Problem with bait fish around sand tigers

[Clay Coleman]

I made my first trip to Morehead City, NC this year, and I made some newbie mistakes. The dives were rather deep (100-120') and I made them on air (first mistake), so I didn't have much time to experiment. I was totally unprepared for the swarms of bait fish that surrounded the sharks and ruined most of my photos. I used a Nik/15mm with a single strobe (second mistake). Dual strobes would have helped, but I'm not sure if another strobe would have totally solved the problem no matter how I feathered them. Any ideas other than shoot digital and throw out the ones with blown-out bait fish? Here's one of my better results which shows the kind of swarm I'm talking about:
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/de2bdd30.jpg
Clay
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/1140bbd00.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

Clay,
What time of year was that? I have been several times WANTING the baitfish and only had them once--when the viz was crap of course.

I was there for a week on a documentary project for Nat Geo two years ago in the spring. I think it was June. We had 7 straight days of flat calm perfect weather (nearly unheard of!) and good viz. Sharks everywhere....but no fish!

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

I was there in early May. The weather was good for the most part (blown out 1 day out of 5), and conditions were perfect for one day--the day the shown photo was made. I was with your buddy Brandon Cole (first time we'd met), and he got some great shots. He was shooting at ISO 400--more ambient and less strobe. I could have done the same with my 100 speed film by opening up the ap and cranking down the strobe, but, well, I didn't. I hope to be fully digitized after DEMA, and I want to try the area again. -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

Clay, let me know. We'll get together for a trip down and drag Brandon along.

Jonathan

[The Rock]

Clay, I actually like that shot quite a bit although it appears the silvery baitfish make things challeneging. My brother lives in DC. Let me know when you guys go and I'll combine a family visit with some diving.

Clay, two questions:

1) Is there a dive operation you'd recommend?

2) The water is warm like Guam, right?

Best,

Tim of the Deep:D

[Jonathan Bird]

Tim,
I hesitate to publicly recommend my favorite operator, because then they will become so popular I can't get on the boat.....but Atlantis Charters is the BEST. They operate a 45 foot boat for only 6 divers. They have bunks so you can nap on the 2-3 hour rides to the wreck, nice stable boat and a wonderful crew. You have to book them at least 6 months in advance. They have a loyal following. Bobby and Renate (the owners and operators) have become good friends of mine and also just about everyone that goes out with them.

http://www.atlantischarters.net/

Best,
Jonathan

[tarczy]

I made my first trip to Morehead City, NC this year, and I made some newbie mistakes. The dives were rather deep (100-120') and I made them on air (first mistake), so I didn't have much time to experiment. I was totally unprepared for the swarms of bait fish that surrounded the sharks and ruined most of my photos. I used a Nik/15mm with a single strobe (second mistake). Dual strobes would have helped, but I'm not sure if another strobe would have totally solved the problem no matter how I feathered them. Any ideas other than shoot digital and throw out the ones with blown-out bait fish? Here's one of my better results which shows the kind of swarm I'm talking about:
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/a4bbbd00.jpg
Clay

I dunno, Clay! I really like that shot! I guess maybe the moral of the story should be "ya gotta be flexible enough to work with present conditions." Once again, I love the shot!

[Clay Coleman]

As I said, that shot was one of my best. Even though a few of the bait fish are a tad well done, they do add some punch. Nobody will ever see the depressingly large stack of slides that went into the can! We made 2 dives on a wreck called the Spar, and the bait fish weren't so thick there. I got a few clean shots (http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id194.htm), but those shots don't seem to have much kick.

Tim: We used a small, single engine 6 pack out of Discovery Diving for the dives on the Spar. Very nice folks and a great dive shop to get fills and hang out. However, the weather was up a bit and their little boat beat us nearly to death. We used Atlantis for the rest of the trip diving the Papoose. As Jonathan said, extremely nice people and a great boat.

The water temp in May wasn't exactly Guam-warm, but it wasn't that bad, either. It was low-to-mid 60s the first day, which is chilly for me. However, the Gulf Stream came in a bit (and we went a little farther out to get to the Papoose) after the first day, and temps rose to the low 70s. I wore 6.5mm, no hood, and I was chilly the 1st day but comfy after that. I stayed out of deco on air, so my dives weren't really long enough to get too cold.

If y'all want to give it a try, let's do it. -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

Oh yeah, water temps vary out there. Mid 60s in spring to low 80s in late summer/fall. The lionfish must be hardy!

Last time I was there I was wearing a full 6/3 with a beanie hood. I was also using a rebreather which keeps you warmer....and the sharks come closer! :D Rebreathers are not always worth the hassle, but sometimes they are!


Jonathan

[Sealizard]

Dang, Clay!

You have my utmost sympathy.

Nothing I hate more than "bait-scatter" myself. 8:^)

Elizabeth

[Clay Coleman]

That's perfect, Elizabeth! Bait-scatter! That should be immediately added to the underwater photography lexicon. -Clay