Cape Cod, Massachusetts

I am fascinated by the prehistoric horseshoe crab and was fortunate to see these amorous horseshoe crabs right after a full moon. Bob Peck from the Adventure Diving Services of Cape Cod helped me find a beautiful inlet where I could find horseshoe crabs a plenty.

Cape Codunderwater photographyhorseshoe crabblack and whiteBob PeckAdventure Diving Services

USS Arthur Radford, Delaware with OC Dive Boat SCUBA Charters, MD

Here, the well decorated bridge of the USS Arthur Radford lists in waters that with hurricane forces that both separated her and subsequently brought the separated sections back together. Having recently been diving caves, I missed how taxing currents can be on wrecks and had to regain my sea legs. This is one wreck I hope to return to soon.

USS Arthur RadfordDelawareMusselsUnderwater Photography

Dutch Springs, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Eager to return to my friends with the Northeast Diving Equipment Group (NEDEG), and a newly minted member of the Historic Diving Society, I jumped in for another opportunity to capture the splendor of these historic dive suits. Here, I depict a gritty, historic looking photo, doing something fairly odd. The suits look strange in the old fire engine. I learned much on this journey too. Every dive, I encounter a new lesson in travel, photography, and diving. This was a lesson in photography for me, so I return Labor Day for more photos with this wonderful group!

View the entire historic diving gallery on this website, uwdesigner.com.

Dutch SpringsPennsylvaniaNEDEGNortheast Diving Equipment Grouphistoric divingUnderwater Photography

Megaladon Rebreather introduction led by instructor Becky Kagan Schott

Here, a diver tests buoyancy in a Megaladon rebreather. These closed circuit units completely change the way buoyancy is experienced for divers. In open circuit diving, your lung inflation influences your buoyancy, while only the gas in the buoyancy control device can affect buoyancy for closed circuit diving.

Megaladon rebreatherdry suit

Nudibranch, Catalina Island, California, Selky Charters

The lesson here was beautiful. Before this, I never understood the fascination underwater photographers have with nudibranchs, these strange invertebrate mollusks. After this dive, I was quite excited. I get it.

Also, my primary camera was being repaired during this trip, so I picked up my trusty backup. It was a good reminder to keep my backup camera.

NudibranchCatalina IslandCaliforniaunderwater photographykelp

Mine La Motte, Missouri

I have long wanted to dive in a mine and see mine carts. This dream was realized in Mine La Motte with some of my dive team members from the OCDA. It seems running at full speed from location to location takes a toll on me. My repaired camera had just arrived, so I swapped over camera systems to my primary system the day before this trip. Sadly, I forgot an important piece, so I was limited in what I could photograph. Thanks to resourcefulness, I was still able to capture the experience here. I was unable to review my photos underwater or shoot with my strobes. It felt like shooting with film, unable to know what my choices were producing until I reached the surface.

Mine La MotteMissouriMineCave DivingUnderwater Photography

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The best underwater photo I captured while diving Yellowstone Lake was of this Grand Prismatic Spring … above water. While this was not a trip teaching me a photography lesson, it was a rewarding trip that taught me about travel and diving. I needed to better understand my intended coordinates. Sadly, I dove in the wrong direction and saw beautiful sand. So, I shall revisit Yellowstone next year, now understanding my coordinates fully, and I did see something interesting on my dive that I hope to share when I return.

Yellowstone National ParkGrand Prismatic SpringWyominghot spring

Little Crater Lake, Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon

After a few setbacks, I was relieved by this wonderfully clear and refreshing spring fed lake. At a brisk 34º, my dry gloves served me well and I was able to enjoy this unnervingly clear water. This again is a dive I would like to revisit. Many thanks to Micah Reese for joining me on this journey.

Little Crate rLakeMt. Hood National ForestOregonspringunderwater photography

Scuba Made Easy, Jamestown, Rhode Island

Steven Lubas is a jovial diver that lives his shop name, Scuba Made Easy. He showed me this historic pier, over 100 years old that is made of an unusual African wood that looks new to this day. The best lesson here was how much I enjoyed diving with my buddy.

Scuba Made EasyJamestownRhode Islandpierunderwater photography