Thanks to Steve Lockie for organising and running the trip.
Vis was fantastic for once, shame there wasn't the fish life to match.
However as is my style now I'll let a some photos do the talking.
Mouth of a Brittle Star
Hope you like them.
Cheers, Richard B.
Hi All,
Only one posting still so while not an Offical DSDC club trip a group from the club went down to visit an old member Steve G.
We did two dives on the Dammiyat Islands off shore from Muscat in Oman. These sites are famous for marine life and we were all hopefull of some big life, sadly no whale sharks but Mark addmitted he scares all fish away :-)
I'm not a long winded on so I'll shut up and let the photos do the talking from now.
Hi, It was supposed to be the swift but despite a valiant effort and 3 hours the swift wasn't going to happen so it was back to the Zhainab.Viz was "Good" by recent standards but sadly still not the wreck of old.
Seeing as nobody else seems to post EVER here's an update on last weekends diving.
Took my new toy, Macro lens out to play with the Nudibranch's.
This is what they normally look like with a normal camera (17-70mm), even zoomed (70mm) in :
This is through the Macro, approx 2:1 (so double life size on the camera sensor) :
The front :
The back :
None of the above are cropped they are as I took the shot, just to prove it here is one I have cropped :
(C) R Bailey.Cannon 350DSigma 105 macro with +4 DiopterIkelite eTTL housing2 x DS125 strobesand a yellow box to breath from.
Cheers,Richard B.
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Check out more pictures from my latest underwater exploits :-http://www.flickr.com/photos/25985065@N06/(Sorry if your Etisicrap, get a free web proxy.)
Could almost be the Red Sea
A few "Rays" of Sun shine.
Is he stoned ?
Look a shark !
Closer..
Closer Still...
Is that close enough, look bottom right ! wonder what caused the bubbles :-)
(C) R Bailey 2008
Canon 350D, Ikelite eTTL housing, Sigma 17-70 macro, 8" dome and twin DS125 Strobes.
Divers,
Are you frustrated at the lack of diving on the west coast due to poor weather? The weather is usually better on the east coast. Why not join us for some great diving in the Mussandam?
Please drop in at the club on Monday evening to sign up for the Mussandam dhow trip scheduled for Friday Feb 29th.
For those of you who are new to the club, this is a two cylinder dive in Mussandam, Oman (possible dive sites: Octopus Rock and Lima Rock, weather permitting). The weather was good on last month's dhow trip, so this should be a good social outing.
You may wish to bring your family and friends.
Here are the cost details:
CLUB MEMBER DIVER 200/- (ALL CLUBS)
GUEST DIVER (ALL AGES) 300/-
NON-DIVER ADULT 100/-
NON DIVER CHILD(>12) 50/-
(<12) FOC
CLUB MEMBER STUDENT DIVER 100/- (ALL CLUBS)
If you have any questions, please see me at the club on Monday evening.
Regards,
Azzam
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Hi all,
Pls put this date in your diaries.
Looks like Nancy has finalised a deal with the Movenpick.
The tickets will be Dhs 275 per head which will include welcome drink, buffet dinner, 4 bottles of wine per table (tables of 10), disco etc. For further "refreshments" the bar will be open at normal prices - around Dhs25 per drink.
Nancy is on leave, but on her return she'll be looking for help to organise the final details, particularly 1. Ticket sales 2. Raffle Prizes 3. Party games
We'd like to see all DSDC members there plus, of course, the Hash as well - let's go for 300 bodies and have a damned good party. We have an "extrovert" DJ, Mike Greaves, lined up and he'll certainly liven things up so long as you're willing to enter into the spirit of things!!!!!!
Basically we won't be looking too make much money on tickets, but have the opportunity to make a decent amount on a good raffle, so if you can help procure some top prizes, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim
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As well as Jims comment abouyt lack of blogging ;-) another complaint for this time of year can be poor visability either from plankton on the east coast or the silt on the west coast. However either by sneaking inside the wreck or using natural light with a wide lens you can still get some good shots.
If you can sneak inside you can also get some atmospheric shots. (Safety First, make sure your properly trained and equipped, see the line rigged.)
The fish life is still thier but again you need a wide lens to get them in.
Inchape II, 17-11/2007 (c) Richard Bailey
Cannon 350D, Ikelite eTTL housing, 2xDS125 strobes, Sigma 10-20mm lens.
Cheers,
Richard B.
Whale SharkThe Alvin Appeal raffle was drawn on July 5th at Al Boom. The list of prize winners is here. If you won a prize, please claim it ( and if you don't want it, you can always donate it to the Club!) =)
I don't yet know how much was raised for Alvin; I'll update this when I find out.
Late last year, a scuba instructor named Alvin Vestil was seriously injured while a passenger in a taxi on the RAK/Dibba Road. He has been left with neurological damage and needs to be repatriated to his family in the Philippines, where he will continue to need constant care. His court case is still pending, and his friends and the diving community have started The Alvin Appeal to get him home and get him help.
Local scuba and travel businesses have donated over 30 diving-related prizes to a raffle being held July 5th to help Alvin. Tickets are 20 dhs each and are available at Scuba Dubai, Al Boom, Freestyle Divers, Gulf Marine Sports (Abu Dhabi)and Emirates Diving Association. For more details on Alvin, the appeal, and the raffle, visit the EDA website.
Thank you for supporting a diver in need.
