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Island Dreams Travel Photography Galleries |
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Island Dreams Travel Photography Galleries |
Photos of the Month -- Island Dreams' owner Ken Knezick has been shooting underwater photography for almost 30 years, so we'll share some of his favorite shots with you here. You will also find featured images by some of our friends and dive buddies...many of whom are counted in the highest echelons of professional wildlife and underwater photographers.
Destination-Specific Photo Galleries -- These individual galleries are designed to enable you to see the kind of creatures and reef structure to be found at many of world's greatest diving areas.
Important Notice -- Enjoy your visit to Island Dreams' Photo Galleries, and come back often. But please note that this entire web site, and all the photographs and copy contained within, are copyrighted. Please do not use any of these images or text without prior written permission.
Wakatobi Photo Gallery
Philippines Photo Gallery
Sea of Cortez Photo Gallery - The photos are from Ken Knezick's recent visit to Baja California Sur. In particular, check out the shots of the sea lions hunting through a school of thousands of jacks. Enjoy!
Lembeh Strait Photo Gallery - Muck diving is NOT a dirty word! Enjoy these unusual images from the Lembeh Strait, Kungkungan Bay Resort, Hotel Santika, Thalassa Divers and Bunaken Marine Park in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Maldives Photo Gallery - Visit the reefs of these remote atolls in the southern Indian Ocean via Island Dreams' specialized Maldives web area.
Irian Jaya Photo Portfolio - Also known as West Papua, Irian Jaya is the western, Indonesia-administered, portion of the huge island of New Guinea. The diving there is remote, virtually unexplored, and VERY fishy!
Komodo Park Photo Gallery - Komodo Dragons, reports, reviews, and the superb phographs of Burt Jones and Maurine Shimlock (Secret Sea Visions), await you at Island Dreams' extensive Komodo Park web resources.
Galapagos Islands Photo Gallery - These images were captured in the remote Galapagos Islands, located 600 miles off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. Inspiration to Charles Darwin, Galapagos represents a truly unique and unparalled paradise for topside and underwater wildlife photography.
Bahama Banks Photo Portfolio - Do you dream of diving with Dolphins? Take an Island Dreams web journey to swim with the Dolphins of the Little Bahama Banks.
Digital Photo Gallery - Digital cameras are revolutionizing the world of underwater photography. Island Dreams' digital gallery includes many descriptive photos, plus a complete report identifying some of your digital options and opportunities.
Island Dreams' owner Ken Knezick and an intrepid group of Island Dreams divers spent the beginning of December aboard the Solmar V. Boarding the vessel in Cabo San Lucas, the adventure began with 22 hours of cruising, in 6-8 foot quartering seas. The first dive site was at The Boiler, off San Benedicto Island in the Revillagigedos Archipelago.
Other dives were made around Socorro Island and the even more remote and prolific Roca Partida. Animals encountered included a pod of curious dolphin, an immense school of giant yellowfin tuna, a variety of pelagic sharks, many manta rays, and a baby whale shark.
From the photos in this gallery, you will see that it was well worth the long trip. Check out the images, and then have a look at Ken's new Socorro Dive Report. Enjoy!
Learn more about Socorro the Solmar V: Big Animal Adventure
Join Ken's December 2009 Socorro cruise: Group Trip aboard Solmar V
Dive the world from your desk. Explore Island Dreams': Destination Photo Galleries
Make some pictures of your own: Join Ken Knezick on an upcoming Conducted Group Tour
Island Dreams' owner Ken Knezick spent most of the month of June on a one-man whirlwind tour exploring Philippines' diving hot spots. Ken writes, "From Dumagete and Dauin on Negros Island, I enjoyed diving world-renowned Apo Island. Another favorite was the great critter dive at Ducom Pier. At Bohol, diving from Alona Beach on Panglao Island, my favorite dives were around nearby Balicasag Island. With sunny days and beautiful blue water, it was truly "aquarium diving."
"Another high point of my trip was a visit to Puerto Galera, diving with the pros of El Galleon Resort and Asia Divers. While this area is known for its critter and muck diving, I was excited to find great wide-angle photo opportunities at the Canyons and all around Verde Island."
Photos from all of these sites are represented in the gallery presented below. Ken points out that a multi-island trip like this sounds exciting, but packing up a mass of scuba and camera gear every third day was not the fun part. Will he get any sympathy? Not!!!
In any event, we hope you enjoy these photos, and will also have a look at Ken's Philippines Dive Report. Mabuhay!
Do not miss these photos from Wakatobi, Indonesia, possibly the most beautiful and pristine reef diving, and what is roundly known to be the best house reef in the world! Ken Knezick has just returned from a whirlwind tour of the Philippines, with a bunch of fine new underwater photographs. Check them out here.
