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Maui Shipwreck Carthaginian II

Drypush5 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:35:04 GMT

Drypush5:

On December 13, 2005, following two years of preparation, Atlantis Adventures [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/I0000P3EGHOzhWz8 sank the Carthaginian] off Lahaina, Maui, creating an [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/I0000H11I7QA.3Ec artificial reef] that will have lasting [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/I0000Fox.FetI6Xc marine life] benefits. The reefing took place off Puamana which is just outside the Lahaina harbor. The 97-foot, steel-hulled vessel, sank in 95 feet of water where it will serve as an artificial reef. The Carthaginian II, previously utilized as a whaling museum, is a reproduction of a 19th century brig analogous to the ships which originally introduced trade to the Hawaiian Islands. The ship was a cement carrier built in Germany in early 1920 and renamed the Carthaginian II. It sailed to Lahaina in 1973 where it took seven years for the historically correct 18th century whaling ship rigging to be assembled. The ship served as a reminder of Lahaina's seafaring heritage and was docked for numerous years at Lahaina Harbor. The ship was owned by the [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/I0000B7ntwDiz8cY Lahaina Restoration Foundation] which operated the museum on board which displayed relics of Lahaina's historic whaling days. Atlantis spent approximately $350,000 on the [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/ Carthaginian shipwreck project], counting preparation of environmental studies. American Marine Services was employed to handle the sinking operation. Before the Carthaginian II was towed from Lahaina Harbor, entertainers from the Old Lahaina Lu'au performed "Aloha" ; and members of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation placed lei on the vessel and held signs bidding it aloha. To prepare for the reefing, 10 tons of concrete had been packed on board, adding to the 35 tons of material the boat already was carrying. Atlantis' small tugboat Roxie pulled the [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com Carthaginian II] out of the harbor before transferring the operation to the larger American Islander tugboat. A fleet of around twenty boats watched the Carthaginian II as it arrived at Puamana along with numerous spectators lining the shore. A blessing was given in Hawaiian and a three ton anchor was secured to the bow section and seawater began to be pumped into the hull. Twenty seven minutes afterward the vessel sank to the bottom amidst applause from the audience and the blasts of three tiny brass cannons. Evaluation of the Dive The shipwreck rests in about ninety feet of water off the coast of Lahina and makes a excellent site for [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Scuba-Diving-Underwater-Photography/G0000BWCcQG1I0II/ underwater photography]. It is about a 10 to fifteen minute excursion from the harbor to the scuba diving site. The ship was sunk roughly seven years before and now provides a home for a broad variety of marine life. When you start to descend from the mooring ball you should normally be able to see the outline of the shipwreck relatively easily. The visibility at this dive site is typically 80+ feet and a great deal of the time in excess of 100+ feet. There can be some current on this site so a few scuba divers may want to descend using the mooring line. As you descend you will begin to perceive more particulars regarding the vessel and the impacts of being upon the reef for about seven years. The main mast fell in mid-summer 2011 and can currently be viewed sitting upon the main deck. The main cabin roof and walls have deteriorated to a certain level and there are many holes into the cargo hold. The entrance to the cargo hold itself is very large and readily manageable. The engine room and forward compartment is blocked by means of a gate but you can still get a respectable variety of photos around this section. The rear area of the cargo hold is fairly clear and at the present time should contain different fish species or crustaceans as they happen to be moving about the shipwreck. There are a number of frogfish on the wreck. I was able to photograph five different frogfish on my most recent dive. These fish are particularly well placed for macro photos and may use up a lot of bottom time, however it is well worth the effort. Two frogfish were upon the main deck to the back of the main cabin and 3 were on the starboard side about the midships area. it for your next visit to Maui.
As in all dives I recommend going slowly and take time to appreciate the site. Read other dive site reviews on my [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com blog] and see other [http://stevenwsmeltzer.photoshelter.com/gallery/Scuba-Diving-Underwater-Photography/G0000BWCcQG1I0II/ underwater photographs] on my [http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com/ website] and follow me on Twitter @ [https://twitter.com/images2inspire images2inspire]. [http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com/ The pool is open]…

Top Rugged Cameras

Drypush5 — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:53:18 GMT

Drypush5: Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „When evaluating a waterproof point and shoot camera lens speed or the "f-stop" rating. The faster the lens., e.g., the lower the f-stop number the better and the …“

