Close-focus wide-angle underwater photograph

Once the basics of underwater photography are mastered, a photographer can find themselves looking for new inspiration.  Studying masters such as David Doubilet is a great method for challenging  yourself.  Choose a technique that has been applied to an image you would like to aspire to, and then go out and try to replicate the technique.  This is a good method for those that don’t like to to study volumes of information but prefer to learn by doing.   Here is a list of creative techniques / composition ideas that are worth looking at:

• Snell’s WIndow
• Surface reflections
• Close-focus wide-angle
• Snoots
• Rembrandt Lighting Technique
• Over / Under Split Shots
• Silhouettes
• Bokeh (narrow depth of field)
• Black and White
• Abstracts and Patterns
• Super Macro
• Backlighting
• Sunballs
• Colour themes
• Panning images
• Dramatic shadows
• Zoom while shooting
• Black backgrounds

Of course, some of the most spectacular images will use two or three of these techniques in one image.

Soft coral and feather star at the Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs, Australia

“Where’s the best diving on the Great Barrier Reef?”

This is not an easy question.  The Great Barrier Reef is over 2000km long and has 2900 reefs.  With thousands of dives on the Great Barrier Reef, in many different areas, I still hesitate at the question. Here is a round up of some of the best diving and experiences to be had:

The Ribbon Reefs offer a diverse range of diving from coral gardens (such as Flare Point, Challenger Bay and the Cod Hole) to isolated coral pinnacles with large schools of fish, macro life and ‘hollows’ which contain sharks, stonefish, octopus and more.  This area is really an underwater photographers delight; the biggest challenge is usually choosing which subject to photograph or for the SLR photographers the agonising choice of which lens wide angle or macro.  The Ribbon Reefs are a unique form of reef only found north of Cooktown.  This section of reefs is very remote and therefore only extended liveaboard trips from Cairns run by Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Taka or Spirit of Freedom visit this region.  Nimrod Explorer and Undersea Explorer have both ceased operating.  Day trips are available from Lizard Island, but only as a guest of the resort.

Dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs include: The Cod Hole, Steve’s Bommie, Pixie’s Pinnacle, Flare Point, Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Acropolis, Two Towers, Snake Pit and Clam Gardens.

Marine encounters can commonly include: potato cod (aka 200kg fish), turtles, sea snakes, leafy scorpionfish, pipefish, white tip sharks, schooling trevally, nudibranchs, lionfish, stonefish, wobbegongs (carpet sharks), grey reef sharks and much, much more.

Dwarf Minke Whale approaching snorkeller

The Minke Whales make a guest appearance on the Ribbon Reefs from May to August, however the heart of the season (last two weeks of June and first two weeks of July) produce the most spectacular encounters with the highest number of whales.  Interactions can include over ten whales and it is not uncommon for the whale to approaching within touching distance.  There are few experiences underwater that can match the thrill of being eyeball to eyeball with a Minke whale.

Diving with a Potato Cod at the Cod Hole

The Cod Hole diving with 200kg fish which are quite happy to approach you, swim alongside you or let you sit quietly beside them is quite something.  These fish are quite literally the same size as a human.  Some operators run feeds where you can see these normally very tranquil fish move with impressive speed, power and agility.  If you are lucky enough to do a night dive at the Cod Hole you will find the cod join you for a dive so they can use the light from your torches to hunt.

The Coral Sea actually starts where the Great Barrier Reef ends.  It was named by sailors because they kept bumping (quite unfortunately for them) into isolated coral reefs which appeared to dot this area.  We now know these as isolated oceanic mountains which raise up spectacularly from the depths to within a couple of metres of the surface.  These reefs are shaped by the strong currents and upflows that contribute to the spectacular life which you can find on them.  Osprey Reef is the most commonly dived Coral Sea reef, as it is serviced by the diving liveaboards from Cairns.  Less commonly visited are Bougainville and Shark.  Holmes and Flinders Reefs are accessed from Townsille.

