Australia Trip 2005 *image intensive*

[wade1]

We just returned from a 2 week trip to Australia... we hit the Great Barrier Reef aboard the Nimrod Explorer liveaboard during that time. Here are some of the images from that trip, from the Ribbon Reefs (10, 9, 5) and Osprey Reef:

Anthias

Big clam!

The reef...

 

[wade1]

Skunk clowns..

A. percula... (we found Nemo!)

 

[wade1]

Sharks! (white tipped reef sharks)

(gray whalers/gray reef sharks)

 

[wade1]

WHALES! (Dwarf Minke Whales) These guys would come to within a few feet of you, checking you out all the while... some hung around our boat for over 3 hours on our last day!

 

[Len]

seriously incredible photos!

 

[wade1]

Oh yeah, you can see the whole mass of pictures and some small quicktime video clips here:

http://www.earthandh2o.com/travel/Australia2005/

(PLEASE DO NOT COPY THESE IMAGES OR USE THEM IN ANY WAY (except wallpapers))

 

[Anonymous]

Yes!! very cool pics. Looks like a great time. Wish I could dive.

BMP

 

[Mihai]

Looks SOOOOOOOO cool! It seems that you had a great time.
M.

 

[Anonymous]

Nice. I really like the closeup of the whale.

B

 

[bradl.]

Very nice

 

[Diana]

Amazing! That would be so spectacular...

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Great shots Wade!

 

[wade1]

Thanks all!

 

[WRASSER]

WOW, a chance of a life time. good job Wade!!!





8)

 

[Anonymous]

You rat bastard! Nice shots! When I was there we chased the Minkes for days, but never saw them.


What are you shooting with BTW?

 

[Anonymous]

How big are those Dwarf whales? If they're anything like humpback size I know if it'd be me you'd see a brown sea cucumber come from no where!

 

[wade1]

Righty.... those whales found us constantly, we never even really looked for them at all! The crew had admittedly seen them in those locations sometime in the previous week or two, so that helped our chances alot...

I'm using an olympus 5050 in an oly housing for the underwater shots. Nothing special, and it had a damned hard time focusing on the whales (they are dark, shiny, and don't stand out from the water well... not to mention the red focusing light on the cam dies after about 2' in water).

sfsuphysics- they are only a max of about 25' in length. Average was probably around 20-21'. Not huge by any means, but certainly big enough when up close to make you hesitate as their fluke passes within a couple feet of you.

 

[Reef_Monkey]

those are some gorgeous pictures! i want to SCUBA dive really bad. gotta get certififed first. those whales are beautiful!!
i worked at a pet store in Illinois where we sold the white tipped sharks and when the boss would leave i would feed them the coy fish from our pond. it was freaking crazy!! they would acutally bite them in half they would go crazy!! it was so cool to watch! very nice pictures.

 

[Ben1]

Awesome! The close up of the whale was my favorite as well. I am headed to the BVI again in a few weeks wish they had giant clams and colorful acros there~

Love the pictures!

 

[Anonymous]

Righty.... those whales found us constantly, we never even really looked for them at all! The crew had admittedly seen them in those locations sometime in the previous week or two, so that helped our chances alot...

I'm using an olympus 5050 in an oly housing for the underwater shots. Nothing special, and it had a damned hard time focusing on the whales (they are dark, shiny, and don't stand out from the water well... not to mention the red focusing light on the cam dies after about 2' in water).

Nice!
It look like I am off to Tonga in a 10 days. Part of the plan is to 'hunt' humpbacks for 3 days. Hopefully, I get some images as good as yours!