When evaluating a waterproof point and shoot camera lens speed or the "f-stop" rating. The faster the lens., e.g., the lower the f-stop number the better and the more light that the lens permits into the digital camera making for superior quality, less noise images. f2.0 is very fast and f3.9 is ok, but doesn't take as good a picture in situations where the lighting is low and may typically be a little more tricky to focus in reduced light conditions. An additional attribute of a [http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera waterproof digital camera] would be the ability of the zoom lens along with how much of the "zoom" is created by the lens compared to a digital zoom, where a software program is generating the zooming result. Another characteristic for taking pictures close up would be the capability to take macro photos and how near to the subject matter you can come with the camera and still focus. One additional feature to consider would be the ability to shoot video and the video processors speed, e.g., does the camera have a high speed video processor meaning it can capture in excess of 200 frames per second (fps), or else is it a low speed, e.g. around 30 fps. The faster the video processor, e.g. more fps, the the higher the quality of the video. A careful review of each cameras features can help you determine {[http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera which is the best point and shoot camera]|[http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera what is the best point and shoot camera] for you.

The evaluations of the waterproof digital cameras listed below presents a good quality overview of several of the best point and shoot water-resistant cameras along with a recommendation on the best camera.

Waterproof cameras reviewed:
<ol>
<li>Panasonic Lumix TS4 12.1 TOUGH Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Optical Zoom
<li>Nikon COOLPIX AW100 16 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS and Full HD 1080p Video
<li>Canon PowerShot D20 12.1 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Image Stabilized Zoom 28mm Wide-Angle Lens a 3.0-Inch LCD and GPS Tracking
<li>Fujifilm XP170 Compact Digital Camera with 5xOptical Zoom Lens
<li>Olympus Stylus TG-830 iHS Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and 3-Inch LCD
<li>Pentax Optio WG-1 Adventure Series 14 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom
<li>Olympus TG-1iHS 12 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
</li>
</ol>

For anybody who is prepared to spend about $1,000 to obtain the [http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera best waterproof point and shoot camera] setup then one of the best underwater cameras in the extreme camera market is positively the Olympus TG-1 iHS. This camera when bought with the optional Olympus underwater case and strobe allows the diver to take photographs at a depth of up to 130 feet and in addition makes a very decent entry level underwater [http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera compact digital camera] for both the advanced and recreational diver. Total expenditure consists of the camera, a rugged housing that allows the diver to use the camera to a depth of 135 feet and an independent strobe that offers the capability to shoot in a varity of diverse situations.

Review of Top dSLR Cameras for Underwater Photography

Drypush5 — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:11:15 GMT

Drypush5: Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „What capabilities are you lookiong for in a great professional or serious consumer [http://www.squidoo.com/best-underwater-slr-cameras dSLR underwater camera]? Wh…“

What capabilities are you lookiong for in a great professional or serious consumer [http://www.squidoo.com/best-underwater-slr-cameras dSLR underwater camera]? What is your budget? These are good questions to consider as you look for a new camera. This review looks at several high end cameras that are sure to please from Canon and Nikon that are marketplace leaders in the sense of image quality, lens selection, focusing speed, shooting speed and even more. See the complete review to determine the [http://www.squidoo.com/best-underwater-slr-cameras best dSLR underwater camera] for you.

The dSLR cameras reviewed here for their capability for underwater photography are the top of the line from both Canon and Nikon. Steven Smeltzer provides the revie and has been shooting Nikon for over twenty five years so is unquestionably biased to Nikon's, but he states that the Canon cameras certainly have a lot to offer an [http://www.squidoo.com/best-underwater-slr-cameras underwater photographer] as well and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is unquestionably a very high end digital camera and its video ability is superior to the current Nikon choices. Nonetheless, since he concentrate chiefly on stills his favorite [http://www.squidoo.com/best-underwater-slr-cameras dSLR cameras for underwater photography] based upon cost and performance are the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D800. Both of these cameras offer exceptional quality images and will meet the demands from any professional or serious photographer.
Nikon D7000
The 16MP Nikon D7000 is <strong>THE </strong>hot digital SLR camera on the market. This amazing device has exceptional image quality, amazing ergonomics and unbelievable high-ISO performance for a 24mm sensor.
Nikon D800
The 36 megapixel Nikon D800 is an incredible camera. It is certainly the finest camera on the market for outdoor, nature, and large print images.
Nikon D3S
The Nikon D3 is the "old" flagship pro D-SLR with a 12.1-MP FX-format CMOS sensor, awesome 9 fps shooting at full FX resolution and tremendous low-noise performance up to 6400 ISO.
Nikonb D4
The Nikon D4 is the new flagship camera for Nikon with tremendous speed and accuracy with a 16.2 MP FX-format CMOS sensor, 10 fps continuous shooting, a 91,000-Pixel RGB sensor and Advanced SRS, improved 51 point AF System and much much more.
Canon T4i
The Rebel T4i delivers a rather high quality image due to the use of the DIGIC 5 Image Processor which enables high-speed continuous shooting of up to 5.0 fps.
Canon EOS 7D
The Canon EOS 7D has a great set of features that supports both still images and video. The EOS is designed for serious photographers and professionals and comes with an 18.0 Megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon's EOS 5D Mark III is a great professional camera that delivers brilliant high-resolution image capture via its redesigned 61-Point High Density Reticular AF. It also has an extensive ISO range of 100-25600 (expandable to 50 (L), 51200 (H1) and 102400 (H2).
See more on the reviews at http://www.squidoo.com/best-underwater-slr-cameras or vist [http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com stevenwsmeltzer.com] for some great underwater and landscape images.

