Nauticam CMC-1, Saga +5, Century Optics +3.5 “I asked some friends who own dive centres around Turkey if they could find me octopuses with eggs that I could film. One mother octopus was found inside a little cave at about 24 metres, and I quickly realised what a huge challenge it would be to shoot it – the eggs were the size of sesame seeds. The cave had a very small opening and the octopus was deep inside, so it proved impossible to get close enough to focus using close-up lenses. On the first day, we noticed that some eggs were quite brown…

SOUTHEAST ASIA Dive Site: Crystal Bay Type: Slopes to deep Encounters: Reef fish, Mola molas Location: Nusa Penida, Bali Country: Indonesia SOUTHEAST ASIA Dive Site: Blade Type: Unusual reef ridge Encounters: Schools, rays, pelagics Location: Wakatobi Country: Indonesia SOUTHEAST ASIA Dive Site: Magic Mountain Type: Seamount reef hook dive Encounters: Mantas, sharks, maybe dolphins Location: Misool, Raja Ampat Country: Indonesia SOUTHEAST ASIA Dive Site: Apo Island Type: Gentle sloping reef Encounters: Clownfish and anemone fields, fish schools Location: Dumaguete Country: Philippines AMERICAS Dive Site: Palancar Horseshoe Type: ‘Amphitheatre’, tunnels, crevices Encounters: Moray eels, turtles Location: Cozumel Country: Mexico AMERICAS Dive Site: Blackish Point Type: Reef wall Encounters: Goliath groupers, rays, whale sharks Location: Utila Country: Honduras AMERICAS Dive Site: Half Moon Caye Wall Type: Sheer reef wall Encounters: Tarpon, eagle…

Each year a remarkable migration takes place and very little is known about it, yet it involves a unique and highly endangered marine creature. Leatherback turtles are the largest of the seven species of sea turtle and are unique in the fact that they don’t have a bony shell. Their carapaces are soft, which gives the animal its name. The combined population of Pacific leatherbacks is thought to be less than 2,500, making them one of the most endangered marine turtles. Pacific leatherback turtles make their way from the west coast of America to feed and breed in the area surrounding the tiny Kei Archipelago in the remote Banda Sea, a journey of thousands of miles for these ancient sea creatures. The Kei Islands are one of the few places…

Although many seahorses are considered threatened primarily by habitat loss and their use in traditional medicines, the long-snouted seahorse is considered somewhat of a mystery. The IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species lists the animals as “Data Deficient”, so an accurate understanding of the population is lacking. However, the international export of the animals is controlled by Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The entire seahorse genus, all 47 species of Hippocampus, are protected under international trade laws Where : Bay of Arcachon, France When : June–September Sea Temp : 12–23°C How : Many nationalities do not need visas to visit France, including Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea Type : Open water diving Conservation Status…

I spent a full month in Azores to get this photo of seven socialising females. Only towards the end of the month did I have this great encounter, when I spent almost 20 minutes alongside these animals. The encounter was also remarkable given the unique access we had under a government permit. According to the regional legislation, swimming with whales and other cetaceans (other than dolphins) is forbidden in the Azores. These whales were once hunted extensively by the locals, a practice dating back at least to the 13th century Where : Azores Islands, Autonomous region of Portugal* When : April–October Sea Temp : 15–24°C How : International flights arrive to Lisbon, and then connect to local airlines via Ponta Delgada (Azores). Major Portuguese airlines are SATA and TAP-Air Portugal.…

The dive site known as “El Boiler” has become famous the world over for its encounters with large pelagics, and perhaps most commonly, giant manta rays. The site harbours a cleaning station for mantas, making it commonplace for divers to encounter several rays at any one time. Other visitors to the site can include silky sharks, hammerheads and even humpback whales.       A giant manta swimming near a cliff at the “El Boiler” dive site Where : Revillagigedo Islands, San Benedicto Island, Mexico When : November–June Sea Temp : 24–27°C How : Numerous liveaboards travel to San Benedicto via Cabo San Lucas. Arrange a trip through a registered operator based in Mexico. Some operators transit to Ensenada, Mexico for departures Type : Open water scuba diving Conservation Status…

Underwater photography, for me, was an evolution of my passion for topside photography. I suspect most aficionados, however, first became scuba divers and then embraced underwater stills and video to record and share the wonders of the underwater world. Along the way, these divers would have refined their diving skills, either consciously or subconsciously, to become more adept at moving through the water while handling unwieldy photography gear. In-water skills are important for productive interactions with often elusive marine life. Here are a few tips that may accelerate the learning curve. DIVE GEAR While most modern dive gear is very good and will serve the underwater photographer well, a few features might make the task easier. Mask The mask is probably the most significant piece of personal gear because it’s…

Everyone loves the smell of a new car, but eventually the car develops problems, and you realise current models have new safety features. Dive gear such as dive computers and buoyancy compensator devices (BCDs) get old, too. When should we consider replacing them? DIVE COMPUTERS Divers don’t buy new dive computers every year, so it is not uncommon to see older computers while on dive trips. But just because those models were the best options 15 years ago doesn’t mean they’re ideal to use now. New technology has improved computer processing power, battery life, sensor sensitivity and display screens. Older dive computers are often not able to fully implement some decompression algorithms; modern computers are more powerful and in many cases are better able to compute a more faithful rendition…