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Socorro and the Revillagigedos Archipelago
Photography by Ken Knezick
Copyright Ken Knezick, Island Dreams -- All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
Read Ken Knezick's: Socorro Dive Report
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Underwater Philippines
a Photo Essay by Island Dreams' Ken Knezick
Copyright Ken Knezick, Island Dreams -- All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
Learn more about Philippines Diving: Philippines Dive Report
Book a dive trip to the Philippines: Philippines Scuba Diving Packages
Dive the world from your desk. Explore Island Dreams': Destination Photo Galleries
Make some pictures of your own: Join Ken Knezick on an upcoming Conducted Group Tour
Jesse Cancelmo made his first scuba dive on a visit to Bermuda in 1969. He was hooked! Since then Cancelmo has trotted and dived the globe from the wrecks of New Jersey to the reefs of Papua New Guinea. His passion to capture underwater images has driven many returns visits to Indonesia and the Galapagos Islands.
Jesse has written more than a hundred articles for numerous diving and wildlife publications. He is a contributing editor for Dive Training magazine and a regular contributor to Scuba Diving magazine. Jesse has two dive guides, Diving Bermuda and Diving Cayman Islands.
Cancelmo's newest project is a hard cover book with 100 images shot on the reefs off Texas, from the Flower Gardens and Stetson Bank to prolific marine life on the offshore oil platforms. "Texas Coral Reefs" will be available by May 2008.
Jesse Cancelmo is an explorer at heart and is always in search of new dive sites and challenges. Enjoy his photo feature here at Island Dreams, and then visit his own web site:
www.cancelmophoto.com
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Featuring Jesse Cancelmo
Copyright Jesse Cancelmo -- All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
Learn more about Jesse Cancelmo: www.cancelmophoto.com
We've published plenty of our own Wakatobi photographs, so figured it was about time to highlight some of the Wakatobi images made by our fellow travelers. The following gallery features photos made by guests on Island Dreams' November 2007 Wakatobi group tour. Big thanks to Phil Sokol, Marion Tussey, Dan Tussey, John Holder, and Larry Polster for allowing us to share their fine work with you. Enjoy!
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Talented Guest Photographers Shoot Wakatobi
Copyright 2008 -- All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
Learn more about: Wakatobi Dive Resort
Island Dreams' owner Ken Knezick has now completed eleven expeditions to Wakatobi. On previous trips, his focus was on macro photography and fish faces. But on this most recent trip, Ken concentrated on making wide-angle photographs. Get the big picture, as Ken puts the Nikon 10.5 mm fisheye lens to work on the colorful reefs of Wakatobi.
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Wakatobi Wide-Angle, by Ken Knezick
Copyright 2007 -- Ken Knezick, Island Dreams. All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
Learn more about: Wakatobi Dive Resort
The Houston Underwater Photographic Society (HUPS) recently completed a group dive trip to Little Cayman Beach Resort. They collectively got such fine results that it is our pleasure to host some of their images here, for your enjoyment.
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Houston Underwater Photographic Society
Photos individually copyrighted. All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
Learn more about: Houston Underwater Photographic Society
Read Tom Collier's: Little Cayman Trip Report
Check out Susan Young's: Cobalt Coast Resort Report
As sadly noted in my "James D. Watt - In Memoriam" posting, the professional photographer James D. Watt has passed away. As a further means of keeping his memory alive, I post here a few of the photos that James shared with me over the years. Please note that all of these images are strictly protected by copyright. Please do not consider downloading them. Rather, you may find instant access to an immense range of James Watt's work by visiting wattstock.com.
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Celebrating the Artistry of James D. Watt
Copyright James D. Watt -- wattstock.com. All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
Visit James Watt's amazing gallery of stock photography: wattstock.com
Dive the world from your desk. Explore Island Dreams': Destination Photo Galleries
As you will see from the photographs, visibility on famous Bloody Bay Wall was just as advertised, simply superb! During the course of a week of diving, visibility was occasionally in excess of 150 feet, and never less than 80-100 feet. The water on the wall glowed a glorious shade of cobalt blue, providing an excellent opportunity to try out the new Nikon 10.5 mm super wide-angle fisheye lens, which was used for all of the photos in this gallery.
Among highlights of Little Cayman diving are encounters with the exceedingly affable Nassau groupers, who have become as friendly as lap dogs. On specific dive sites, it is almost guaranteed that visitors will have the chance to come face to face with these fishy friends. No feeding is involved. The interaction is simply about contact between respectful divers and these approachable and curious reef dwellers; on their own terms.
So enjoy Ken Knezick's latest images, captured while diving from Little Cayman Beach Resort in May 2007. We hope they will make you want to visit the Cayman Islands, and make some new friends of your own.
Island Dreams' Ken Knezick recently made a trip to Tawali Resort in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea (PNG). While this new resort was apparently still in the process of organizing its services and management, some beautiful reefs were dived, during which Ken logged his 3,000th openwater scuba dive. Ken writes:
"Papua New Guinea certainly has plenty of interesting macro subjects, but on this outing I chose to concentrate solely on wide-angle photography. My intent was to give you an overview look at what to expect on these remote and colorful reefs.
"Rather than chronicling individual small critters, I wanted to try to depict how 'fishy' some of the reefs were, and to show the diversity of the corals and the pure energy of good visibility and blue water diving.
