Great Barrier Reef pics! Updated with clam pics!

[Delphinus]

You know, I encountered a little bit of the same thing when I was down there, the guides didn't really know jack poop about some of the things they were showing off. Yeah, the boat did have a marine biologist who lectured while the boat was underway and she knew her stuff but getting the guides to show you stuff ... I dunno, I just sort of expected them to know more. It's bad when you find yourself wanting to correct them! "Here is the clownfish family, the dad and the mum, and the babies." "Well actually .. that's a female and her male, and the smaller ones are more like males-in-waiting".

I'm shocked they would sort of poo-poo the clams. That's just .. that's just wrong man!!!

I found that the inside reefs, close to places like Low Isles for example, did have a "dirtier" look to them. Silt, algea, etc. However the outer reef was more pristine, at least I found.

And I agree, nothing like seeing a real reef to inspire you to "do better" with aquascaping

[Chin_Lee]

Love them pics. MORE MORE MORE

[ed99]

Great shots. Did you use an external flash or were you able to get those pics with the built-in one?

Ed

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by ed99

Great shots. Did you use an external flash or were you able to get those pics with the built-in one?

Ed

I used just the built in one. It did not work for a bunch of pics though because of it!

[mark]

fantastic pictures

[danny zubot]

What an adventure it must have been. My plans to dive there were put on hold due to little ones as well. Hopefully I will still be young enough to go by the time they allow me.

[ed99]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

I used just the built in one. It did not work for a bunch of pics though because of it!

Yeah- you do have to be pretty close, but those are still some great shots. I just bought a housing for my Canon (not nearly as good a model as yours) but it has given me hope I can get some good shots next trip. Now I just have to line up a dive trip!

Interesting points about this mix of SPS, softies, algae, etc. I've only started getting into corals in the last couple of years. All my dives to good coral reefs were almost wasted with what little I knew to look for. Hawaii didn't have much in the way of corals so I am looking forward to another trip to a great reef- perhaps the Cook Islands will be a better place than Calgary in February!

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by ed99

Yeah- you do have to be pretty close, but those are still some great shots. I just bought a housing for my Canon (not nearly as good a model as yours) but it has given me hope I can get some good shots next trip. Now I just have to line up a dive trip!

Interesting points about this mix of SPS, softies, algae, etc. I've only started getting into corals in the last couple of years. All my dives to good coral reefs were almost wasted with what little I knew to look for. Hawaii didn't have much in the way of corals so I am looking forward to another trip to a great reef- perhaps the Cook Islands will be a better place than Calgary in February!

I have no camera anymore though...stolen

It is pretty rare to see a tank that is a bit more natural looking. I don't usually shop at Big Al's but I think the one in Richmond actually has a mixed reef, maybe a 180G that is very natural looking with all kinds of algae, stuff like bubble algae and what not. It also has some sps and softies if Im remembering correct...I remember liking it though!