X-Ray Mag #101
Features in this issue
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Defensive Diving, Part 2
“Dive the same way as you drive. Watch the ocean as you watch the road.”In Part I of this two-part series (see issue 100), I made a correlation between scuba diving and driving a car, particularly in the context of learning how to anticipate and assess dangerous situations, make well-informed sensible decisions and stay safe—things that motorists tend to group together under the catch-all phrase of defensive driving.
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Full Cave Navigation Protocols in Mexico
ImagesLarry CohenMassimo Ardizzoni
Guide line in Cenote Chac Mool, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Photo by Larry Cohen.I started cave diving in Italy in 1990. At that time, the rules were very clear, codified and related to the kind of caves that were encountered in my region. Very often, they were resurgences with current (sometimes strong) or sumps inside caves, with water ranging from crystal clear to the color of coffee and variable visibility, depending on the rains.
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Japan's HachijĹŤ-jima
Wrought iron and Japanese butterflyfishes forming a loose shoal, Hachijō-jima, Japan. Photo by Richard Smith.Japan’s diving scene used to be a well-kept secret, but more and more people have realised that Japan has much more to offer than just sushi and karaoke. The country spans a vast latitudinal range, from the tropical south where coral reefs dominate around Okinawa and the other Ryukyu Islands, into the almost subarctic north. As a result, its biological diversity is great, with many different habitats accommodating a wide array of species.
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Joseph R. Tomelleri Portfolio
ImagesJoseph R. Tomelleri
Pumpkinseed, by Joseph R. Tomelleri. Giclée print, 8 x 10in (~20 x 25cm), signed and numbered limited edition of 200. This freshwater sunfish typically measures 4in (10cm) in length.Rendered for scientific accuracy, the brilliantly detailed and colorful illustrations of fish by American artist Joseph R. Tomelleri have appeared in over a thousand publications. X-Ray Mag interviewed the artist, who is based in Leawood, Kansas, to learn more about his artwork and his perspectives.
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Lockdown Local Diving
Photo by Kate Jonker: Speckled klipfish at Pinnacle dive site in Gordon’s Bay, South AfricaAs many divers face travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic, our contributors highlight the often overlooked or unsung yet intriguing diving that can be found in one's own backyard.
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My Favorite Wreck Dive: Contributors' Picks
Photo by Scott Bennett: Diver and coral on the MV Shake’M wreck in Grenada. Exposure: ISO 400, f/13, 1/100s. Camera gear: Nikon D810 camera, 10.5mm Nikon lens, Seacam housing, two Ikelite D160 strobesWe asked our contributors what their favorite wreck dive was and they answered with tales and images of remarkable wrecks of all sorts and the artifacts found on them, giving first-hand accounts of their experiences on these underwater time capsules as well as glimpses into the history of each wreck.
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Silver Bank: Swimming with Humpback Whales in the Dominican Republic
ImagesMatthew Meier
A young humpback whale calf practices breaching out of the water, Silver Bank, Dominican Republic. Photo by Matthew Meier.Slipping softly into the water, I had a straight path to the mother and calf that were resting near the surface only a short distance away. We closed the gap as quietly as a group of excited first-time whale watchers could manage and were rewarded with an initial glimpse of humpback whales from under the water. The newborn stayed close to its mother and swam up and over her rostrum as we looked on.
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St Helena — Diving in the Remote South Atlantic Oasis
Whale shark, St Helena. Photo by Scott Bennett.Outside my window, the South Atlantic lay unbroken—an azure expanse of ocean below and sky above. Three hours after passing the Namibian coast, a lone patch of clouds appeared on the horizon. As we approached, I could just discern patches of green peering through. Atop a narrow ridge, a tiny strip of runway appeared, the sheer drops at each end plummeting to the sea.
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Vivid Color with Lab in Postproduction of Underwater Images
ImagesRico Besserdich
The final result, after adjustments in Lab Color mode. Photo by Rico Besserdich.Adobe Photoshop is the number one tool for image editing and provides a large number of editing tools and options—far too many of them actually. But the good news here is that, for editing our underwater images, we only need a few.