"I hope you will enjoy these images, made in November and December 2006. Perhaps you will be encouraged to visit PNG and see and photograph some of these sights for yourself. Yours in diving," Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Amos Nachoum immigrated to the USA from Israel in late 1970, after four years circumnavigating the globe, to pursue his passion for wildlife photography. By 1988 Amos managed 14 diving vessels around the world. He sold this adventure travel business in favor of practicing his underwater photography career and Big Animals photography in particular - sharks, whales, dolphins and polar bears. Amos has dived all around the world including the Russian North Pole and around Antarctica. Today Amos Nachoum is referred to as the "Ambassador of the Big Animals."
Amos writes: "All of my photography production and expedition work is for one purpose - raising public awareness, respect and concern for aquatic wildlife, and advancing our measures of protection before we arrive to a point of no return. And we are close to that melting point."
Amos shares his time between consulting to National Geographic or BBC documentaries, and contributing photographs for Geo, Sport Diver, Scuba Diving, Outside Magazine and Outdoor Photographer Magazine. Amos is also leading intimate groups of two to six guests on specially designed Big Animals photography expeditions. Amos' of other guest lecturers includes Stan Waterman, Dr. Eugene Clark Dr. Sylvia Earle, and astronauts Dr. Buzz Aldrin and Dr. Kathryn Sullivan to mention a few.
Learn more about Amos Nachoum at BigAnimals.com.
Thanks to Amos for sharing this stunning photography! Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Certified in 1980, Frank and Joyce Burek have been diving as a photographic team for more than 2,100 dives. Widely traveled, their dive destinations have included the Caribbean, Socorro Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Thailand, Sipadan, Solomon Islands, British Columbia (Canada) and Indonesia. They also have over 400 dives in the Flower Garden Bank National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS).
Avid marine life and nature photographers, their photos have appeared in calendars, brochures, books, magazines and posters with numerous publishers including Audubon Society, National Geographic Society and the National Wildlife Federation. They are the authors and publishers of three computer-based marine identification CD-ROM products (Indonesia, Bay Islands of Honduras and FGBNMS). Covering most everything a photographer could want to see, each contains a marine identification guide plus pictures that can be viewed as a custom slide show. These three products contain over 3,300 images - A definite companion for the traveling U/W photographer. Information on their products can be seen online at their website azurephoto.com.
Thanks to Frank & Joyce for sharing their excellent photography...and that is a lens! Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Or, if you prefer, make some pictures of your own: Join Ken Knezick on an upcoming Conducted Group Tour
Ron and Heidi Watkins reside in New River, Arizona and have enjoyed numerous dive trips to exotic destinations including Micronesia, Indonesia, Fiji, Australia, Mexico, Central America, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Heidi is Ron's lifelong dive buddy and researches dive destinations and animals, assists with spotting photo subjects, provides lighting support, and keeps a watchful eye on the gauges.
After many years of underwater photography, Ron and Heidi have turned their passion for diving and underwater photography into a business. The couple recently launched SCUBAREWS LLC which is devoted to sharing the wonders of the underwater world with both scuba divers and non-diving underwater enthusiasts. SCUBAREWS provides underwater photography prints, framed art, stock photos, calendars, interactive CD/DVDs, trip reports, educational photo presentations and tips for underwater photographer. Additional photos can be seen online at their website www.scubarews.com.
Big thanks for Ron and Heidi for sharing these images with us. Hope you enjoy them! Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
James Wiseman grew up in San Diego - spending about 3 days a week in the chilly water there. After getting a Masters and BS from U.C. Berkeley in Ocean Engineering, he moved to Houston TX to be a deep-water engineer. Working in water depths greater than one mile - where little is known about the marine environment - his work includes design and construction management of deepwater platforms and pipelines.
James is an avid enthusiast of "anything wet." His interests include diving, surfing, sailing, and of course underwater photography. Despite all of that -- and his "day job" -- he also contributes editorial articles, product reviews, and workshops for the Houston Underwater Photographic Society - where he is a director, and http://www.wetpixel.com - where he is an administrator.
James took up diving in 1999 obtaining his certification in Houston, and making his first open water dives in Belize and Costa Rica. That trip had him hooked - and he was soon thinking of ways to share some of his underwater experiences with friends and family. He began underwater photography as an "all digital" shooter in 2000 when he purchased a Nikon Coolpix 990 (3 megapixels) and an Ikelite underwater housing. James's current underwater photo equipment includes a Canon 5D and a Seacam housing, complemented by Ikelite strobes for wideangle and macro photography. James's photos have been featured at Seaspace, in underwater photo contests, printed in Scuba Diving Magazine, as well as public aquarium publications, National Marine Sanctuary calendars and address books, and in a variety of academic journals.
To view a variety of underwater and topside photos, visit James's personal website at http://www.reefpix.org
Or, if you prefer, make some pictures of your own: Join Ken Knezick on an upcoming Conducted Group Tour
Allan and Barbara Jones have been dive buddies for the past 27 years. Starting with the Sea Sabres Dive Club where they learned to dive and survive in California waters, they have progressed from underwater tourists, to game takers and now as serious amateur photographers.
