California Underwater

My first effort at underwater photography was with the Nikonos V, which is still part of my camera case. In the beginning I used mostly extension tubes with framers attached to the standard 35mm lens for doing macro, which I found to be extraordinarily easy. This was one of my early works, circa 1992.

Nikonos V, 35mm f/3.5, extension tubes, Fuji Velvia c. 1992

Corynactis Californica


Nikon N8008s, 105mm lens, Fuji Velvia Hermissenda crassicornis	One of the most common, and also sought-after, nudibranchs by local photographers is the Hermissenda. This specimen was taken in Carmel Bay in 1999.

Nikon N8008s, 60mm Micro f/2.8, Fuji Velvia 1999

Diaulula sandiegensis

Eventually I grew to like the idea of putting my Nikon N8008s into a housing to be able to take advantage of the SLR viewing format, so I bought an Aquatica 80 housing and used the same strobe, an SB-102, that I had been using on the Nikonos. Then, because these things grow like Topsy, I added another strobe, an SB-105. When I later flooded my SB-102 I replaced it with a second SB-105, which is the arrangement I still have today.

On the same dive as the photo of the divers in the kelp on the front page I saw this scene, and couldn't resist. I used up the rest of my roll of film.	*Nikon N8008s, 16mm Fisheye lens, Fuji Provia 1997*

*Nikon N8008s. 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye, Fuji Provia 1998*	In late July 1998 (also in 1997 and 1996) we took the Pacific Star and four groups of divers to the Farallones Islands for some of the most incredible diving ever offered to sport divers in California. This scene of pinnacles carpeted with Corynactis was shot at Noonday Rock, and is just one example of what we saw.
This is the Pacific Star, the boat I owned and operated as a dive charter boat in Monterey from 1993 until those wonderful trips to the Farallones Islands in the summer of 1998. She was 65' long and carried 24 divers and 5 crew for as much as three days at a time. Photo copyright © Bruce Watkins By permission

I shot this at the Farallones (Noonday Rock) in 1998 and wondered for a year what it was, trying as I might to find it in the marine ID books. Finally it dawned on me to use my new-found technology called a scanner to ask the experts from ba_diving, and I had my answer the next day: an orange sea cucumber with its tentacles retracted. I had skimmed right past it numerous times in "Guide to Marine Invertebrates" by Daniel W. Gotshall, because his illustration shows the creature with its tentacles extended fully out. You can find the description on Page 77 of Gotshall's book.

Nikon N8008s, 60mm f/2.8 Micro lens, Fuji Velvia 1998

Cucumaria miniata

Nikon N8008s, 60mm f/2.8 Micro lens, Fuji Provia 1999

Hypsipops rubicundus:

"Garibaldi"

There has been a lot written and said about what many have long described as California's "official State fish". What was said before about 1992 (I don my flameproof suit about that date) was largely folklore. However, because of the fish's golden color and probably for some more obscure reasons, the Legislature passed a law naming the Garibaldi the official fish of California and giving it full protection under the law. They need protection, because they are usually quite docile, except when nesting, and (so I've heard) are rather bony and not very appealing as meals.