Wrecked in Malta

[GRAgusta]

This last couple of years I've had issues that stopped me sometimes from doing what I wanted to do, but I am getting through it and DID go diving this summer.

In fact I extended my depth record, so felt really good that day. We were diving on deep military wrecks, here are my best photies of:

S Class submarine, HMS Stubborn
RAF Beaufighter, and
SS Le Polynseien, where I recorded 66m for the first time.

DSC_7643 by Gawaine Appleby, on Flickr

DSC_7677 by Gawaine Appleby, on Flickr

DSC_7822 by Gawaine Appleby, on Flickr

DSC_7834 by Gawaine Appleby, on Flickr

[Paul]

Very nice pictures. What's your underwater camera of choice?

Cheers,

Paul

[GRAgusta]

Very nice pictures. What's your underwater camera of choice?

Cheers,

Paul

Thanks Paul,

My wife uses a Sea and Sea kit with a Ricoh compact, it works well and is convenient to use, she has a higher strike rate than me but doesn't meet the quality of my best shots. She has also been getting outstanding video with her GoPro Hero black ... which worked at 65m!

As for me I'm a luddite, having splashed the cash in 2004 to put a Nikon D70 in a housing, with the Nikkor 10.5 and a full size dome I get these cracking results.

There is so much volume in the full size dome the camera needs additional ballast to make it sink, I have a neutrally buoyant compact dome which works great on critters but it distorts straight lines on ship wrecks. I also have a Nikkor 105 which has delivered tremendous results, but is not easy to use. With the housed SLR you have to decide wide angle or macro before you jump in and work with what you find. Jenny's compact has a removable wide angle adapter so her photos are not quite so wow, but she has options under water.

I have a Nikon D7200 which would work with my lenses and ports, but a new case would be required, and selling the R1100S might not cover that expense .... so I'll stay with the D70 underwater for now.

[Topcat]

Cracking photos

[GRAgusta]

Cracking photos

Glad you have enjoyed them; this was the deepest moment, when I kneeled on the sea bed underneath Le Polynesien.

Version 2 by Gawaine Appleby, on Flickr

[Grip Fast]

My heroes, as a child, were Hans and Lotte Hass and I believed I would be a scuba diver when I grew up. However, I have never been diving, not even with a snorkel. So I am very impressed (and not a little jealous) by your passion for diving and these photographs, especially the Beaufighter - I wonder what its story is.

What a great activity to be involved in.

[GRAgusta]

My heroes, as a child, were Hans and Lotte Hass and I believed I would be a scuba diver when I grew up. However, I have never been diving, not even with a snorkel. So I am very impressed (and not a little jealous) by your passion for diving and these photographs, especially the Beaufighter - I wonder what its story is.
.

The Beaufighter has its undercarriage down (up as it hit the sea bed upside down), and one propeller is much more damaged than the other indicating that only one engine was running when it hit the water.

Jenny researched it and found the story of two flight sergeants who took off on a raid to bomb Rommel's supply ships in convoy from Italy. The engine failed on take off and they ditched. The crew were rescued by fishermen, and the wreck now lies at 38m near the harbour at Valetta.

[boxerscott]

Great photos Gawaine. As usual.

That was quite impressive


Chris

[Chout1963]

Awesome pictures! Hope I can go diving again soon, too!
Maybe Philppines... there should be some good diving spots there.