They consider themselves fortunate that as husband and wife they can pursue their mutual interest in diving and photography as a team. Allan handles the technical aspects, equipment repair and gear cleaning, while Barbara has the artistic flair required for recognition of subjects and composition. Their diving experience includes California, Caribbean, and Indo-Pacific waters.
Their images have been published in various magazines including Islands, Discover Diving, Dan's Alert Diver, AustralAsia Scuba Diver, Asian Diver and Ocean Realm. They have placed in numerous contests and have received the David Doubilet Award for Excellence in Underwater Photography.
They are long-term members of the Orange County Underwater Photographic Society and are volunteer divers at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA. Big thanks to Allan & Barbara for sharing their love of the sea, and their fine photography, with us all!
Have you been curious about what Cozumel's reefs look like after last year's Hurricane Wilma? Well so were we. That's why we asked Bonnie Pelnar if we could host her most recent Cozumel photos for all to see.
Bonnie Pelnar is a professional photographer and web designer. She made an extended trip to Cozumel in May 2006, specifically to photograph the reefs and define their condition. We asked, in particular, for wide-angle images that would most clearly show the reality of the situation.
This is an extensive gallery, with more than 40 photos for you to consider. All the images were made in May of this year. The photographers among you will be interested to know that Bonnie was shooting with a new camera system, the Nikon D-200 in the Sea & Sea DXD200 Housing. Her results speak to the quality of the photo system, and the photographer. Thanks so much Bonnie, for sharing your excellent work!
View Bonnie Pelnars's complete gallery: Cozumel Photos After Hurricane Wilma
Learn more about Cozumel travel options: Explore-Cozumel.com
Pound for pound, the tiny Mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus) may well be the most beautiful fish in the sea. Though endemic to coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific realm, it is only relatively recently that Mandarin fish have come into focus for fish watchers and underwater photographers.
One reason for this is the fact that the Mandarin fish is quite an elusive creature. Most of the day is spent hiding beneath layers of finger corals, virtually invisible to the casual observer. It is only for a short period, no more than 15 minutes just at dusk, that the Mandarin fish comes out of the coral to court and mate. The lucky diver who manages to be in the right place, at the right time, is certainly in for a colorful treat.
These pictures were taken on a dive from Gangga Island Resort, located off the NW tip of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Setting out 30 minutes before sunset, we were on station and in the water as the sun was going down. The dive guide conducted me to a likely spot, and then I lay in wait. After fifteen minutes of anticipation, I began to see Mandarins scurrying amidst the coral ruble, appearing for a second or two, and as quickly disappearing.
My patience was finally rewarded as a male and female successfully paired up and began their courtship, eventually rising 12-18 inches above the reef. The photos posted here are all of this one encounter, which occurred over a period of no more than 8-10 seconds. My final shot, which clearly shows the females eggs in the water, was followed by the male's release of sperm, and both fish promptly disappearing in the next instant.
Dive the world from your desk. Explore Island Dreams': Destination Photo Galleries
Or, if you prefer, make some pictures of your own: Join Ken Knezick on an upcoming Conducted Group Tour
Island Dreams' owner Ken Knezick has now made nine in-depth visits to Wakatobi Resort in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Thus far he's holding the record for return trips; that's more than any other guest. After 300+ dives and at least as many hours underwater at Wakatobi, Ken has had the opportunity to capture thousands of images there, both underwater and topside. Over the years, he has gained a genuine love for this unique destination. Here is what Ken had to say on the subject of photography at Wakatobi:
"I've been shooting underwater for more than 25 years. Though far from a pro photographer, I do well enough for Island Dreams' brochures and web site, plus the slide shows I present around the country. Wakatobi's diverse environment has offered me many wonderful photo opportunities. The only hard part at Wakatobi is deciding what to shoot first." Thus, in this issue, we will focus in on one of the ocean's most colorful and appealing denizens, the beautiful clown anemonefish. We hope you will enjoy the photos in this gallery as much as Ken enjoyed the challenge of making them!
Or, if you prefer, make some pictures of your own: Join Ken Knezick on an upcoming Conducted Group Tour
In October 2005, a very powerful storm traveled across the Caribbean, heading for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Many such storms have blown through this tropical region over the years, but this one, Hurricane Wilma, stayed awhile and caused considerable damage.
At first many divers despaired, sure that Cozumel was gone forever. But having lived through such events before, we at Island Dreams knew that life would return to our beloved island of Cozumel, both above and below the waves.
We called upon our friends at Aqua Safari Cozumel for information and insight. Within a few days of Wilma's passing, they were providing us with reports and updates that were posted on this web site over the following months of rebuilding and renewal.
To further enhance understanding of the situation, we asked for underwater photos taken post-Hurricane Wilma. This gallery is the result, courtesy of professional photographer Bonnie Pelnar. We thank her for sharing her fine work.
