Polly 12 before the first dive.
After months of anticipation of going scuba diving, I got to say I was a little nervous. I sat in the room looking out the porthole and wondered what was in store for me. I’m used to being in water, but being underwater is a whole different experience. Once on the dive deck I entered the underwater housing.
All set to make a splash.
A new friend, a Grouper
A blue tipped Anemone
In here I could see all around me yet I was safe. Once I got underwater I was AMAZED at all the life. Corrals, fish, crabs, lobster, turtles and yes, even some sharks.
A french angelfish.
There was more than I could comprehend. I immediately understood why scuba divers go to all the effort to enjoy this sport.
A gray reef shark takes a close look. I guess he doesn't like frogs!
Over 75% of the earth is covered in water and only a small percentage of the people on earth get to see all the beauty of the undersea world.
Polly and Kristi
Here is Jeff, Polly 12 and Jeff
They say that a picture is worth a 1,000 words, so instead of telling you what I saw, here are a few pictures of the undersea world…
A nurse shark wonders across the sand.
Another hawks bill turtle.
Here is a green morray eel just hanging out under the ledge.
Here's a look at the underside of a stingray.
A stingray comes in for a close look.
The gun turret of the Russian Destroyer.
The Wreck of a Russian Destoyer!
Watch out! It's a jellyfish right below the boat!
A beatiful soft corral.
Hawksbill Turtle
Tags: Polly 12
September 2nd, 2010 at 5:10 am
Grand Cayman is the largest and only significantly populated island.
September 2nd, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Is scuba diving something that is easy to learn? If you’re a little bit afraid of the water, is it worth while trying it anyway? The pictures look so great that it makes me want to try but I don’t know if I would be afraid or not. I really enjoyed reading the information about your trip.
September 2nd, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Scuba diving does take some training but it is relatively easy. You don’t have to be a great swimmer but you do need to feel comfortable in the water. There are some swimming tests required but they are not timed. It is just to prove you can do some basic strokes and do a few laps in the pool.
If you are interested in learning more about scuba, the best thing to do is contact your local dive shop. Just look up “Scuba” in the Yellow Pages. Most shops offer a “Discover Scuba” program. This may be free or cost you a few dollards (like $15) to cover the cost of the pool. But you basically show up at the pool with a swim suit and towel. The shop brings all the equipment, fits you into it and gives you some very basic instruction. Then you are free to swim around underwater under the supervision of the shop. It is a great way to see if scuba is something for you.
As an Assistant Instructor, I have seen various people come and be very apprehensive at the start. Most people get very comfortable in just a few hours. Some people take a bit longer and a few realize that scuba isn’t for them. But you never know until you try. That is why the Discover Scuba program is so great.
If you are interested in seeing more photos, just go to my website, http://www.sea-horsephoto.com. In the Galleries section you will see an Underwater section. For the last few years I have been posting our underwater photos there. I will be posting the ones from the Cayman trip in a few weeks. It takes some time to process everything and get the posted. Feel free to email me with any questions about diving or the photography.
September 3rd, 2010 at 8:48 pm
This is amazing, as is your website. Are any of the sharks you photographed dangerous?
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Thanks for the compliments on the pictures and website. The sharks in this post can be dangerous. You learn to watch for signs of aggressive behavior (fins down, very erratic movements, etc.) and get out of the area if you see the signs. The sharks are as curious about you as you are of them. They see you as another fish who isn’t on their normal menu so you usually don’t have a problem. I would be more nervous about being on a surfboard or swimming in the shallow water than scuba diving. A surfer on a surfboard from 30′ below looks like a seal. For the sharks that eat seals, this is an honest mistake by them. Sharks are also attracted to a lot of motion and movement. So someone swimming in the surf can look like an injured fish, so obviously the sharks think they can get an easy meal.
Now if you get around great whites and bull sharks in other parts of the world, that is a very different situation. Quite honestly, in the Carribean, you have to look pretty hard to find sharks.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Jeff,
Thanks for the great answer. I never really thought about it like that–the shark seeing the diver as another fish that isn’t on the menu. I went out in a fishing boat off the coast of South Carolina once, and someone caught a small shark in about 100′ or so of water. It’s interesting to see even a small one close up.
Anyway, I learned something new today, and that’s always a good thing!
Jason
September 4th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Wow! My little sister looks so sad in that first picture–see I can call her my little sister because I’m #5 and she’s #12–but, anyway, it looks like it turned out to be a great adventure! I learned a lot about the creatures of the deep! Good stuff.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:43 am
My hands down favorite pictures in this post are…the two Jeff’s with Polly and the close up picture of the Hawksbill Turtle…wow! Your posts, as always, are so interesting! Thanks for posting!
September 24th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
I loved the post before and the video is great also. I love to see how creative you can be and never know what you’ll come up with. Keep up the great work!
November 14th, 2010 at 11:27 am
I love the underwater pictures, and the fact that Polly went along is priceless. Whoever thought of this was very clever!
February 21st, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Polly can scuba dive?
February 21st, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Al~
Polly loved being underwater! Did you see her video?
Polly #3
February 24th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Yes, I have seen the video. I love it. Polly wolly doodle!
April 19th, 2013 at 8:26 am
We loved your video! Was it fun? Was Polly scared?
Fondly,
Mrs. Sims’ Class (West Virginia, USA)