Sharm 2008

[Cussy]

I had one of the most enjoyable times I've ever had in diving at the end of January. Not necessarily because the diving was good, but because:

1). I got the opportunity to put right all the mistakes I made last year

and more importantly,

2). I finally learned you can teach an old dog new tricks.

This was a tale of two photters; me with my DSLR and my unrealistically high expectation, and my mate Mark, with his tiny little Fuji and no expectations at all (see Mark's thread on his photos). But I saw a new side of Mark; gone was the turbo finning and in came a new passion to get photos of all the things he'd seen on his previous 11 times to the Red Sea. During the week Mark really developed as a photter and it was really good to see him full of enthusiasm again, he was even experimenting with settings by the end.

As for me, I had a few shots in mind and I knew from last time what worked and what didn't.

These are my favourites:


The rest are here:
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and
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Rob

PS Mark just Messengered me with "we need to go again, i need more pics" - fantastic!!!!!

[DDT uk]

Some cracking shots Rob. Particularly the sunburst behind the coral.

Out of interest, are you shooting manual or Av?

It would be quite nice to do a DG trip to the Red Sea. A group booking would keep the cost down and it would be good to have a boat load of photographers in order to see each others takes on the same reefs.

Daniel

[markbsac]

thanks rob i enjoyed it and my little camera has amazed me....it was a great week apart from the first two days mega winds and me contracting shingles...not nice at all.

i can only snap with my camera..but i tried to understand it a little....digital makes it easy take loads and just bin the crap ones ..as some turned out really good.

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mark

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by DDT uk

Out of interest, are you shooting manual or Av?

I was shooting with the camera totally manual and the strobes always on TTL. I had a lot of light blue water shots last time, so was trying for deep blues and blacks, so most of the time the camera was on 1/200th and f8 - f22. As GLOC has already pointed out on YD, I was also trying for decent sun-bursts!

Originally Posted by DDT uk

It would be quite nice to do a DG trip to the Red Sea. A group booking would keep the cost down and it would be good to have a boat load of photographers in order to see each others takes on the same reefs.

That is a good idea. We really had luxury in that we were allowed (well actually ordered) to do our own thing - the guides just didn't want to worry about us. So only a couple of the dives were in a group, which meant a lot fewer photos with air bubble streams in. I was trying to perfect the shooting up and wanted to take this to the extreme of including Snell's window - down side is it's then impossible not to include your own bubbles in it!

I'm not sure I'd do Sharm again. It's easy and cheap, but the idea of a shore-diving based holiday where you can dive the same reef over and over appeals at the mo. As Mark also says, the weather was shocking when we first got there and everyone thought our second day was going to end in cancelled diving - luckily we found shelter!
Rob

[Mike W]

Nice report and pics, Rob. Always good when people have a good time somewhere!

What about somewhere like one of the southern eco-camps Oonas do? South Red Sea and unlimited shore diving on the house reef.

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by Mike W

What about somewhere like one of the southern eco-camps Oonas do? South Red Sea and unlimited shore diving on the house reef.

Mike,
Sounds good to me. Daniel (DDT) was telling me about one Maria and him went to that sounded good. Alan James always used to run a trip to Nuweiba, which was another shore based gig. If I did a liveaboard (and I'm not convinced I've got the stomach for the sea!!) I would want to dive the same reef twice in succession. You learn the reef that way and maybe first time can cover it quickly and concentrate on selected areas second time. It would also be good to have a third night dive on the same reef. Day boats are obsessed by covering as many reefs as possible; it's quality, not quantity.
Rob

[markbsac]

rob lets look at those eco camps oonas do....would be great unlimited shore diving and just plob in when we like and take as long as we need...if thats how they work...which im sure i will be told they dont !!!

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mark

[DDT uk]

That is exactly how they are. There is a kitting up area and you mark your name on the board and in you go. There are also ribs to take you further round the reef and to pick you up if you want. You also have the option of truck rides up the coast (good for the turtle and dugongs) and 4 rib rides through the week further out. You can pay extra to go to Elphinstone for the day.

Over the week Maria did 20 dives and I only managed 19.

What I particularly liked was the ability to go and retake a shot or try something new having reviewed the pictures afterwards.

A week at Marsa Shagra is about £600 including food, drinks and diving. Every 12th in a party goes free (not sure if that includes the flight). If we were to get a party of 12 then it would work out at £550 or £570 each depending on the flight situation.
Maria and I would definitely go. With Mark and Rob, we would need 8 more to qualify for the discount.

daniel

[Tazzie]

I absolutely love the jellyfish with divers behind!

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by Tazzie

I absolutely love the jellyfish with divers behind!

Sadly the next one in the sequence could have been a classic. The snorkeller (it's not a diver) is inside the jellyfish (as it seems), but sadly the jelly is blurred
Rob