Scuba Diver
Scuba Diving

Ending A Decade of Birthday Dives

Today is my birthday! I originally planned to be in the Philippines celebrating and scuba diving the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered my magnificent birthday dive schedule this year. And it has also ended a decade of consecutive fantastic birthday dives.

Spending time out of the water has allowed me to reflect on the good times and how fortunate I have been. About seven years ago, I picked up underwater photography and later videography.

Here are a few images that have brought back a few fond memories of phenomenal scuba diving.

Taking the Wreck Diver Specialty Course in Grenada

Entering the Shark Arena Nassau (Bahamas)

Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas

Navigating Shipwrecks in Grand Cayman

Exploring the Reefs in Barbados

Diving Barbados
A week on a liveaboard

Discovering the richness of Isla del Caño (Costa Rica)

Made it to another birthday cake.

25 thoughts on “Ending A Decade of Birthday Dives”

  8. Happy Belated Birthday! Sorry you couldn’t make it to the Philippines, but hopefully you’ll get there in the future. Although I’m disappointed about having to postpone trips, I too have spent a lot of time reflecting on all the wonderful places I’ve visited and how lucky I am. You’re very skilled at underwater photography and videography. That shark dive looks incredible (and a tad intimidating). I see the guy is wearing a mesh suit/gloves.

    Reply

    1. Thanks! The shark dive was intense. It’s kinda funny that the staff is in chain mesh but the customers go down in just a wetsuit. Fortunately, the sharks are only interested in people who have food.

      Reply

    1. Haha! And Thanks! On the Gopro – I used a combination of red filters, lights and shoot on manual mode (especially adjusting white balance and exposure settings). It took me sometime to figure it out. Generally, I make a few tweeks after the first dive in a new location. On the Sealife (compact camera), I make sure I turn the lights on first then quickly white balance. Creatures that don’t move or move slow – I’ll shoot in aperture priority and things that move fast – I’ll shoot in shutter priority. I don’t use a red filter w/the sealife compact camera. I found that shooting video on the gopro is much better than the sealife. That’s why I have two cameras. But that has come to end with my new camera system which I can’t wait to test. After, I put everything into iMovie or FCPx to edit and color correct a little.

      Reply

      1. They are pretty awesome. Uggg when I load mine into utube they are not as clear. So frustrating. Your vids are my goal lol

      2. I would check the setting of the editing software you’re using to upload. Some times the programs default to a low quality/fast upload setting.

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