Hola amigos. Here are some photos from three nice dives at Anacapa yesterday:
Great photos!!!!!!!!!!!
Keri - 8-10-2006 at 02:12 PM
Thanks for showing me things I would probably never see by my self. The photos are beautiful. I love the colors and the closeups,kKen Bondy - 8-10-2006 at 02:14 PM
Thanks Keri. Your words mean a lot to me. I always feel a little hesitant posting photos that weren't taken in Baja, but OTOH each of these five
animals (and one plant) can be found right offshore from Pyramid
critters
baitcast - 8-10-2006 at 03:06 PM
Great shots as always Ken,but what I,m waiting
for is for you to make that Guadalupe island thing and show us some of them big critters first hand.
BAITCAST
Always have enjoyed your stuff no matter where you take the shots.Ken Bondy - 8-10-2006 at 03:09 PM
Thanks baitcast. I think Guadalupe is in my near future, maybe not this fall but next year. Most of my underwater "wish list" is checked off now,
but a great white is still right there on top. I see that the Solmar V is now doing those trips, I really like that boat. Bear with me for a little
while longer Bob H - 8-10-2006 at 03:11 PM
Ken, we would love to see your underwater photography ANY time from ANY where. They are just fantastic. They are worthy of a book!
Here's more info on Anacapa Island just in case some others aren't aware of this area. It's an interesting history.
Really beautiful critters and photos, Ken. I especially like the seaweed (seaweed?), the shades of gold to green, those round globes against the
pointy leaves... very very nice. Gracias, senor.Don Alley - 8-10-2006 at 05:29 PM
Great photos! Thanks!AmoPescar - 8-10-2006 at 10:29 PM
Ken,
Thanks for sharing your great photos. I always enjoy
seeing your pictures. They sure make me want to get
in the water. I used to dive in my earlier years and
I've really had the hankering lately to at least go
snorkeling. But, even if I'm not able to do that soon,
I can view the beauty through your lens.
Miguelamo
[Edited on 8-11-2006 by Miguelamo]Tomas Tierra - 8-10-2006 at 10:37 PM
Ken, what boat were you on?? You were in my back yard!!
We dove at Santa Rosa Isl. yesterday, Lotsa BIG black sea bass..
TT
Cool shot with the brittle stars!!
[Edited on 8-11-2006 by Tomas Tierra]Ken Bondy - 8-11-2006 at 06:41 AM
Gracias Natalie Anne, Don Alley, Miguelamo for the kind words. Tomas I was on the Spectre. There were black sea bass seen by other divers on 2 out
of the 3 dives (3/4 day trip) but not by me. In 30 years of diving the Channel Islands I have never seen one. What boat were you on? Sharks the
calico was about a foot long. They are usually spooky, but this one got curious, I think he saw his reflection in the port.Tomas Tierra - 8-11-2006 at 07:49 AM
Ken,
We were on the work boat, buscando erizo's.
The Blacks are going off lately!! Zillions of them!! look but don't touch..Ken Bondy - 8-11-2006 at 08:17 AM
Thanks Tomas. Everybody is seeing them but me. I will keep trying, I promise not to touch .
The brittle stars were carpeting Coral Reef at Anacapa yesterday. Every year at about this time some primordial urge makes them crawl out of their
hiding places and congregate by the bezillions in certain parts of the island. They make a beautiful background:
[Edited on 8-11-2006 by Ken Bondy]oxxo - 8-11-2006 at 08:32 AM
Ken, you sure ruined it for me. I will never post any of my underwater pictures now because they look very amateurish compared to you. Great show!
My favorite is the seaweed - wish I knew the botanical name.
I used to dive the Channel Islands all the time on the CONCEPTION out of Santa Barbara. I need to get recertified.Ken Bondy - 8-11-2006 at 08:38 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by oxxo
Ken, you sure ruined it for me. I will never post any of my underwater pictures now because they look very amateurish compared to you. Great show!
My favorite is the seaweed - wish I knew the botanical name.
I used to dive the Channel Islands all the time on the CONCEPTION out of Santa Barbara. I need to get recertified.
Gracias oxxo. The seaweed is giant kelp - Macrocystis pyrifera
++Ken++Diver - 8-11-2006 at 09:11 AM
I couldn't even comment, the first time I viewed your photos; I was speechless !
Your photos are amazing; better than my old Jaques Cousteau book !!
Your lighting makes them look even better than in the wild.
