January 2, 2008: Cayman Islands

A D2D New Years 2008: Cayman Islands dive

"Eagle Ray Rock (GC)" - "Doc Paulson (GC)"

Diving off of the Caymans:

• Directions from Tampa: See your travel agent. All three islands offer great diving opportunities.
• Conditions on the day of my visit: Sunny and windy
  
  
• Personal Notes: My throat was giving me issues by this point in the trip.
  
  First two dives were on Eagle Ray Rock, where I don't recall seeing any Eagle Rays. Got some good shots of other stuff though, including a relatively small turtle who was nice enough to hang around a bit. The second dive was cut short by the emergency recall from the boat; it got windy, and it was hard to get back on the boat.
  
  I skipped a dive on the Oro Verde, a wreck. Depending on who you ask, I didn't miss much, as the mooring line broke and some folks weren't even in for 5 minutes when they had to get back on the boat, which, since it wasn't moored, wasn't always that easy. Me ... I napped through the whole thing.
  
  So we moved to the Doc Paulson, a nice tug with a lot of macro life on it. For safety's sake, the boat double-tied to the wreck.
  
  The air started to get cold in the afternoon, and I'm fairly certain there was no one up for night diving.

Eagle Ray Rock (GC)
I started playing with the wide angle lens and camera settings. However, some of my experimental shots were interrupted by more interesting things to photograph ... 1/50-F5.0-ISO200 lens: 18-55mm
Like this Turtle. 1/50-F5.6-ISO400 lens: 18-55mm
1/50-F5.6-ISO400 lens: 18-55mm
1/50-F5.6-ISO400 lens: 18-55mm
1/50-F5.6-ISO400 lens: 18-55mm
1/50-F5.6-ISO400 lens: 18-55mm
Gray Angelfish. 1/50-F5.6-ISO400 lens: 18-55mm
The dots on the back ID this as a Graysby. 1/50-F8.0-ISO400 lens: 18-55mm
Now, contrast this shot with the first one from the dive ... 1/50-F22-ISO400 lens: 18-55mm
There's what the flash can light up - and depending on how far away the object is, it can influence what you set your F-stop to. 1/50-F22-ISO400 lens: 18-55mm
A Saddled Blenny teasing me when I don't have my macro lens on ... 1/50-F5.6-ISO200 lens: 18-55mm
1/50-F5.6-ISO200 lens: 18-55mm
Barracuda. 1/50-F5.6-ISO200 lens: 18-55mm
Fairy Basslet. 1/50-F10-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F10-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Masked or Glass Goby. 1/50-F16-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Not sure what this is. 1/50-F16-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
I think this is a Cleaning Goby. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Saddled Blenny I think, but his saddles aren't that apparent ... 1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
A decent shot of his head ... 1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
An Orangesided Goby I think, but not quite the side shot needed for an ID. 1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Secretary Blenny. I just wish I could find one that was a bit braver, and in an easier place to get my lens into ... 1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Could be a Yellowline, but I'm guessing it's actually a Shortstripe Goby. 1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
The flash didn't go off - note the muted colors. 1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F32-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Doc Paulson (GC)
Blue Tang. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Some kind of Wrasse. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
A French Angelfish eating. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Slender Filefish, I think. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Peacock Flounder's head. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Some spots on his body. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Another shot of the eyes. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
A crab's eyes ... 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Saddled Blenny. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Rough Fileclam. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Banded Coral Shrimp. 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
Garden Eel. I should have tweaked the settings a bit; I couldn't get close enough to get some light on him without him dropping into his hole ... 1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F16-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F16-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F16-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro
1/50-F22-ISO200 lens: 100mm macro