Weekend Pics

Here are the links to some of the pictures Ray Eccleston and I took last Sunday. The water had a lot of particulate matter.

http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283blue_springs_chip1_026-med.jpg
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283blue_springs_chip2_021-med.jpg
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283blue_springs_chip2_012e-med.jpg
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283blue_springs_chip2_013e-med.jpg
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/502/283blue_springs_chip2_060-med.jpg
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/502/283blue_springs_chip2_058-med.jpg
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283blue_springs_chip2_052-med.jpg
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283blue_springs_chip2_051-med.jpg
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283blue_springs_chip2_040-med.jpg
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Manatee_23-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Manatee_24-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_22-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Manatee_25-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Manatee_26-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_31-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_37-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_39-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_40-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_42-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_49-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_54-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_57-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_59-med.JPG
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/504/283Blue_Springs_Ray_62-med.JPG

[Jay]

Nice Pics Chip!!

Jay

[MikeH]

That first picture is perfect. Nice silhouette, no particulate in the water, a little bit of the section your in lit up but not so much as to overshadow what's in front of you. Nice job.

Mike

Thanks Jay and Mike :!: The first picture was taken by Ray two weekends ago. I believe it's a picture of John Green. All of the other pictures were taken last Sunday. I just purchased my camera setup last Friday night, so I am just getting use to it. I can hardly believe you can get into a whole 3.3 MP underwater digital camera package for about $500. Let me know if anyone is interested in the details of this camera package :?:

[crazyduck]

Chip,
Do the Manatee act any differntly towards the rebreather with no bubbles verses open circuit divers. Just curious. Great photos.

Andrew

Do the Manatees act any differently towards the rebreather with no bubbles versus open circuit divers?

I was under the impression it is against the law to scuba with manatees, either open circuit or rebreather. Of course, this is just second-hand information I got in the dive shop (in Georgia). Does someone know what the law actually is?

Russell

[MikeH]

I was under the impression it is against the law to scuba with manatees, either open circuit or rebreather. Of course, this is just second-hand information I got in the dive shop (in Georgia). Does someone know what the law actually is?

Russell

In Florida, it's illegal to approach the manatees. I think you have to stay at least 20' away. If you are there, and they swim to you...well, that's a different story. Some rangers say you are supposed to swim away, others say just don't touch them if they come up to you.

I think as long as you don't do anything to harm and/or scare them(like chase after them) you won't have any problems.

Mike

Andrew … Yes, I have a lot of Manatee approach me on a dive, using the closed circuit rebreather, instead of the open circuit divers who are with me. On a dive, with Bill Bowden last year, I had about three which were all around me as I proceeded down the spring run. Bill had some questions for me after the dive. :-)

I was under the impression it is against the law to scuba with manatees, either open circuit or rebreather. Of course, this is just second-hand information I got in the dive shop (in Georgia). Does someone know what the law actually is?

Russell

In Florida, it's illegal to approach the manatees. I think you have to stay at least 20' away. If you are there, and they swim to you...well, that's a different story. Some rangers say you are supposed to swim away, others say just don't touch them if they come up to you.

I think as long as you don't do anything to harm and/or scare them (like chase after them) you won't have any problems.

Mike

At Blue Springs, in Orange City, you have to initial and sign a wavier before you can dive. One of the items that you initial states that you must maintain a distance of at least 50’ (I believe its 50’) between you and a Manatee. This rule is strictly enforced! The Rangers and the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) Officers keep a close on the divers, snorklers and swimmers. They even have web cameras, which they monitor and record.

The fines are very steep and it’s a felony for each offense. I believe it’s a $125 felony if you don’t maintain the distance. We also found out it can be a $125 felony for using a flash to photograph a Manatee. They can charge you with trespassing, revoke your state park pass, take your scuba gear, and ban you from the Florida State Parks for violating the Manatee rules.

These rules are for the Manatee’s protection. They want to discourage the human and Manatee interactions for the Manatee’s safety. This is to help prevent boating accidents. Almost every Manatee which I have seen has propeller scars.

Yes, as Mike said, if they swim up to you, you are supposed to swim away. They swim up into the springs during the winter to stay warm. The springs are like an electric blanket for the Manatee and the Rangers don’t want you to scare them off.

A mother and small baby were present up by the head spring. I dropped down for a rest, by the tree off to the side of the run, and the Manatee started swimming around in front of me. I didn’t make any motions toward the Manatee. I just sat in a kneeling position on the bottom and proceeded to take pictures.

Great questions everyone and thanks for the complements about the pictures! I plan to write a dive report in the near future, where I will go into a little more detail about the dive.

[Neptuno]

In Florida, it's illegal to approach the manatees. I think you have to stay at least 20' away. If you are there, and they swim to you...well, that's a different story. Some rangers say you are supposed to swim away, others say just don't touch them if they come up to you.

I think as long as you don't do anything to harm and/or scare them(like chase after them) you won't have any problems.

Mike

does that mean I can't eat anymore deep fried manatee??? :( they are so good... :D

[crazyduck]

Chip,
Thanks for answering my question.
Living in Texas we only have the land based cattle, nothing of that magnitude swims around here. Many fisherman may dream, but it's just that.

Interesting the conservation measures that have been put in place to protect them, I had no idea.

Thanks everyone for the heads up on the manatees.

Later, Andrew




Andrew … Yes, I have a lot of Manatee approach me on a dive, using the closed circuit rebreather, instead of the open circuit divers who are with me. On a dive, with Bill Bowden last year, I had about three which were all around me as I proceeded down the spring run. Bill had some questions for me after the dive. :-)

Andrew, You are welcome. Let me know if you are ever up for a Manatee dive. We have some excellent places here in the Central Florida area. Keep in mind these dives are seasonal and they are best on the coldest winter days.

