Can I ask for a little practical advice:

... bearing in mind my (generous - ask Alex M.) personal dimensions and the limited space on SW, what is the bare minimum lens set to take on a SW trip?

Can I get away with a single dome?

Have I finally got to buy a Tokina fisheye zoom?

Tim

Definitely only need one dome. There are some incidental dives like the Sugar Wreck ( I think that one could do some macro and fish portraits, but not worth the extra stuff in IMO.
The 10-17 is definitely the most versatile lens, but one could manage with a fixed fisheye and a wide rectilinear like the 17-35.
I'm going on my 3rd trip in 2 weeks and I plan to take my 10-17 with TC and my 17-35, and my 70-200 for topside. (D700)

Ahh....

... that's the problem: it suggests two ports to accomodate my lenses (10.5mm and 12-24mm or 17-55mm), not to mention a surface telephoto...

Tim

I use the same dome, just different extensions. (2)

Using a Nexus housing with D300. FP170 port, 40mm ext, +4 diopter for 12-24mm lens. Custom 12-24 port, 60mm ext, +3 or +4 diopter for 17-55mm lens. I couldn't find a good setup for the 17-55 with 170 port - tested different ext rings & diopters. I tried the 17-55 on my first trip, but decided it wasn't wide enough, so back to the 12-24. Don't have a 10-17, but told it will work with 170 port. Abernethy gets great shots with 10-17 but he usually as a bait box in one hand. You just need to be really close (which isn't necessarily a problem a lot of time).

Hi Tim,

This is a once in a lifetime trip. Take what you need, just keep it tidy when you are not using those items. I keep my lenses in my carry-on bag on my bunk during the day - so they are not in anyones way. Regarding lenses - this is my advice from the email I send out before the Sharks and Dolphins trips:

"Photographically this is a wide angle trip, but if you have them, there is definitely a role for a number of wide angle lenses. Particularly if you are new to diving with big sharks, a mid-range lens can be very useful for the first few dives. I have always used a 28-70mm a lot, as well as 17-35, 12-24mm and then various fisheyes. First time on Shearwater it is best to start with the longer lenses and work towards to wider ones as you get more used to the experience. Camera to subject distances are usually longer than standard "reef wide-angle" so long strobe arms really help. We'll talk about strobe positioning on the boat. Filters work really well at Tiger Beach, I'll make sure I have some with me."

Once you get used to the sharks a 10-17mm is the perfect lens. The 10.5mm can be a bit wide and bendy much of the time. I would say a 16mm is more use on a DX body than a 10.5mm. The Tokina is the perfect lens for this trip.

The key to getting good photos is being a safe and attentive diver. Jim sees who is really watching the sharks and who isn't - and if he notices you are alert to what is going on then he will soon be inviting you in close to the action and the best place for photos. The people who get stuck in their viewfinders, with no idea what is behind them, or which direction the current is blowing the bait, will generally be positioned furthest away from the action.

Alex

I'd take both your domes as they are small.

Alex's advice is (as usual) about as spot on as I can imagine. I wish I'd said all that!

The only other thing I'd mention (at the risk of being obvious) is to shoot RAW. You're very likely to want to tweak WB after the fact on many of your photos from this trip. Getting WB right (or your camera correctly doing so) in shallow water can be a challenge, and I found that many of my photos looked far better after I "fixed" the WB in the RAW converter.

Here is a good example. This is our fearless leader, Eric Cheng, looking like he's about to be enveloped by sharks, original and after WB correction. BTW, it was shot with a 24mm on a full frame camera.

Tim,
I'm a little confused. Would you not use the same dome port just with a different extension for these different lenses? As I said, with my Subal, the only thing that would change for these 3 lenses you mention (and the 10-17) would be the extension ring. I've even used my 60mm behind my 8" dome port, and I might throw that in the bag just in case we get to release some baby turtles.

Now you're scaring me: if you know my waistline, you would see why I was hoping that a Shearwater trip would encourage my photography and not my gustatory habits...

Tim

Ta!

As your advice is good, I could be persuaded not to post my dome-polishing picture....

Tim

My multi-purpose dome is acrylic, but my specific domes are glass, and a lot smaller.

Tim

That's some image!

