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Monterey and Carmel
The epicentre of diving in Central California, the bays of Monterey and Carmel boast a wide variety of photographic subject matter. In Monterey, shore divers can search for nudibranchs at the Breakwater or admire giant plumose anemones at Metridium Fields, while boat divers can access offshore reefs and pinnacles encrusted with fish-eating or plumose anemones. In Carmel, Point Lobos State Reserve provides easy shore access to a wonderful kelp forest dotted with colourful fish-eating anemones and filled with huge lingcod and schooling rockfish. Safety stops can be equally enticing, as large blooms of sea nettle jellyfish are a regular occurrence throughout this area.
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Blue Water
10 A diver hovers over a pair of fish-eating anemones Equipment & settings: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Sea & Sea housing, 8 – 15mm lens at 15mm, dual Sea & Sea YS-250 strobes, f / 9, 1 / 30s, ISO320
11 Jellyfish blooms, such as rare blooms of black sea nettles, can appear and disappear in a matter of days Equipment & settings: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Sea & Sea housing, 8 – 15mm lens at 14mm, dual Sea & Sea YS-250 strobes, f / 20, 1 / 160s, ISO320
12 The beautifully coloured Janolus barberensis nudibranch cruises the muck bottom at La Jolla, San Diego Equipment & settings: Canon EOS 50D, Sea & Sea housing, 100mm macro lens, dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobes, f / 19, 1 / 350s, ISO200
13 No blue-water dive would be complete without looking for the Mola mola Equipment & settings: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Sea & Sea housing, 16 – 35mm lens at 23mm, ambient light, f / 10, 1 / 200s, ISO320
One of the best ways to get great images in California is to ditch the tank, grab a snorkel, and get offshore. These are often booked as shark dives( blue and shortfin mako sharks are commonly encountered in California), but molas and pelagic invertebrates are also typical subjects for these trips. This type of pursuit doesn’ t always produce the sheer volume of images that can be acquired on a three-tank dive day to a local kelp forest, but when blue water pays off, it pays off in a big way. In addition to the potential thrill factor, there is an added benefit of diving the blue water: the visibility offshore is often good, and sometimes excellent.
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WIDE-ANGLE SUBJECTS:
• Molas often seek shelter under kelp paddies( loose tangles of floating kelp detritus) – when offshore, take the time to look under every one you pass.
• Torpedo( aka Pacific electric) rays can be found patrolling reefs throughout California. They will let you get close, but be careful about getting too close!
• Safety stops are a great opportunity to shoot pelagic invertebrates, which are common at all times of year.
Fast Facts
WHERE California is the southernmost state on the west coast of the USA, bordered to the south by the country of Mexico and to the north by the state of Oregon.
LANGUAGE The official language of the USA is English.
CURRENCY The official currency of the USA is the US dollar, which is used for all domestic transactions. Credit cards are widely accepted, though you should double-check with your dive operator beforehand regarding individual policies.
WATER TEMPERATURE Temperatures vary between 7 ° C( in Monterey during springtime) to 20 ° C( at the oil platforms during early autumn). A drysuit or 7mm wetsuit with hood and gloves is recommended.
DIVING EXPERIENCE Although many dives in California are suitable for novice divers, visitors lacking cold-water experience should consider hiring a local guide.
PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE Due to the likelihood of low visibility, surge, and / or current, intermediate to advanced photographers will feel more comfortable, but there are sites and subjects suited to all levels.