Busy busy busy.

Seahorse on Punta Tunich

I take my Rescue Diver course next week, and immediately thereafter take the Photography class.  In the meantime, I have been trying to teach myself to use the camera.  The results have been not unlike the results I see when students think they can teach themselves math....in other words, really hit or miss with the misses far outweighing the hits.

Again, much like math, there are so many variables with using a camera underwater.  Lighting is a biggie, as is white balance and focus and just trying to stay STILL long enough to take a picture with the water currents pushing you onward.  It is far more difficult than it looks, and far more difficult than I imagined.  I'm looking forward to sitting down (swimming down) one on one with a professional to actually be TAUGHT what to do!

Three days ago I took the ferry from Cozumel over to the mainland and then a shuttle bus to Cancun.  There I rode a small boat out into the open ocean for about 45 minutes in order to snorkel with the whale sharks.

Whale sharks are technically FISH; the largest fish in the world.  They look like sharks but are filter feeders. They eat plankton, like whales...hence the name.  These creatures are often the size of a school bus, but very gentle.  Swimming with them was amazing and awe-inspiring.  You have to swim like mad to keep up.  I have video I shot and a video a boat mate took of me swimming along side of one.  They are just so beautiful and graceful for such a large beast.  Once I transfer the videos to a smaller format, I will post them!