My Intro To Underwater Photography - Phillip's Reef

Silvertip nudibranch (Janolus capensis)

Diving with Ocean Divers International has opened up a whole new world for me.  On my first dive with them the DM (dive master ) took us to a sand patch and indicated that we should sit  down for a moment.  I couldn't understand the reason for the 'request', but being the new kid on the block I did as I was told.  I still remember listening to the sound generated by my breathing aparatus and the bubbles flowing from it  - then all of a sudden I became aware of a whole range of other sounds created by the fish and the inhabitants of the reef.  I was in awe... how come I've never heard it before?  Maybe its because I got use to swimming from point A to point B and then returning to the back to the boat again...

A few months later I joined Juan Snyman on another dive at Phillip's Reef.   Not only  is he a qualified DM, but he's also a very keen underwater photographer.  Halfway through the dive he handed me his camera, and I immediately started to panic.  How does a person swim against the strong currents and still manage to take photos?  Well, I gave it a shot and I here some of my attempts:

Heart urchin (Spatagobrissus mirabilis)

Just for info - Phillip's Reef is situated in Algoa Bay and was named after Philip Coeztee, a marine biologist who did extensive research on this reef.  The maximum depth here is approximately 18 metres.

Choirboys (Podoclavella sp)

Frilled nudibranch (Leminda millecra)

What I enjoy most of underwater photography is returning home and sharing my diving experience throught my photographs with my husband and friends.

The Haerlem Wreck

Cryptic Sponge Crab (Crytodromiosis spongiosa)

Last Sunday I joined several divers from Ocean Divers International on a wreck dive.  Since I started diving in 2002, The Haerlem, an SA Navy frigate scuttled in late November 1987, has been one of my favourite dive sites in Algoa Bay.  I can't really say why - maybe it has something to do with the eary feeling I get when I look into the portholes. On the top of the deck the average depth is approximately 18 metres and 21 metres at the stern.

Square-mouthed Striped Anemone (Anthothoe sp)

The wreck is home to a large number of leopard and pajama catsharks, soft corals and a variety of other fish, e.g. batfish.

A Leopard Catshark playing hide and seek....

The viz was particularly bad on the day of the dive - one metre at the most.  I buddied with Juan Snyman, who is one of the best divemasters in Port Elizabeth.  What I love most about diving with him is that he takes time in showing fellow divers all the little interesting sea creatures. 

Basket Star (Astrocladus euryale)

My two favourite sea creatures, with the exception of dolphines and whales, are basket stars and nudibranchs.  The basket star is a type of brittle star and often attaches itself to sea fans (see pic above).

Crowned Nudibranch (Polycera capensis)

Most nudibranchs or sea slugs have flamboyant colour patterns - a warning to potential preditors that they are distasteful or even poisonous.

Variable dorid (Aphelodoris brunnea -1)

Staghorn False Coral (Gigantopora polymorpha)

Nippled Sea Fan (Eunicella papillosa)

Black Nudibranch (Tambja Capensis)

Scollaped Lacy False Coral (Reteporella lata)

Cobbled Starfish (Calliaster baccatus)