Papagayo (Costa Rica) recommendations?

[Reef_Geek]

Originally Posted by Jason McK

Reef Geek, What camera are you shooting with on Land? The dynamic rage is incredible.
Our last trip to CR we actually sent our Camera back to Canon to have it fixed because half way through the trip we could not get correct exposures. Canon charged us $135.00 and did nothing.

Bummer to hear about your camera troubles. I once sent back a brand new lens to Canon because I was having trouble with the autofocus... only to find out (rookie mistake) that it was because I put a polarizer filter on it. Fortunately, only cost me shipping.

In the sequence of the posted photos:

photo 1, 10 to the end: a point and shoot Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS digital elph... underwater housing is an Ikelite http://www.adorama.com/IK624014.html

photos 2,3,5-8
Canon 5D mk II with lens EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS

photo 4
Canon 5D mk II with lens EF 24mm f/1.4 L

photo 9
Canon 5D mk II with lens EF 50mm f/1.2 L

all photos edited with Canon's Digital Professional to increase saturation, contrast, and sometimes brightness. SLR photos shot in RAW format.

[Jason McK]

Nice thanks.

I also shoot with a Canon Powershot A(something) with an Ikelite housing. Do you use strobe?
Looking at getting a housing for my D50 since my wife just got the 7D

J

[Reef_Geek]

Originally Posted by Jason McK

Nice thanks.

I also shoot with a Canon Powershot A(something) with an Ikelite housing. Do you use strobe?
Looking at getting a housing for my D50 since my wife just got the 7D

J

these point-n-shoots have come a long way...
no strobe. I think if I lived somewhere with tropical diving, or just some diving in general, I'd go for an underwater housing for my SLR. Being in Calgary... I have very few opportunities.

Talking about getting a housing... if you're not already aware of B&H and Adorama...
when I used to live near the US border, I used to mail order photography equipment from Adorama http://www.adorama.com/ or B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com
You could also try Leisure Pro, they are my go-to dive gear mail order place. http://www.leisurepro.com/

As far as I know, these are the cheapest places for new gear, and still reputable. I've spent thousands of dollars at each of these three places, have done returns, no issues (at least for me). They provide free shipping within the US, and since they're out of NY, shipping to another state means no sales tax.

Here's an example of how it might be done...
1) locate a UPS store on the states side that is convenient for pick up
2) email the UPS store and ask about having a box shipped to them for pick up... how much it would cost... probably $10 plus $1 per day of holding.
3) go to UPS.com to see how long it would take for ground shipping to send from NY to WA... likely 5 days
4) think of when you can go to the US, then work backwards on when to place the order... ie, you can go Saturday of next week when the UPS store is open, takes 5 days to get there, place the order this Sunday night so it ships out Monday for Friday arrival.
5) place the order, use your Canadian address as the billing address, use the US based UPS store as the shipping address, use your own name and put 'hold for pick up' on the same line as your name, get the tracking number
6) email the UPS store the tracking number of the package coming, and tell them when you'll come to pick up, email you if any issues.
7) track and go pick up, come back and claim at customs as you would cross border shopping. Not declaring at your own discretion and risk. After paying taxes at the border (typically GST only) usually is still cheaper than buying in Canada plus PST/GST.

food for thought... I miss living near the border... SIGH

[Jason McK]

Ya I use a place called Point to point in Port Roberts about 10 minutes away.

But I buy all my dive gear locally, mainly because I'm usually looking for cold water gear

J

[Coralgurl]

These pics are amazing, we are looking into going to Belize in January to look at land. The bf wants to retire south somewhere and has been looking around. These pics sure make it look convincing!!

[Jason McK]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

These pics are amazing, we are looking into going to Belize in January to look at land. The bf wants to retire south somewhere and has been looking around. These pics sure make it look convincing!!

Belize is very nice as well. Really great diving as well as very nice rain forests

[Reef_Geek]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

These pics are amazing, we are looking into going to Belize in January to look at land. The bf wants to retire south somewhere and has been looking around. These pics sure make it look convincing!!

thanks. Wife and I want to do Belize as our 2013 big trip (well, it's a toss up between granite counter tops and that trip at the moment). You'll have to tell us about your trip in January!

[Coralgurl]

He's been before and fell in love with it. Ive never been anywhere tropical so it would be an amazing experience! We just realized our passports expire in January so have to get them looked after ASAP! Your trip looks so beautiful and WARM!! So over the snow and cold already....lol