Sunday 11 March 2012

All It's Cooked Up To Be


Photo: Ryan Pearson
By Ryan Pearson
Today DD, Ben and I ventured to Cook Island, off Tweed Heads in NSW. This was DD and my first time at Cook, and it didn't disappoint. We went out with Tweed Seasports, and the helpful, friendly staff made it a very enjoyable day. 

Black Margined Glossodoris. Photo: Ryan Pearson
Visibility was a pleasant 10m, and with 26°C water my 3mm wetsuit was more than enough. The only real downside was the swell causing a lot of underwater surge which made it very difficult to shoot with my macro lens. That said, there were still plenty of opportunities.

Within 1 minute of descending, we ran head first into a 3m Manta Ray (which clearly wasn't conducive to photographing with a macro lens). After that, my focus was entirely on the critters - except for when one very large leopard shark cruised by on the first dive, and when I ran into some of the many local turtles.
Manta Ray. Photo: Ryan Pearson

Here's some more pics from the day. Thanks to my buddies and Tweed Seasports for a good trip :)


Photo: Ryan Pearson

Bennett's Hypselodoris mating (Hypselodoris bennetti). Photo: Ryan Pearson
Coral Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco). Photo: Ryan Pearson
Stout Moray Eel (Gymnothorax eurostus). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Eff That! Photo: Ryan Pearson


Stout Moray Eel (Gymnothorax eurostus). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Bigfin Reef Squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas). Photo: Ryan Pearson

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