So have a look for yourself, and see that Cozumel has survived and will flourish again as one of this hemisphere's finest water sports destinations. Or better yet, head on down to Cozumel and see it for yourself! Yours in diving, Ken Knezick
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Glorious Blue Water in Little Cayman
As the accompanying report attests, Island Dreams' Ken Knezick recently made a trip to revisit his old stomping grounds in the Cayman Islands. His visit to Grand Cayman included some diving, but was sadly too brief for underwater photography. But when Ken traveled over to Little Cayman, accompanying a group from the Houston Underwater Photo Society, it was time to assemble the camera system and create some new images.
Copyright 2007 -- Ken Knezick, Island Dreams. All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Papua New Guinea Wide-Angle
Copyright 2006 -- Ken Knezick, Island Dreams. All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Amos Nachoum's Big Animals
Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Frank & Joyce Burek
Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
Dive the world from your desk. Explore Island Dreams': Destination Photo Galleries
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Ron & Heidi Watkins
Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved.
Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission.
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- featuring James Wiseman
Copyright James Wiseman. All rights reserved.
* Copyrighted -- Do not use these images without prior explicit written permission. *
Dive the world from your desk. Explore Island Dreams': Destination Photo Galleries
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- featuring Allan & Barbara Jones
Copyright Allan & Barbara Jones. All rights reserved.
* Copyrighted -- Do not use these images without prior explicit written permission. *
PHOTOS of the MONTH -- Cozumel Photos after Hurricane Wilma
by Bonnie Pelnar
Mating Dance of the Mandarin Fish
-- New images by Ken Knezick
Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved.
Photographed at Gangga Island, April 2006. Copyright Ken Knezick.
* Copyrighted -- Do not use these images without prior explicit written permission. *
These Mandarin fish pictures were taken at: Gangga Island Resort & Spa
Colorful Clownfish of Wakatobi
Photos of the Month -- April 2006
Images by Ken Knezick
Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved.
Wakatobi Photos from September 2005. Copyright Ken Knezick.
* Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. *
For more Wakatobi information, visit: Wakatobi Found!
Cozumel Photo Gallery
Photos of the Month -- March 2006
New images by Bonnie Pelnar -- Taken after Hurricane Wilma
Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved.
Cozumel Photos courtesy of Bonnie Pelnar. Taken February 2006.
* Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. *
For more Cozumel information, visit: Explore-Cozumel.com
Read Sheryl Shea's remarkable report: "Hurricane in Cozumel...A Survivor's Story"
Photos of the Month, February 2006 -- Maldives Photo Gallery
All new images by Ken Knezick
An island nation, straddling the Equator in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives offer an immense variety of tropical marine life. There are rich reefs with colorful soft corals, friendly sea turtles, inviting shipwrecks, and current dives along deep walls swarming with thousands of schooling fishes. The Maldives also support a strong population of pelagics from big tuna, jacks, and reef sharks, to graceful manta rays and immense whale sharks.
While other dive destinations offer muck diving and macro photography of unique small critters, the Maldives seem to invite a photographer to put on a wide-angle lens and strive to capture the big picture.
Such was my mission in January 2006, when I went aboard the new Peter Hughes Ocean Dancer. Captain and owner David Mesnard did his best to show us the variety and quality of Maldivian diving. He did not fail to please, and I only hope that I managed to capture a few photos that help to tell the story of the underwater aspect of the Maldivian Archipelago.
So have a look, and I hope you will enjoy these new images from the magnificent Maldives! Yours in diving, Ken Knezick
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Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, January 2006 -- Fiji Photo Gallery
Images provided by Aqua Trek Fiji
Fiji is justly renowned as the "Soft Coral Capitol of the Diving World." But that moniker does not tell the complete story, for the Fijian Islands offer much more underwater excitement and variety than just colorful corals. In Fiji you will find lots of reef life in easy "fish bowl diving," the occasional fast current dive with mantas and eagle rays, and even sure-fire shark diving excitement bringing out reef sharks, bull sharks, and even tiger sharks.
Aqua Trek is one of Fiji's preeminent dive operators. They operate two full service diving facilities, one at Garden Island Resort on Taveuni, and one at Pacific Harbour, offering super diving in Beqa Lagoon.
So when we wanted to show you some quality images from Fiji, we call upon these diving professionals. So special thanks are in order to Aqua Trek Fiji for providing these fine photographs, as well as to the excellent photographers who created them. Once opened, each photo will display its own photographer credit.
We hope you enjoy these colorful images from fabulous Fiji! Yours in diving, Ken Knezick
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Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Special thanks to Aqua Trek Fiji for providing these images. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, December 2005 -- Banded Sea Krait -- the "Deadly" Sea Snake
Here's an amphibious fellow who often ends up on the front cover of the latest "Dangerous Marine Creatures" book. Yes, it's true that the Banded Sea Krait packs venom many times more powerful than that of a terrestrial cobra. However, I learned long ago to take these terror tomes with a few generous grains of sea salt. Well developed to their environment, and with little fear of predators, sea snakes are actually easy to approach and appreciate. Personally, I look forward to meeting with these surprisingly docile, and uniquely impressive, denizens of the deep.
