|
This
wasn't our first visit. but in a way it was. Since Brighton
83 and two BSoUP meetings, my suspicions that underwater photography
was to be more than a passing interest were confirmed. A diving
pal had loaned me his Nikonos Ill and flash and I was raring
to go.
As
a complete novice I had two months to learn. Should be enough
time, if I read a few pages a day of the recent book I had
purchased on underwater photography.
The
more I read, the more confused I became, but the pictures
helped as I could see the different results, and slowly it
became clearer or should I say it came into focus better.
Most
of my diving was in Puerto del Carmen, and due to the prevailing
conditions, I was unable to travel further, but with Moray,
Ray, Grouper, Barracuda etc., all waiting to be photographed,
there just didn't seem enough film on the roll.
I
had the first roll developed, just to see if I had made any
mistakes. And would you believe it, the best shot so far is
one of my right knee, taken accidentally whilst cleaning the
camera.
On
our last day, I went to the beach very early to have just
one last snorkel. The sun was not at its best and a strong
breeze made the water seem cold and uninviting. Visibility
was not too good, as there was plenty of plankton. I was tempted
to rush back to the apartment for a hot shower, but I persisted
and found myself in about 10m of water on a sloping beach,
to the right of the Hotel Fariones, where a small shoal of
fish appeared, lazily feeding in midwater. These were joined
by a shoal of what appeared to be mackeral or maybe small
barracuda? The shoal was about 5ft x 5ft and probably 40ft
long. It moved in the same way as a caterpillar, but faster,
sections of the shoal moving as one, turning this way and
then that. Jaws opening and closing - constantly feeding on
plankton. There must have been thousands of these silver,
sleek. greenish tailed fish, unconcerned but not unaware of
the stranger in their midst. I forgot how cold the water was
and just hung in the water fascinated, remembering how some
of the best photographs are taken whilst snorkelling, and
cursing myself for forgetting to take the camera with me.
But then it I hadn't bothered to go in at all, I would have
missed the best sight I have enjoyed since I took up snorkelling
and diving. |