Scuba Diving BCDs for Travel

Drypush5 — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 10:53:01 GMT

Drypush5:

Examination of five great travel BCDs that are lightweight and supply interesting features and value to a variety of scuba divers from the amateur to advanced divers.

I am a professional underwater photographer and my gear is very significant to me and gets lots of wear and tear. I need gear that is durable over hundreds if not thousands of dives and as "travel" worthy as possible. There have been a quantity of wonderful new lightweight or travel [http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/best-travel-bcd-for-scuba-diving BCDs] that have come out in the previous 3 years and I have listed a few of my favorite ones below.

The objective of any BCD should be function first and after that comfort. The Lightweight BCDs reviewed at this time provide a reasonable degree of function and along with excellent fit. The trade off on[http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/best-travel-bcd-for-scuba-diving travel BCDs] is more often than not restrictions in storage pockets, lift (which is extremely important if you take a lot of weight when you dive), security of your tank while you are diving, D-rings for additional gear and ride when you are on the surface of the water.

The BCDs listed below provide good form and function and a varying degree of additional features. Examine the capabilities of all and determine that best meets your requirements. I feel most divers should be pleased with any of these BCDs and I would like to get your opinion as well. <strong>Great Travel BCDs</strong>

Mares F-Light Buoyancy Compensator
Cressi Travelight BCD
Oceanic Bio Lite BCD
Tusa - X-Pert Lightweight BCD
Scubapro GO BCD

[http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com The Pool is Open]....

Scuba Diving Grand Cayman - USS Kittiwake

Drypush5 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:20:55 GMT

Drypush5:

This is the top wreck dive in Grand Cayman and one of the top ten in the Caribbean. The USS Kittiwake which was sunk a about 18 months ago and the dive site is aging very well. The shipwreck has five decks, is 251.6 ft (76.7 m) in length, 42ft (12.8 m) in beam and approximately 50 feet high. The vessel was designated for performing submarine rescues and was launched on July 10, 1945 and she was reefed in Grand Cayman on January 5, 2011.

This article provides a description of the dive, some history and other information regarding the shipwreck and an overview of what one can find on the wreck. Review the complete [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/ photo gallery] on the web site and see the blog article for the [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/ USS Kittiwake] for more data on the shipwreck plus a history of the ship.

The Dive site:

The vessel was reefed In january 2011 off the north end of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.

There are 5 decks on the 47 foot tall [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Wcb0w0RopvI USS Kittiwake]. To meet caymanian requirements for wrecks, a portion of the upper mast was removed. The upper decks accommodate the 2 bridges (both an external and internal bridge to allow operations in heavy seas) along with the navigation and radio rooms. The sonar has been removed from the ship. The Captain and XO's quarters are also on the upper decks.

On the main deck, from bow to stern, internally you will find a number of different rooms or work areas including the recompresson chambers, the rec room and toolshop. You will note the large [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000nrOSPnFJRtU a-frame structure] on the stern that rescue divers, as well as the diving bell that was used to bring back divers to the ship and then to the recompression chambers

Below the main deck, 2 decks exist that include the crews quarter, medic/hospital station, engine and propulsion rooms,[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000QmV9jUuDJyQ air bank storage] and compressors, in addition to ammunition lockers, cold storage, barber shop and other areas. While there are now a number of big[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000evHtkg3GaYQ access holes] both vertically and horizontally, all of the space on the vessel was used while in service.

It is important to chart your dive well. One approach would be to begin at the stern before entry into the vessel to get photographs around the[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000MlfKl.47lgI "USS Kittiwake" logo] on the the backof the ship and in addition get photos by the screw (propeller) and rudder. For Scuba Divers that intend on penetrating the wreck, you can then make your way to the top of the ship and enter via the funnel that is located on the Bridge Deck. Should you not intend on entering the wreck you should begin your exploration on the deck just above the Screw..

