05
06
California’s diving is as diverse as its
landscapes, both in terms of conditions
and photographic opportunity
We’ll give it to you straight, though: The visibility
can vary widely and shift abruptly, ranging from well
over 30 metres on an epic day to under five metres
on a bad one. Surge and current are practically
inescapable at the most renowned sites. Some of the
most sought-after subjects can be fickle, mugging for
the camera one day, and standoffish or absent the
next (harbour seals and blue sharks, I’m looking at
you); and other subjects, such as jellyfish blooms or
market squid, may materialise for a day or two and
then abruptly disappear, not to be seen again for
months, or even years.
However, the amazing payoffs are unquestionably
worth the challenges, especially for those who
approach their visit with perseverance, flexibility, and
an open mind. Divers who are eager to go with the
flow of things are likely to be rewarded with mindblowing interactions they never anticipated.
03 Pelagic
invertebrates are
commonly seen on
blue-water dives
Equipment & settings:
Canon EOS 5D Mark III,
Sea & Sea housing,
8–15mm lens at 15mm,
dual Sea & Sea YS-250
strobes, f/18, 1/250s,
ISO320
04 Yellowfin fringehead
blennies hide in small
holes and abandoned
barnacle shells attached
to rocky reefs
Equipment & settings:
Canon EOS 7D, Sea &
Sea housing, 60mm
macro lens, dual Sea &
Sea YS-D2 strobes, f/22,
1/250s, ISO160 ISO320
05 The offshore
submarine canyon in
San Diego supports
abundant small marine
life, such as tiny red
octopuses
Equipment & settings:
Canon EOS 7D, Sea &
Sea housing, 60mm
macro lens, dual Sea &
Sea YS-D1 strobes, f/18,
1/200s, ISO320
06 A school of mackerel
swirls among the kelp
in the Channel Islands
National Park
Equipment & settings:
Canon EOS 5D Mark III,
Sea & Sea housing,
8–15mm lens at 15mm,
dual Sea & Sea YS-250
strobes, f/7.1, 1/250s,
ISO320