The Banded Sea Krait is well distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific realm. I've seen and photographed them everywhere from the Maldives and Malaysia, to the Philippines and across Indonesia. The various individuals pictured here were photographed at Wakatobi over a three-year period. I know the reefs on which to look for them, and have also learned what it takes to get a head-on shot. I'll hover just over their "shoulder" while they have their heads deep in the coral seeking prey, and shoot just as they pull out of the reef to continue the hunt.
Sometimes I then find myself backpedaling rather quickly as they come right at me. It keeps life exciting, and makes for some interesting photography...that I do hope you will enjoy! Yours in diving, Ken Knezick
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Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, November 2005 -- Hexabranchus Djibouti, World's Largest Nudibranch
This amazing version of the dorid nudibranch Hexabranchus sanguineus was first described in the Red Sea, off the coast of Djibouti. It is reported to grow to at least 520 mm (20 inches) in length. I was very fortunate to find the individual pictured here strolling along the reef at Inka's Palette, Wakatobi, Indonesia. At first glance, I thought the gills were just some pretty soft coral. Then I noted that this particular soft coral was making its way along the reef!
This beautiful individual was certainly 18-20 inches long, though I note that its length expanded and contracted as it moved over the various strata. The amazing creature was host to at least six different Emperor shrimp along for the ride. Certainly it is one of the most delightful underwater photo subjects I have ever encountered, and I spent a good 30 minutes with it, to the end of my air supply. Best of all, I note that this big nudibranch eats one of the underwater photographer's main nemesis, hydroids! Ken Knezick
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Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, October 2005 -- New Images from Wakatobi, Indonesia
Island Dreams' owner Ken Knezick has just returned from conducting his ninth group dive trip to Wakatobi. The resort and diving conditions were better than ever, and Island Dreams' group of 21 divers had an excellent experience. While there, Ken had a chance to practice with a new camera system, the Nikon D2x digital camera in a Nexus submersible housing. The photos in this gallery are the result of Ken's first attempts with this new equipment. We hope you enjoy them.
You might also care to read Ken's new report, Diving the Nikon D2x.
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Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, September 2005 -- Blue-Ringed Octopus in Lembeh Strait
Steve Coverdale, and his wife, are managers for Eco Divers in Manado, Indonesia. Serious world-travelers, they are currently managing operations at renowned Kungkungan Bay Resort. Steve supplied the wonderful blue-ringed octopus photos for this months gallery. To round out the offering Island Dreams' Ken Knezick has added a few of his own favorite Lembeh Strait images.
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Gallery photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, August 2005 -- The Best of Jackie Reid
Jackie Reid describes his work:
"I got my first underwater camera housing in 1987, from Stephen Frink. It was an Aquatica for the Nikon F-3 with ports for the Nikkor 105, 55 and 16 mm lenses. I picked it up fairly quickly because it only had three functions for me to learn-f stops, focus and shutter speed. Then I picked up the Nikonos III and a 15mm lens.
"Before I was married I had a girlfriend that traveled with me. Our normal plan was to take two Nikonos III, two 15mm lens, one F3 housing, and one Ikelite Substrobe 150 with an E-O cord. I would take 72 photos with my model, and then 36 fish portraits. Now that I am married to a great underwater photographer in her own right I have, needless to say, lost my full-time model.
"Now I shoot a Nikonos RS, Nikonos III, and recently added the digital Fuji S2Pro camera in a Seacam housing. I always take two cameras on every dive - one macro rig and one wide-angle. I take the S2Pro with the 105mm or 60mm lens and the Nikonos RS with the 50mm lens for macro photography. That way I can shoot the smallest macro and also do fish portraits. With a 2-Gig card I can take 153 digital images, with the RS film camera good for another 36 exposures.
"I normally try to pass up the easy parrotfish or scorpion fish because anyone can take photos of those. I like the challenge of photographing subjects like anthias, pygmy seahorses, mandarin fish and flasher wrasses. I also shoot wide-angle, which I believe to be easier than some of the macro subjects mentioned above. Wide-angle is easier because the sea fan and soft coral don't move.
"I've been fortunate to have dived all over the world including Cayman, Belize, Bahamas, Hawaii, Galapagos, Socorro, Palau, Fiji, Komodo, Alor-Flores, Tulamben, Secret Bay, Wakatobi, Kungkungan Bay Resort, Manado, Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomons.
"By the way the anthias photo was one of the first shots I took using the S2Pro digital camera. My wife was kind enough to loan me her S2 for a couple dives at Wakatobi. I was so pleased with the results I decided I needed to add an S2Pro to my camera gear."
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Gallery photos copyrighted by Jackie Reid. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, July 2005 -- The Best of Dave Allen
David Allen is a certified scuba diving instructor who has specialized in underwater photography. He started diving in 1975, and began taking pictures underwater in 1981. His passion for diving and underwater photography has led him to many foreign destinations around the world. His most recent travel venture was a return to his overall favorite place, Indonesia, for a live-aboard cruise through the Banda Sea. Other favorite destinations include: Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Fiji Islands, The Red Sea, The Sea of Cortez and St. Vincent.