The main [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000ndu7PcxF.bM funnel entry can be a great location for underwater photography] and I would suggest taking the photo looking up from the bottom of the funnel to the top of the funnel. I would suggest silhouetting one of your dive buddies diving down into the shipwreck. You can then exit the shaft on the first platform or in the cargo hold. Note the hold deck does not have any exterior exit points and is not recommended for divers that do not have an advanced certification and prior wreck experience. On the first platform you can see the Engineering emblem in the Motor Room section. This section can be accessed easily and makes for a very good underwater photograph near the "[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Y0UeUwX5JJc Engineering Mural]". The silt can be heavy at this point so you should move slowly to avoid clouding up the water. For advanced divers you should also check out shaft alley and the front hold sections of the shipwreck. For other divers you can explore the assorted compartments on the first platform and after that begin making your way up deck by deck and then finally arriving at the Bridge (Pilot House) where you can do you safety stop as it is at about 5 to 6 meters or 15 to 18 feet.

Review photos of additional [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Shipwrecks/G0000OtMyTETA74I/ shipwrecks] on http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com or visit his [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/ blog] for critiques of specific wrecks.

USS Kittiwake dive

Drypush5 — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 08:39:43 GMT

Drypush5:

This is the top wreck dive in Grand Cayman and one of the best in the Caribbean. The USS Kittiwake which was sunk a little over one year and the dive site is maturing very well. The shipwreck has five decks, is a little over76 meters in length amd 12 meters in beam and around 50 feet high. The vessel was designated specifically for performing submarine rescues and was launched on July 10, 1945 and she was reefed in Grand Cayman on January 5, 2011.

This article provides a description of what to expect on the dive some history about the ship and other data regarding the vessel and an synopsis of what one can find on the wreck. You can see the entire [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/ photo gallery] on the web site and/or see the internet blogsite entry for the [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/ USS Kittiwake] for additional data on the wreck along with a history of the ship.

What you will find on the Dive:

The vessel was sunk In january 2011 off the west side of the island at the end of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.

There are five decks on the [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Wcb0w0RopvI USS Kittiwake]. A portion of the upper part of the ship was removed to meet cayman requirements The are two bridges on the upper decks (both an external and internal bridge to allow operations in heavy seas) along with the radio and navigation room. The sonar was also removed from the ship. The Captain and XO's quarters are located on the upper decks

The main deck contains the mess hall, toolshop, recompression chambers and rec room. You will see an [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000nrOSPnFJRtU a-frame structure] on the stern that rescue divers, as well as the diving bell where divers would enter to return to the ship from the ocean and then be placed in the chambers for decompression.

The crews quarters, the engine room and medical facilities are located below the main deck along with ,[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000QmV9jUuDJyQ air bank storage] and compressors, as well as ammunition lockers, cold storage, barber shop and other areas. While there are now a number of large[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000evHtkg3GaYQ access holes] in the sides of the ship, all of the space on the ship was utilized when the boat was in service.

Make sure to chart your dive well. One approach would be to begin at the stern before entering into the ship to get pictures around the[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000MlfKl.47lgI "USS Kittiwake" logo] on the the backof the ship and in addition get photographs by the screw (propeller) and rudder. For Scuba Divers that intend on entering the shipwreck, you can then make your way to the top of the ship then go into the funnel that is located on the Bridge Deck. If you do not intend on penetrating the shipwreck you may begin your investigation of the ship on the deck just above the Propeller.

The [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000ndu7PcxF.bM entry through the funnel makes an excellent underwater photograph] . try silhouetting your dive partner in the shaft diving down into the shipwreck. You can exit into the ship on several of the decks including the first platform or in the cargo hold. The hold does not have any exterior exits and should only be entered by advanced divers. On the first platform you will see the Engineering logo in the Motor Room section. This area is easily accessible and can be the subject of a extremely interesting underwater photograph near the "[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Y0UeUwX5JJc Engineering Mural]". The sediment can be heavy here so you must move slowly to prevent stirring up the sediment. For experienced divers you can also explore shaft alley and the forward hold regions of the ship. For others you may check out a variety of compartments on the first platform and then start going up one deck at a time and then finally coming to the Bridge (Pilot House) where you can do you safety stop as it is at about 5 to 6 meters or 15 to 18 feet.

Check out photos of other [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Shipwrecks/G0000OtMyTETA74I/ shipwrecks] on http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com or visit his [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/ blog] for evaluations of specific wrecks.