Scuba Diver

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.

Ending A Decade of Birthday Dives - Scuba Hank NYC

Taking the Wreck Diver Specialty Course in Grenada

Entering the Shark Arena Nassau (Bahamas)

Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas
Ending A Decade of Birthday Dives - Scuba Hank NYC

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)

Ending A Decade of Birthday Dives - Scuba Hank NYC
Made it to another birthday cake.

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FROM THE DEPTHS

The Blue-Spotted Stingray (Taeniura lymma) is a striking presence on Red Sea reefs, especially along Egypt’s coast, where its vivid electric-blue spots stand out against sandy bottoms and coral ledges. I was so focused on the Spanish dancer that I completely missed the nearby lionfish and nearly collided with it. #egypt #redsea

Comments

25 responses to “Ending A Decade of Birthday Dives”

  1. tidalscribe Avatar
    tidalscribe

    Happy Birthday

    Reply
    1. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
      ScubaHankNYC

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Mizou Avatar
    Mizou

    Happy Birthday ! 🎁

    Reply
    1. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
      ScubaHankNYC

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. ioana Avatar
    ioana

    Happy Birthday 🎂🎈

    Reply
    1. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
      ScubaHankNYC

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Laci Avatar
    Laci

    Happy Birthday!

    Reply
    1. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
      ScubaHankNYC

      Thank you!

      Reply
      1. Laci Avatar
        Laci

        You’re welcome!

  5. ajeanneinthekitchen Avatar
    ajeanneinthekitchen

    Try your best to have a Happy Birthday, despite the fact that it will be a dry one. We will be diving again, soon. 🙂

    Reply
    1. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
      ScubaHankNYC

      Indeed! Thanks!

      Reply
      1. ajeanneinthekitchen Avatar
        ajeanneinthekitchen

        You’re welcome. 🙂

  6. Marie Avatar
    Marie

    Happy Birthday – Have a good one!!!

    Reply
  7. denise421win Avatar
    denise421win

    Happy Belated birthday

    Reply
    1. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
      ScubaHankNYC

      Thanks!!!

      Reply
  8. carolinehelbig Avatar
    carolinehelbig

    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. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
      ScubaHankNYC

      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
  9. Dave Ply Avatar
    Dave Ply

    Now you’ll have to go to Tubbataha Reefs twice, just to make up for it. (Happy Birthday.)

    Reply
    1. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
      ScubaHankNYC

      LMAO! However, that’s a great idea!

      Reply
  10. AJ Avatar
    AJ

    Happy (belated) birthday! Keep up the great work! Love those vids!!

    Reply
  11. Christy Avatar
    Christy

    How are you vids so freaking clear?

    Reply
    1. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
      ScubaHankNYC

      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. Christy Avatar
        Christy

        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. ScubaHankNYC Avatar
        ScubaHankNYC

        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.

      3. Christy Avatar
        Christy

        Oh thanks!

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