SCUBA NOVEMBER 2024 issue 150 | Page 39

UKDIVING
A trip out of Newquay to photograph blue sharks was not successful as far as finding the sharks was concerned but the jellyfish were willing to pose . Some impromptu modelling by Paul Colley made for a fun shot .
Above : The John Dory is one of my favourite fish , but I had not had much luck photographing them . That all changed on a night dive off Chesil Beach with local diver Colin Garrett . Several were found and this haughty-looking individual struck an excellent pose .
Left : The earliest of my underwater photos ( that I can find ) is this one from around 1999 . Shot on film and scanned . A playful seal pup off Lundy Island who fell in love with my yellow fins . A seal encounter always makes for a very enjoyable dive .
Below : Divers often overlook hermit crabs but I believe they deserve a closer look . They are easy to photograph and the photographs can reveal much more than initially seen . Some , like this one , will have a ‘ fur coat ’ of hydroids , which adds extra interest . When photographing them , I endeavour to get the antenna symmetrical and the antennules ( the smaller antenna ) upright in the centre .
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