Thank you again !
.Diver - 8-11-2006 at 09:19 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by oxxo
Ken, you sure ruined it for me. I will never post any of my underwater pictures now because they look very amateurish compared to you.
Don't you dare not post your photos !!
Mostly, it's the thought and the adventure that counts !
I've been a PADI divemaster for a very, very long time and have never gotten my shots to look like Ken's, either. He has a talent and has been to some
wonderful places.
I need to get back in the water with my AE1 and housing.
.Cincodemayo - 8-11-2006 at 09:33 AM
Ken...awesome photos. Sure brings back memories of diving at catalina and Santa Barbara Islands back in the 60's and 70's when you could get large
pink, white and red abalone...I still have the shells! One of the largest was a red at 14 inches. It was delicious and so tender! Not to mention the
fresh pot of lobster, abalone and sheepshead stew before getting back to port at San Pedro. We used to go out on the Blue Sea for a staggering $16.50
for a full day of diving. Keep those great photos coming!
We were certified at Diver's Corner by the original brothers...Danny and Chuck Buchannon..
Ken
Baja Bernie - 8-11-2006 at 10:04 AM
All I can say is thank you! I am not a fisherman nor a diver but I truly enjoy everyone's posts on things under the sea--but yours most of all. My
favorites of this bunch are the kelp, what lighting, and the "Orange Old Man" wonder what he is thinking.
I just hope 'all of you folks' keep posting all of these wonderful pictures. You allow me to see stuff I will never experience in person.
Thanks!Cypress - 8-11-2006 at 01:15 PM
Underwater Pics. Fantastic! Thanks.Ken Bondy - 8-11-2006 at 01:40 PM
Mil gracias Cypress, Cincodemayo, Diver. Cincodemayo I miss the abs also. I used to see big piles of them at the holdfasts. Not any more. I
occasionally see a very small pink in Morro Bay, but I haven't seen an adult at the islands in years. I don't even see the blacks which were thick in
the shallow water. Bernie I loved your "Orange Old Man" comment! The Orange Old Man is a garibaldi, they are great animals. If you chase them with
a camera you will get lots of tail shots and blurry, out-of-focus images. However if you pretend to ignore one, it will drive him crazy and he will
attack the lens port, try to get inside your BC, and be a general annoyance for your whole dive .Cincodemayo - 8-11-2006 at 04:43 PM
Ken...Garibaldis are so stupid that's why the state protected them and made them the state fish! But they are beautiful....I even got a Sorenson white
abalone out at Santa Barbara Island that was at least 12 inches and was the thickest with a depth of about 6 inches...made plenty of steaks out of
that beauty and still have the shell to boot!
Amazing!!!!!!!!!
capt. mike - 8-12-2006 at 06:05 AM
makes me want to go to some warm water today!
Ken, wish you'd hook up with Dale Pearson at www.Gonetobaja.com and dive one of his night squid dives.
you'd get some interesting shots no doubt.Ken Bondy - 8-12-2006 at 07:47 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
Ken, wish you'd hook up with Dale Pearson at www.Gonetobaja.com and dive one of his night squid dives.
you'd get some interesting shots no doubt.
Thanks mike. I've been watching that stuff that Dale is doing. Fascinating!! Would love to do one of his squid dives some day. Not likely it will
be this year, maybe next. I will keep in touch with him.
++Ken++oxxo - 8-12-2006 at 07:55 AM
Ken, can you please post a picture of what your underwater camera looks like? You most have at least a couple of strobes on it. How about some specs
on the camera(s)? Help us novices out a little bit. Thanks.
[Edited on 8-12-2006 by oxxo]Ken Bondy - 8-12-2006 at 07:58 AM
oxxo
I use a Fuji S2 Pro in a Subal housing with 2-Sea and Sea YS-90DX strobes. More info at:
When family comes over to look at land photos of our Egypt trip they inevitably ask about what we saw underwater. I always pull up your website and
show them. Works for Caribbean too!
We want to know when you will post some pics of the frog fish and the dragon eel we saw in Hawaii?
Thanks again and keep it up!Ken Bondy - 8-12-2006 at 02:32 PM
Thanks elgatoloco! Was this the frogfish you saw in Hawaii??Ken Bondy - 8-12-2006 at 02:33 PM
elgatoloco I've seen dragon eels in Hawaii but I can't find any photos of them. Instead, how's this for a face?
.
.