The Whitsunday Islands

The Whistunday Islands would often not be included amongst the ‘best diving’ category.  The reef is fringing reef and visibility is affected by the land.  However they are an absolutely beautiful set of islands and Whitehaven Beach is consistently voted as one of the best beaches in the world.  In addition, nearby Hardy Reef (part of what has become known as the ‘Outer Reef’) does offer some good diving.  So a trip to the Whitsundays on a boat which takes in all three of these areas is a brilliant experience.

Shark dive at North Horn, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Shark Dive at North Horn, Osprey Reef even through the Coral Sea is no the Great Barrier Reef, I am going to include this here as to get to the Coral Sea, you must go through the Great Barrier Reef and this dive is available on dive liveaboards which also access the Great Barrier Reef.  North Horn is an amazing diving in its own right.  With spectacular walls dropping down hundreds of metres and huge soft corals that remind me of fireworks with their display of colours, form and complexity.  Add to this a large number of sharks and some tuna heads to attract them in for a close look and this is one spectacular dive experience.

Yongala Wreck is a dive that will blow you away and leave your neck sore from head swiveling.  All you will do is want to go back for more.  The wreck lies on a sandy bottom at 30m (rising to within 15m of the surface).    The abundant marine life will keep you fully occupied and the wreck almost becomes secondary.  However, it is an advanced dive and can be difficult to access as it is very weather dependent.  Yongala Dive and Adrenalin Dive both operate day trips to the wreck.

Minke Whales – Images by Xanthe Rivett

I recently had the amazing fortune to spend time in the water with a Minke Whale. While encounters like these often involve multiple whales, this particular whales was on its own.  Within minutes of entering the water the whale had approached us, at times passing close enough to touch.  As its huge eye glided past regarding us carefully, we could only imagine what it was thinking!  The interaction appeared to be fueled by a mixture of curiousity and playfulness.

I have had the good fortune to experience a few encounters with minke whales, but not for a couple of years. To be back in the water and see one, literally ‘face to face’ was a beautiful experience.  The encounter was onboard Taka Dive Expeditions..

Photographing the Minke Whales

Entering the water on snorkel is your best opportunity for photography.  Many marine animals are wary of bubbles and Minke whales are no exception.  Underwater photography of Minke Whales can be tricky as they turn up on the Great Barrier Reef during ‘Trade-wind’ season.  Strong winds can ensure a choppy sea and days maybe overcast and dark.  The whales more than make up for the not-so-pleasant weather however, when bouncing around on a choppy sea with low-light, photography can be more challenging!   Set your ISO manually so that it doesn’t automatically shoot up and cause unnecessary noise.  Be careful of your exposures too as the whales are dark, as can be the water, and you want there to be contrast between the two.  The Minke Whales also have patches of white on them which can burn out easily if overexposed, so pay attention to your highlight warning.  Finally, either take your strobes off or ensure they are turned off…you they are unnecessary and you do not want to spook the whales.

How can you experience an encounter with a Minke Whale?

Minke whales migrate to the northern or ‘Ribbon Reef’ section of the Great Barrier Reef each year.  They cruise through the Coral Sea and enter the Great Barrier Reef through deep channels or breaks in the ribbon-like reefs which give this area its name.  Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Taka and Spirit of Freedom all operate diving liveaboards in this area, and from which you may have the opportunity to see whales.  Mike Ball Dive Expeditions and Taka offer dedicated Minke Whale expeditions during peak season.  Day trips, while they advertise minke whales, are very unlikely to have a high chance of success to see the whales.  Your best opportunity is to join a liveaboard for the last two weeks of June or first two weeks of July and your best chance to get up close to the whales is to be on snorkel.

Of the three dive liveaboards I would recommend:

1) Mike Ball Dive Expeditions first as it is the best quality liveaboard, they run dedicated minke whale expeditions, have experienced and knowledgeable crew and have been very strong supporters of Minke Whale researchers from James Cook University.  In addition their fly/dive itineraries maximise time at dive sites which gives you more opportunity to spend time with the whales.  The downside is the price as they are the best quality liveaboard operator on the Great Barrier Reef (as evidenced by the chocolate they put on your pillow after your daily cabin service) this may not suit everyone’s budget.