Dave stubbornly remains one of those gradually diminishing film shooters. His cameras include a Nikon N90 in Sea & Sea housing, a Nikon N8008 in an Ikelite housing, a Nikonos V, and a Nikonos III. Despite a reluctance to change to digital cameras, he is convinced that virtually any image can be improved through the skillful application of digital editing tools and so he is continuously developing his digital darkroom abilities in film scanning and the use of Photoshop.
Ideally, Dave strives to reveal something about the subject in the form of its natural behavior or by providing a glimpse into its personality. When shooting wide-angle images he concentrates mostly on the quality of the ambient light. He will try to capture mood, a spatial experience or the interplay of ambient light with the water and whatever else is in the scene. He sometimes dials back his strobes and is fond of taking available light images using no strobe when the ambient light itself is compelling.
Dave Allen's images have appeared in various publications. When not diving, Dave works in sales and marketing for General Electric. He holds a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, and a Masters degree in Business Administration. Thanks Dave, for sharing your excellent photos.
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Photos copyrighted by Ken Knezick - Island Dreams. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, May & June 2005 -- Weird and Wild in Lembeh Strait
Lembeh Strait: Island Dreams' owner Ken Knezick has just returned from another visit to Indonesia. Our group of 24 guests had a really great dive trip, with the prime feature being the amazing critter diving to be found in Lembeh Strait. Lembeh is located in North Sulawesi. The Strait is a unique body of water between Lembeh Island and the mainland of Sulawesi. The unique conditions there have created a zone that marine biologists tell us harbors the world's greatest concentration of marine wildlife diversity. That means more unique species exist in the waters of Lembeh Strait than anywhere else. Where's my camera? That's where I want to go diving!
Two Great Resorts: There are two excellent dive resorts in the area, Kungkungan Bay Resort and the new Lembeh Resort. Island Dreams' group used them both. We are happy to report that both offer excellent service, and the best of Lembeh diving. In fact, our 2005 group was so successful that we are already planning a return visit in April of 2006.
Ken's Photo Equipment: All of the following photos were taken in Lembeh Stait on this, Ken's most recent visit. You may be interested to note that Ken shot all of these with a relatively simple photo system. While he awaits the perfect digital SLR, Ken continues to get great results with an Olympus 4040 digital point and shoot camera. It is housed in a very nice little Light & Motion Titan, aluminum housing. As he loaned one of his strobes to a guest, this time Ken shot with just a single Ikelite DS-125 strobe. Yes, this is a simple, relatively inexpensive, and in the rapidly evolving digital world a somewhat antiquated system...but the results speak for themselves.
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Photos copyrighted by Ken Knezick - Island Dreams. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, April 2005 -- Fuensanta Candela-Castillo
Fuensanta writes: "I have been diving since 1992 and started taking underwater digital pictures three years ago. That was during a live-aboard dive cruise to Papua New Guinea with an Island Dreams' conducted group tour. We sailed to Father's Reef, Kimbe Bay and the Witu Islands in PNG aboard the M/V Star Dancer. At that time, Ken's help was invaluable to get me started with my first digital camera and underwater housing. I hope the learning process will never end, because it really is a whole lot of fun! What I like the most about UW photography is the new dimension it adds to sharing experiences with fellow divers, and the joy it can be to look at those wonderful colours when one is away from the sea under a grey, winter Belgian sky."
Fuensanta's Equipment: "I started with an Olympus C-4040Z camera in an Olympus PT-10 housing using only the internal strobe. A year ago, I upgraded to an Olympus C-5050Z in PT-15 housing, Inon UWL-100 Wide Angle lens, Inon port dome, Inon D2000 Strobe and ULC tray and arms."
Ken's Comment: It is not the camera but the photographer that makes great pictures. Fuensanta's sense of composition, and patient ability to approach skittish subjects, have resulted in the images shared with you below. Great work Fuensanta...thanks for sharing!
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Photos copyrighted by Fuensanta Candela. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Photos of the Month, March 2005 -- "More Wonders from Wakatobi"
by Ken Knezick
Now with a staff of almost 100, to serve 30 guests, Wakatobi resort continues to grow and improve. As of 2005, all rooms are air-conditioned. The new individual oceanfront cabanas are spacious and attractive. But no matter how fine the resort services have become, it is easy access to such truly remarkable diving that makes Wakatobi worth the trip.
Island Dreams owner Ken Knezick will soon be conducting his ninth dive group to Wakatobi Resort in S.E. Sulawesi, Indonesia. Below are a few more of the reasons why you might care to come along.
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Photos copyrighted by Ken Knezick. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Learn more about Wakatobi and Indonesia here: Explore-Indonesia.com
Photo Feature -- January/February 2005 -- "Microscopic Photography" by Dick Zingula
RICHARD PAUL "DICK" ZINGULA, Ph.D. is one of those very rare persons, who derive joy out of giving to others, rather than receiving. He is also a person who doesn't like to sound his own horn. Rather than Dr. Zingula, he prefers to simply be called "Dick."