Tim

Great topic as I am just about to book a trip or maybe charter the SW for my 40th.
I have read for the previous few years all of the great experiences that you guys and girls have had with Jim, and I was also concerned about space onboard. Having said that I have done my homework and reviewed the alternatives to the SW and I have also PM'd guys that have been on the SW for their advice regarding the pros and the cons of choosing the SW. Most replies I had back were very positive regarding one thing, and that is the attidude and safety whilst diving with Jim. I dont know Jim yet but from what I have been told is that he is a great guy who is there to give you a once in a life time experience. Myself personally, I will sacrifice being a bit cramped for safety. I am under no illusions as to the size of the boat and I do not think that I am going to some 5 star spa. What you see is what you get. I dont think it would be my wifes cup of tea, even if I chartered it and we knew all the other divers. I am not knocking the OP as what suits some might not suit others. A bit like Marmite. But if she had looked at the layout of the SW on Jims site she would have been able to see how big, or rather how small the boat was.

What am I expecting from the SW

1. safety
2. great encounters with large sharks
3. great photos
4. a good time
5. If I dont charter it, to make new friends

Stew

Watch out for the cockroaches on that boat. For some reason they are much larger than the ones I've seen on other boats.



I have to credit either Dave or Dee for this shot. Can't remember who sent it to me.

Welcome to Floreeda!

Well, I'm ****ed...

... Jim has just pulled the plug on my trip, and I can't rebook leave until next year, and I don't know if there will be spaces then...

... where can I go, no more than 12 flying hours from England, with three weeks' notice?

Tim

Tim
Can you reschedule to go on the Backscatter Shearwater trip? June 16 -22nd? I think they still have an opening.

By the way what was the reason given for cancelling the trip?

Steve

That sucks. Such short notice too.
Hours of travel proximity
less than than 12 : Maldives, Seychelles, South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Thailand
15 : Indonesia, , PI, Mafia, Pemba, Comorros
17 : PNG
That's just off the top of my head. If you must have shark dives, South Africa is your best bet. then you have the sardines.

I have a suggestion if you want to stay in the Caribbean vicinity - Jardin de la Reina, Cuba. No big sharks, but lots of Silkies.
Seems like trip cancellations are becoming more of a problem, have to consider cancellation insurance from now on, I guess.

And caribbean reefs sharks.

Yeah from the looks of it I wouldn't have had to worry about whizzing off the stern or space on the boat for that matter. Once I took the wetsuit off it would've created its own buffer zone.

Nah, I have to arrange cover for holidays about a year in advance, not a month! Pity...

Apparently there were only three spaces taken, so the trip was uneconomic.

Tim

What a bummer Tim.

Sign of the times ?

Must admit it is the first time I have heard of a JASA trip cancelled ( though it may well have happened previously ).

So have you lost the flights and everything ?

Paul C

Swanage !! well maybe not.

Azores, not far from the Uk. If you already have the flights and cant get a refund, the Keys. Although I have no idea of conditions this time of year. You could always wait and see what Backhurst has deal wise. He has some cracking last minute offers on at the moment.

Stew

What are your exact dates???

Not to worry, unless it's cancelled too, I have a last-minute spot on the Belize Aggressor... thanks to Rachel at Dive Quest who pulled that together within about half an hour of me asking for anything in the Caribbean area during the week in question!

Now, is anyone planning a Shearwater trip for next year?

Tim

Tim - there will be at least two Wetpixel trips for next year. Alex is planning on leading one in July, and I will probably lead one in September. Stay tuned...

Curious as to how the Shearwater deals with the often opposing needs of photographers vs videographers. As a videographer there is nothing more destructive to footage than a bunch of flashes going off.
Steve

Hey Steve,
Start with there are only 8 or 9 divers on the boat. Jim splits them up into two groups and they are a little spread out in time. He normally has multiple "stations" set up so it's not hard to feel like you're all alone down there. The reefs we dove on had a lot of structure which could be used to block out shooting areas. The best thing I could tell you is to let Jim know of your concern and they will try to accomodate you.

Cheers,
Steve

Mr. Douglas -

On the Shear Water, we try to separate videographers from still photographers with groups. Ideally, we can split down the middle (half video/half stills) and then there are no issues. We do our best to insure that everyone has the opportunity to return with great images, and I think that our track record indicates that we do a good job satisfying the needs of our various guests onboard. If you have any other questions, I'm sure that our office staff can answer them.

Brian Cripe
Captain, MV Shear Water
www.scuba-adventures.com

Suggest taking a telephoto zoom for some neat topside shots, like 80-200 or longer.Click to view attachment

What is this: "Ice Age VI - After the Global Warming?"

:-)

Cheers
James