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Thanksgiving Shooters have much to be THANKFUL forBy: John Chandler Date Posted: 2000-12-08   Leaving from the port at Manza Mo on the SEA FOX, a custom built dive 20 meter (sixty feet) diving boat the Saturday group led by John Chandler headed out to Ie Shima to explore the reefs and walls on the northern edge off Ie Shima. Competitors vying for both bragging rights and a free day of diving on SEA FOX provided as grand prizes by FATHOMS DIVE SHOP were amazed when the Captain moored directly over a formation of Brain Coral that ranks as the second largest specimen ever to be identified in the world. Its magnificence dwarfed divers swimming past the constant flashes of the Underwater Photographers competing for the best sun angle and position. The smooth surface of the ocean and bright sun served up some great conditions not only for the shutterbugs but also for the guests on board SEA FOX that were led by FATHOMS owner Rich Ruth on explorations in and around the coral fingers and beds of playful clownfish. Our second dive was no less spectacular because conditions were so calm we were able to anchor just off cable point (O'Ohaba) and descend into a gentle current around an 80-foot sea mound covered with hard and soft corals that were elegantly, in a holiday mood, festooned with huge red and green sea fans. This was a shutterbug's Disney land since the sea fans were home to bright yellow angelfish and the delicately dangerous Ragged Fin Firefish (Lionfish) that were gliding in and around the coral mounds and sea fans. AWESOME was the first word from every diver as they reluctantly returned to the surface and SEA FOX'S ample deck space. What a day of diving! The second day of the shootout started with even better conditions than did day one, but this excursion scooted the divers past Ie Shima and south to the Kerama Islands. Here is where the shutterbugs really found themselves in Ektachrome heaven. Dropping over the side, just off the point on Zamami Island the photographers led by Rich found clownfish, and acres of mighty sea fans waiting for them. Then when they moved to their second dive the diver's reported what appeared to be a lightening storm when the flashes from photographers swimming with a Hawksbill Turtle continued to illuminate a near perfect shell in rapid fashion. Near Guishippu's at FATHOMS' Secret Spot cameras continued capturing the gardens of sea fans adorned with Oriental Butterflyfish all standing out crisply on the beautiful blue reflection of a near flat ocean surface. "The rays of the ocean were penetrating straight down to depths of nearly 50 feet," reported Milt Bryant, an avid photographer and frequent visitor to Okinawa. Milt continued that "Today was the by far the best day, THE ABSOLUTE BEST DAY for photography that I have had in two years of coming to the Kerama Islands." Milt captured lasting memories of turtles, pufferfish, and several impressive "gift shots" of his buddies silhouetted by the fissures light radiating into the water from the sun. Fourteen divers competed over a span of 48 hours shooting more than 26 rolls of film. Some were novices with point and shoot cameras provided by FATHOMS while others were using state of art cameras protected by expensive housings but all were bonded by the beauty that Mother Nature provided greatly aiding their THANKSGIVINGS for such a wonderful weekend of diving and fun in the great Okinawa outdoors. Congratulations to the Tim James and Jessica Reed-Elam for winning free boat dives with their efforts. Everyone was the winner of a great weekend this THANKSGIVING. You can check out even more about the competition and upcoming diving events at www.diveokinawa.com. See you at the Dock for even more great winter diving and please remember to tell your friends about our great diving on Okinawa by taking a look at my web site www.jwchandler.com. |
   
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