Also, a lot of the Manatee conservation efforts drive the boaters nuts :!: Manatee Zones :!: The boating regulations and fines are also very strict.

[MikeH]

I just purchased my camera setup last Friday night, so I am just getting use to it. I can hardly believe you can get into a whole 3.3 MP underwater digital camera package for about $500. Let me know if anyone is interested in the details of this camera package :?:

Yea, I'm interested. What brand? Depth rating? I'd like to get a housing and strobe for my Rebel...but that'd be $1500-2000...can't justify that.

Mike

Mike, I will put the information in my dive report. I hope to have it posted later on today.

[Dwain]

FYI:

At Manatee Springs the rangers will have the swimmers and divers get out of the water if there is a manatee inside the roped off area of the run.

Dwain

I posted a dive report which has the camera information:

http://cavediver.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=663

Dwain, I guess different parks enforce the Manatee rules differently. The rules appear to be very different at Crystal River.

[ombligo]

First the ditcam question - you can get pretty good results with a Canon A75 (3mp) or A85 (4mp) using Canon's own WP-DC30 housing. I bought my wife an A85 outfit recently for a total of $376

Second, the manatees - The only place you may "legally" approach, swim with and or touch a manatee is in Citrus County. There are daily tours on both Kings Bay and the Homosassa River. You may also strike out on your own in your own boat or on a rental boat.

The tours are all done on snorkel gear since only surface interaction is allowed. You may not dive down a manatee or touch it with more than one hand under the federal guidelines.

The best Manatee encounters take place on the coldest mornings.

I generally suggest you go on a guided tour for your first encounter. This allows you to see the proper way tointeract and see where the encounter areas are (not to mention a fully enclosed pontoon boat with hot cocoa and doughnuts is far better than an open jon boat on a cold morning).

There are numerous tour operators in the area, some good and some not-so-good. The two guided tours I suggest are:

Birds Underwater (http://www.birdsunderwater.com) and Aquamarine images (http://www.aquamarineimages.com/)

For a rental boat, the nicest on the bay are from the Port Hotel Dive Shop (800-443-0875)

First the ditcam question - you can get pretty good results with a Canon A75 (3mp) or A85 (4mp) using Canon's own WP-DC30 housing. I bought my wife an A85 outfit recently for a total of $376

Second, the manatees - The only place you may "legally" approach, swim with and or touch a manatee is in Citrus County. There are daily tours on both Kings Bay and the Homosassa River. You may also strike out on your own in your own boat or on a rental boat.

The tours are all done on snorkel gear since only surface interaction is allowed. You may not dive down a manatee or touch it with more than one hand under the federal guidelines.

The best Manatee encounters take place on the coldest mornings.

I generally suggest you go on a guided tour for your first encounter. This allows you to see the proper way tointeract and see where the encounter areas are (not to mention a fully enclosed pontoon boat with hot cocoa and doughnuts is far better than an open jon boat on a cold morning).

There are numerous tour operators in the area, some good and some not-so-good. The two guided tours I suggest are:

Birds Underwater (http://www.birdsunderwater.com) and Aquamarine images (http://www.aquamarineimages.com/)

For a rental boat, the nicest on the bay are from the Port Hotel Dive Shop (800-443-0875)

Did your camera outfit include a strobe? What's its depth rating?

You are correct about the Manatee interaction at Crystal River! I have another picture of some people snorkeling with some Manatee. I didn't post it yet, because I wasn't sure if the interaction was legal.

As you said, the best time to encounter Manatee are on cold mornings and this weekend looks like an excellent opportunity :!:

Click on the link below to see a Crystal River Manatee photo taken by Ray Eccleston. This photo shows some human interaction. I didn’t know the rules were different at Crystal River, but Ray told me more interaction is allowed. I thought the rules were state wide, I wasn't aware they were specific to counties.

http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2438

[crazyduck]

Chip,

Canon WP-DC30 Underwater Housing for Canon PowerShot A75
Depth rated to 130ft.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=319757&is=REG

Another option:
This summer I had a chance to play with the DX3000 from Sea and Sea.
http://www.seaandsea.jp/products/digital/dx3000g/index.html
This is a point and shoot camera that is 3.2 mega pixels. For a point and shot camera I was pleasantly surprised with the easy and size of the camera. I wondered if the 3.2 would be good enough for 8 x 10 printing.

As an example all of these Pic's were taken with the dx3000 at Texas Flower Gardens, by first time users (Heather and me.)
Link: http://www.surfaceintervalscuba.com/Flower%20Gardens%20Photos%202004.htm

Recently, Sea and Sea released this camera system updated to 5 mega pixels. This system is the DX5000.
http://www.seaandsea.jp/products/digital/dx5000g/index.html
Depth rated to 180ft.

Later, Andrew

Andrew,

Thanks for the depth rating on the Canon WP-DC30 Underwater Housing and the link :!:

I saw the Flower Garden pictures when they were first posted. I haven’t ever been there, so it was very nice to see the pictures you and Heather took. Were you using the camera’s internal flash or an external flash? A 3.2 MP picture should be good enough for 8 X 10 printing.

I really like the Sea & Sea DX 5000G, but it costs $1,024.99 for the camera and underwater housing. A Sea & Sea strobe for the DX 5000G is about $500. It’s a lot nicer than the SeaLife DC310, but it also costs 3X the price.

What I really wanted to get was a 330’ rated underwater housing and strobe for my Canon EOS Digital Rebel. I heard Light and Motion has one and it costs about $3500 for the housing and strobe. It would be interesting to hear from someone who has one!

Chip