Underwater photos from Xcalak

[XcalakSteve]

Here are a few shots from Xcalak.

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

Steve

[tandemcruzr]

Thanks Steve -- what's your camera?

[XcalakSteve]

Hey Tandem!

I use a nikon D100 camera in an underwater housing. These were taken in Xcalak about 40 miles south of Mahahual. Here is another.

 

 

Enjoy!

Steve

[Jenner9]

WOW!!! FANTASTIC pictures!!!

[tandemcruzr]

Thanks again Steve. Really good photos. :D

[XcalakSteve]

Thanks! Plenty more where that came from.

 

 

Enjoy!

Steve

[MEOWSMURPHY]

Awesome pics..any clue as to what we are looking at..besides the manatee of course:D..the next to the last one is really interesting...

[luv2cruzfrmtx]

Truely amazing pictures. Thanks so much for sharing. They look like they could come out of National Geographic.

[XcalakSteve]

Thanks everyone!

Hey Murphy!

In the first group from the top is

Yellow Headed Jawfish

Sand Diver fish with a cleaning fish working on him.

Spotfin Butterfly fish.

 

Next one is a Flamingo Tongue snail and the last is a Manatee. All of these were taken 20 to 40 miles south of Costa Mayas port.

 

 

This guy is a Squat Anemone Shrimp. His body is about 1/2 an inch long.

Enjoy!

Steve

[MsRed318]

amazing detail...great pics!

[bdatcf1]

Great pictures, thanks. I was wondering if 1) You booked this dive through the ship or set it up yourself, & 2) Which line were you on? We go on The Independence OTS in two weeks and are wondering if its better to book our own, or take the ships tour and run the risk of being in a cattle car dive.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Dave

[XcalakSteve]

Hey bdatcf1! I actually live here in Xcalak and work as a dive instructor. Just take pictures on my off time. Thought the folks here would like to see what the diving is like.

 

 

No cattle boats where I am at!

Steve

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Amazing!

[10X]

Steve, Great pics. Thanks for posting them.

 

Denny

[ellenh]

Fantastic pictures. Love the manatee!

 

--Ellen in NYC

[markrll]

Love your pics! Can I ask.....what settings you use, special lens?

[XcalakSteve]

Thanks Everyone!

Mark the camera I use is a Nikon digital SLR. The manatee was shot with a 28mm lens and I believe the rest were shot with a 60mm macro lens. Settings for f stop vary with the available light and I also have dual strobes on the system. I do shoot in RAW mode and color correct in photoshop.

 

Steve

[scubaran]

Thanks everyone!

In the first group from the top is

Yellow Headed Jawfish

Sand Diver fish with a cleaning fish working on him.

Enjoy!

Steve

 

Great shots Steve! But I think the Sand diver is being cleaned by "Pendersen's Cleaning Shrimp". ;)

 

Randall

 

"Note to self, drown the point 'n shoot and get a digital SLR" :rolleyes:

[XcalakSteve]

Hey Scubaran. Thats what happens when you read what you type after hitting the post button.:o

Couldnt find an edit button either. Thats actually a Pederson Cleaning Shrimp.

 

 

Steve

[scubaran]

Hey Scubaran. Thats what happens when you read what you type after hitting the post button.:o

Couldnt find an edit button either. Thats actually a Pederson Cleaning Shrimp.

 

Steve

 

Great shot! And here's a whole herd coming at you.... :p

 

 

What can I say, it's a "point-and-shoot". :D

 

Randall

[markrll]

Thanks for the info Steve!

[TheVegasMan]

Great shots and amazing water clarity. I'll be in PDC April 25 - May 2. How difficult is it to get to Xcalak using the colectivos? I'd love to dive there.

[jamga02]

Awesome pictures Steve! If you don't mind, which dive operator do you work for? We have been to Costa Maya twice and dove both times and loved it! John

[XcalakSteve]

Hey John!

I am at Costa de Cocos in Xcalak. We are on the beach road about a mile north of town.

Vegasman, Its not easy getting here by collectivo. You can take a bus from playa del Carmen or tulum to Mahahual then a cab from there to Xcalak. No colectivos come here.

 

 

Enjoy!

Steve

[MelsCruise]

Steve, what is the brand of under water housing you are using? I was debating on purchasing one for my canon EOS digital rebel, or just buying the Olympus underwater digital camera. I guess I was worried about water seeping in. Thoughts? Thanks, Marianne