2) Taka (operated by Deep Sea Divers Den), their Friday trip departs for the Coral Sea and Ribbon Reefs which means that you have the opportunity to experience the Ribon Reefs, Coral Sea and Minke Whales!  This is an amazing trifecta.  However in a short trip you will have limited time to experience each which can be a compromise.  Their Tuesday trip stays on the Ribbon Reefs which maxmises your opportunity.  The crew are more laid-back and with a different price point to Mike Ball Dive Expeditions there is a different level of boat, food and customer service.  They also have to drive the boat to and from Cairns in one trip which means more travel time.  However the atmosphere is fun and is more budget-friendly.

3) Spirit of Freedom.  They do not have a minke whale permit and have not supported the minke whale research in the past, but as a last resort this is your third option.  I do strongly object to the fact that they do not have a permit, I believe they should contribute to the development of sustainable tourism practices rather than just take advantage of others doing the work for them.

Sustainable tourism and Minke whales.  Researchers from James Cook University, along with liveaboard operators (such as Undersea Explorer which is sadly closed now) worked together over many years to learn more about these beautiful animals and their interaction with dive boats.  What makes these interactions special is that the whales approach the boats.  In many areas of the world where whale tourism is conducted the boats seek out the whales.  Dive operators on the Ribbon Reefs simply tie up at one of their normal dive sites and the whales seek out the interaction.  This also means that if you are a keen diver you can enjoy a top dive while waiting for the whales rather than sitting around on deck.

To ensure that the interactions remain positive for humans and whales alike, a code of practice has been developed.

Click to download full copy of the pdf

The sad news is that Minke Whales are one of the species of whales still hunted. It hurts to think that this beautiful animal could be hauled up onto the deck of a factory ship next summer and sold for meat.

Where to Find Underwater Photography Equipment.

Traveling to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef and want to know where you can drop into a shop for spares, supplies or new equipment?  Here are your main points of contact:

Digital Diver - Underwater photography specialist.  Stock: Ikelite, Inon, 10bar, Patima, Sealux and more.  Digital Diver offer a large range of equipment which includes video, SLR and compact camera equipment.  Their customer service is great and they also offer underwater camera hire.

Scubapix – Underwater photography specialist.  Stock: Aquatica, Nauticam, Gates, Sea & Sea, Subal and Light & Motion.  Peter Mooney specialises in high-end underwater photography equipment such as professional video and SLR rigs.  His knowledge and experience at the professional level can save you from expensive mistakes.

Why only two?  I believe the above companies can offer the best advice for underwater camera equipment in Queensland, Australia.  They are both based in Cairns and are retail outlets dedicated to the unique and challenging world of underwater photography.  Because their focus is solely underwater imaging they have more experience and knowedge to better help you make the right purchases.

Hiring Underwater Photography Equipment.

Hiring underwater photography equipment can be done from a retail outlet onshore before you head out or on the boat itself (if the service is offered).  There are pros and cons to both.  I would usually suggest the best option is to hire a camera onboard if there is a dedicated video / photo pro as they are not in a position to help you with someone else’s equipment but it is there job to help you if you hire equipment from them.  However, here is a list of points to consider:

- What equipment do they offer

- Price and what is included: spare batteries, size of memory card, accessories, etc.

- Will they teach you how to use it properly?

- How will you receive the photographs afterwards and is their any additional cost involved?

- If heading out on a liveaboard, is there enough cameras for everyone?  Can you reserve one beforehand?  Is there a video / photo pro onboard for advice?

- If renting before heading out: will they let you open the case and change the battery, will they give you a spare battery (essential).

- Be aware that video and photo pro’s will most likely not be able to help you with equipment hired from someone else…due to the repercussions if something goes wrong.  However they are usually very forthcoming with help and advice if you hire a camera from them.