Dick Zingula was born on May 31, 1929 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He grew up on an Iowa farm. He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from Iowa State University in 1951, a Master of Science in Geology from Louisiana State University in 1953 and a Ph.D. in Geology from LSU in 1958. Dick worked as a geologist/Paleontologist for the old Humble Oil Company until it was taken over by Exxon and then continued working for Exxon, retiring in 1986.
In addition to teaching Geology and Paleontology at Houston Gem & Mineral Society and other places, Dick is an extremely avid scuba diver and has led scores of dive trips over the years. He is a lifelong student of marine biology and often teaches courses in marine life identification. A founding member of the Houston Underwater Club and past-Chairman of SEASPACE, Dick is a scuba diving font of knowledge.
We were fortunate to have Dick join Island Dreams' September 2004 dive group to Wakatobi. He brought along a magnifying system to view plankton, and took the time to introduce the rest us to the wonders of a microscopic view of the ocean. That experience was the impetus for this Photo Feature, which we hope you will enjoy. Thanks Dick!
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Photos copyrighted by Dick Zingula. All rights reserved. Do not copy these images without prior explicit written permission. |
Happy Holidays
Taveuni Island, Fiji
Photo of the Month - December 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick
Blenny
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - November 2004
Photo by: Karl & Kimberly Dietz
Flatworm
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - November 2004
Photo by: Karl & Kimberly Dietz
Spinecheek Anemonefish
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - November 2004
Photo by: Karl & Kimberly Dietz
Clownfish
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - November 2004
Photo by: Karl & Kimberly Dietz
Peterson Shrimp
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - November 2004
Photo by: Karl & Kimberly Dietz
Pygmy Seahorse
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - November 2004
Photo by: Karl & Kimberly Dietz
Blue Ribbon Eel
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - October 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick
Female Clownfish
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - October 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick
Sinuous Sea Snake
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - October 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick
Magic Carpet Ride
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - October 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick
Hawkfish on Guard
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - October 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick
Trumpets and Scorpionfish
Wakatobi Resort, S.E. Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - October 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick
Hairy Frogfish
Lembeh Resort, North Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - September 2004
Photo by: George Vincent
Pygmy Seahorse
Lembeh Resort, North Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - September 2004
Photo by: George Vincent
Star Gazer
Lembeh Resort, North Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - September 2004
Photo by: George Vincent
Rhinopias
Lembeh Resort, North Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - September 2004
Photo by: George Vincent
Wonderpus
Lembeh Resort, North Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - September 2004
Photo by: George Vincent
Crocodile Fish
Lembeh Resort, North Sulawesi, Indoneisa
Photo of the Month - September 2004
Photo by: George Vincent
Rock Beauty
Bonaire, Netherland Antilles
Photo of the Month - August 2004
Photo by: Joyce Burek - Houston Underwater Photo Society
French Angel
Bonaire, Netherland Antilles
Photo of the Month - August 2004
Photo by: Pat Miller - Houston Underwater Photo Society
French Angel
Bonaire, Netherland Antilles
Photo of the Month - August 2004
Photo by: Leonard Cichowski - Houston Underwater Photo Society
Fairy Basslet
Bonaire, Netherland Antilles
Photo of the Month - August 2004
Photo by: Lee Mixon - Houston Underwater Photo Society
Pair of Seahorses
Bonaire, Netherland Antilles
Photo of the Month - August 2004
Photo by: Tom Collier - Houston Underwater Photo Society
Orange Frogfish
Bonaire, Netherland Antilles
Photo of the Month - August 2004
Photo by: Joyce Burek - Houston Underwater Photo Society
Mandarin Fish Mating Dance
Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
Photo of the Month - July 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Mandarin Fish Love
Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
Photo of the Month - July 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Banggai Cardinalfish
Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
Photo of the Month - July 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Hairy Frogfish Hunting
Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
Photo of the Month - July 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Pair of Beaked Coralfish
Borneo, Malaysia
Photo of the Month - June 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Crinoid in Coral
Borneo, Malaysia
Photo of the Month - June 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Sipadan Reef Scene
Borneo, Malaysia
Photo of the Month - June 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Eye to Eye with a Pipefish
Borneo, Malaysia
Photo of the Month - May 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Turtle Portrait
Borneo, Malaysia
Photo of the Month - May 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Green Turtle Silhouette
Borneo, Malaysia
Photo of the Month - May 2004
Photo by: Ken Knezick - Island Dreams
Komodo Dragon
Komodo, Indonesia
Photo of the Month - April 2004
Photo by: Secret Sea Visions
Pygmy Seahorse
Komodo, Indonesia
Photo of the Month - April 2004
Photo by: Secret Sea Visions
Reef Scene Swarming with Life
Komodo, Indonesia
Photo of the Month - April 2004
Photo by: Secret Sea Visions</