The sense of being out in the middle of nowhere is strong during the crossing to the Archipelago Revillagigedos, also known as the Socorro Island. It takes 24-30 hours of motoring to reach this small island chain, but the wait is well worth it. Consisting of four islands, three of which are close enough to each other that you can dive them in one expedition, this area is well known for its big animal encounters. The islands and small sea mounts attract a variety of small life, which in turn brings in the big guys. Sharks abound, mantas gracefully fly through the water and dolphins twirl and dance in front of you under these waters.

This was my first experience diving Socorro, and it was nothing short of incredible. The water was around 76-78°, perfect for a 5mm suit. We had excellent visibility most of the time, with views stretching past 100 ft on many dives. While nothing is guaranteed, this trip everyone on our group got plenty of time watching the manta rays glide through the water, brushing over our bubbles. We saw a large school of hammerhead sharks cruise by in the distance, watched white tips pile upon each other at Roca Partida and we danced with dolphins, who playfully cruised past the group, diving down into the depths and back up, daring divers to follow along.

A haven for the big guys, it also is home to an incredible amount of varied fish life. Large trevally and jacks school around the sea mounts, and small baitfish dart in and out of rocky crevasses. Yellowfin tuna can be spotted quickly darting through the school in the distance, though rarely coming close. We watched rainbow runners clean themselves on the side of a silky shark, and eyed wahoo as they swam near the surface during our safety stops.

Of course, not every dive was big animal heaven… these creatures move around often, and we had several dives of vast empty blue ocean stretching out in front of us. Luckily during those dives you can enjoy watching the small fish, eels, and more, but remember, if you focus too much on the little guys, you won’t know when the big ones show up!

The trip on the Rocio del Mar is very comfortable, with an incredible staff, excellent food and great accommodations. Knowledgeable dive masters lead the way underwater, while topside your gear is looked after, and delicious meals keep you energized throughout the day.

Here is just a selection of some of the fantastic sights we experienced through our adventure in Socorro.

Equipment Used

Nauticam Sony A7r II Underwater Housing

Sony 16-35mm F4 Lens

The post Diving Socorro with the Sony A7R II first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

From January 15 – March 3rd, 2013, The G2 Gallery will premiere State of the Sharks, a new exhibit of photography that highlights the beauty and vulnerability of the ocean’s top predators.  The exhibit seeks to educate the public and raise awareness for the plight of sharks in anticipation of the biennial C.I.T.E.S. convention, which will consider listing sharks as endangered species in March of 2013. Many photos were taken in the best shark diving in the world.

State of the Sharks was photographed by Mark Strickland and Chris Huss, veteran divers concerned by the drastic decline of sharks in recent years. “Sharks are incredibly misunderstood creatures,” explains Strickland.  “They’re widely viewed as mindless killers, but attacks against humans are actually very rare.” As top predators, sharks are essential for a healthy ecosystem; without them the entire marine food chain loses its balance. Disturbingly, over-fishing and habitat loss, exacerbated by low birth rates and slow maturation are global threats to sharks’ survival, bringing many species to the brink of extinction.

The G2 Gallery will donate all proceeds from the exhibit to benefit the non-profit conservation organization, Shark Savers.  Archival quality prints will be available in a variety of sizes and mediums. An opening reception will be held on January 19, from 6:30–9:00 pm.  Admission to the event will be $5 at the door and all proceeds will benefit Shark Savers.  Live music, wine, hors d’oeuvres, and complimentary valet parking.  The gallery requests an RSVP if you plan on going to the reception.

Location:  

The G2 Gallery (www.theg2gallery.com)
1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291-3742
Tel. 310.452.2842,
E-mail info@theg2gallery.com

About Chris Huss

For over 30 years, Seattle based photographer Chris Huss has been making images across many genres.  Most recently, he has turned his attention to using his photography as a tool to aid the conservation and protection of wildlife and the environment.  His passion for marine life, in particular, began at a very young age, and as an adolescent he began shooting underwater using a plastic bag over his Instamatic.  He graduated with a degree in photography and filmmaking from the University of Washington in 1981 and embarked on a career that includes countless credits, awards, and over 2,000 weddings and events.  Chris’s images have been featured in The New York Times, National Geographic, Vogue, Time, ABC and have been used by the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.  Corporate clients include Alaska Airlines, Hallmark, and Nikon.  His work on behalf of sharks is just one of several projects in progress that are geared toward promoting awareness of the oceans and marine life.

About Mark Strickland 

Mark Strickland’s career has been guided by his passion for the ocean.  Over the years he’s completed over 10,000 dives and served as an ocean lifeguard, boat captain and diving instructor.  He also spent 17 seasons as Cruise Director and Photo Pro on a series of live-aboard dive boats in Thailand.  Having spent much of his life observing underwater ecosystems, Mark has developed a reputation as a marine naturalist, and has discovered several nudibranch species including his namesake, Halgerda stricklandi. Co-author and primary photographer of Lonely Planet’s awarding book Diving and Snorkeling Thailand, Mark’s work appears in books and magazines worldwide, including BBC Wildlife, Conde Nast Traveler, Geo, National Geographic World, Nature’s Best, Natural History, Outside and most major dive publications. Based in S. California, Mark generally prefers warmer waters, leading trips to tropical destinations several times a year. He’s also a dedicated environmentalist, working closely with several conservation groups including Shark Savers and Ocean Artists Society.

About The G2 Gallery

The G2 Gallery is an award winning nature and wildlife photography gallery that facilitates change by bringing attention to environmental issues through the power of photographic art. G2 shares this passion with both celebrated and emerging environmental photographers, who use the camera as a tool to inspire conservation.

More Information

Click here and scroll down to hear an audio interview as Mark shares some insights about shark conservation with The G2 Gallery’s Jared Nigro.

The post The G2 Gallery Presents State of the Sharks first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.