Underwater in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

My girlfriend and I went to Bonaire last week for an incredible week of diving. We stayed at Buddy Dive. She had been there in the past, but this was my first time. This was my first time diving in the ocean since being certified for my OW course back in June of this year. Not only that, but it was also my first time ever leaving the US. I had a brilliant time. We went to Buddy Dive in Bonaire. What a beautiful country, from north to south. I highly recommend it for anyone who has not been!

These are just a few of the photosI took. If you want more, please ask. We dove: Buddy Reef, Windsock, Hilma Hooker, Boca Slagbaai, Sharon's Serenity, Keepsake, Carl's Hill, etc.

Photos were taken with my GoPro Hero2 HD, GoPro Dive Housing, $14 red filter (I am purchasing the Backscatter one), SeaLife mount, Intova Imini; Other photos with a SeaLife DC600 - handheld. Most of these are the underwater ones - above water to come later.

Photo of my rig: http://pafirefighter11​.smugmug.com …zB2FV/0/M/i-ZjzB2FV-M.jpg

Daytime octopus:

Really like the sunken boat and t feesh shot

Great video you did well. I also liked the composition of the wreck. Another thing to look out for, photos looking down are not generally appealing, try to get level or slightly below your subject

that is pretty cool brings back memories - we dove the Hillma hooker within a few weeks after it was sunk to form the dive site - looks like a lot stuff has grown on it in the past 20+ years - great shots - did you dive the night dive under the docks looking for sea horses?

if you get closer with the go pro you will get crazy distortion, better to shoot from far and crop

Thank you all! This is a HUGE learning experience for me. Typically with my GoPro (on land) I'm just recording racing on my car or motorcycle at the track, among other wide angle things. I'm not usually trying to compose a shot with a subject. I've learned - GET CLOSER!! When I think I am close enough, try to get even closer! As you divers know, keeping your buoyancy correct while floating a few inches to a foot above coral takes practice!

Marcy: That's great! Must be neat to see something like that just after it sank. The one night dive we did was at Buddy Reef. We took a stride in off the one dock, submerged right there, then swam out towards the reef. At the reef wall, we cut left (South) as that's the direction in which the current was flowing from. 10-20 out, then 10-15 back in. My g/f is tiny (5'6", 100 lbs) and even in a skin and shortie wet suit, in 82* water, she was getting cold.

London: Any close shots I've tested with since have been okay, no distortion really at the proper settings & viewing angle.

PAFirefighter11 wrote in post #14861186
Thank you all! This is a HUGE learning experience for me. Typically with my GoPro (on land) I'm just recording racing on my car or motorcycle at the track, among other wide angle things. I'm not usually trying to compose a shot with a subject. I've learned - GET CLOSER!! When I think I am close enough, try to get even closer! As you divers know, keeping your buoyancy correct while floating a few inches to a foot above coral takes practice!

Marcy: That's great! Must be neat to see something like that just after it sank. The one night dive we did was at Buddy Reef. We took a stride in off the one dock, submerged right there, then swam out towards the reef.

At the reef wall, we cut left (South) as that's the direction in which the current was flowing from.

10-20 out, then 10-15 back in. My g/f is tiny (5'6", 100 lbs) and even in a skin and shortie wet suit, in 82* water, she was getting cold.

London: Any close shots I've tested with since have been okay, no distortion really at the proper settings & viewing angle.

PA Think I was reading your post wrong or you wrote it wrong . Always start your dive going into the current and come back with the flow.

Yep, I said we went North to South as the current was flowing South to North Always easier to finish a dive with the current than against - that's newb stuff haha

PAFirefighter11 wrote in post #14862197
Yep, I said we went North to South as the current was flowing South to North Always easier to finish a dive with the current than against - that's newb stuff haha

I thought I was reading it wrong.....as you said that is newb stuff, easier and safer.

Cool shots, makes me want to scuba dive.

The bait ball is really nice. I have been to Bonaire 3 times and have not seen one like that yet. Will try again this December! Looks like Buddy's pier in the fish shot?

TTuna Eye wrote in post #14868155
The bait ball is really nice. I have been to Bonaire 3 times and have not seen one like that yet. Will try again this December! Looks like Buddy's pier in the fish shot?

Yep! 1, 2, and 7 are at Buddy Dive and their reef/pier. The bait ball is at Boca Slagbaii in Washington-Slagbaai National Park on the NW side of the island by the flamingo reserve.

I was told by many others there that this was a very rare event, especially with the magnitude of "bait fish" and the large group of tarpon as well. Every tarpon I've ever seen was either by itself or with 1 or 2 others.

Nice shots, thanks for sharing

PAFirefighter11 wrote in post #14840371
......
Photos were taken with my GoPro Hero2 HD, GoPro Dive Housing, $14 red filter (I am purchasing the Backscatter one),

...........

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=mIiTGu-RwFo

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=EeRm3qMxKUM

Thank you, Dan!

amazing video.. did you do any post processing of the video? I think it could have looked better and more vibrant with some enhancement...i think youtube might have some enhancement that you can use even.

we do it for our photos, why not for our vids