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Diving Sipadan & Mabul

by Lorraine Bateman

Reproduced from in focus 69 (October 2002)

Waking to the sound of waves lapping against the beach, falling asleep to the rhythms of water slopping underneath the bungalow will be sensuous memories for all those who recently visited Sipadan and Mabul as members of the Martin Edge Photoquest expedition, organised through Divequest in August 2000.

A lyrical start to some paragraphs which attempt to capture the essence of the trip which was a roller coaster of storms and rough sees, blazing sun and mill pond water, basic huts and luxurious suites, friendships built and antipathies confirmed, techniques tested and perfected, equipment failures, floods and diving, diving diving.

Travel weary and sea soaked after the turbulent fifth leg of a journey that had run like clock-work, 18 divers rushed to complete their orientation dive. The only time their underwater surroundings were viewed with the naked eye - the viewf inder would frame their vision and dreams for the next two weeks.

Focused endeavour was demonstrated with dive logs registering anything from 3-7 dives each day. Lessons on the run. Tips galore willingly shared. Goals and objectives challenged and shaped. Technical help always at hand. No question too basic to ask - apart from perhaps "why are you getting back onto the boat with one camera Martin when you dived in with two"

Red frog fish by Antonio Sanchez-Cappuchino

Antonio used a Nikon F5 with a Nikkor 105 mm lens in a Subal housing. Lighting was with two Sea & Sea YS50 strobes. Taken at f16 and 1/60 sec. Matrix metering, auto-focus, exposure compensation +2/3. Film stock was Fuji Velvia.

Barracuda Point quickly became the favoured dive site with divers in eager anticipation of seeing the schooling Barracuda or Jacks - one of the most "spectacular underwater sights to behold. Thousands of silver sided fish forming a twister shaped spiral. 'The walls in constant motion as fish move round and round - sometimes on the outside, sometimes on the inner wall. Simply awesome and a sight that could always be guaranteed in Sipadan. Unfortunately the past tense applied, so many divers were disappointed and those who had seen the phenomenon on previous visits hugged their memories to themselves.

The one safe bet at Sipadan continues to be Turtles. The creatures for whom the evolutionary wheel of time has stood still. From the size of a dinner plate to a coffee table, they sleep, rub, eat and surface with a regularity and rhythm that soothes and slows the watcher. The coral has suffered from its long acquaintance with these cumbersome creatures as they rise and settle, crunch and copulate, but every diver enjoys their presence.

At Mabul the small secrets of the sea hunted, framed and snapped. Frogfish of all colours turning their backs on photographers, crinoids clutching chopsticks, ghost pipefish tantalisingly hanging in the water, moving in and out of focus at the currents whim. Ribbon eels cheekily sharing one hole and nudibranchs galore.

All too soon the hour of reckoning, when slides are shown, votes are cast, hopes are dashed and for some their 15 minutes of fame and glory. A very high photographic and creative standard was achieved, assisted by the excellent and prompt E60 processing by Jason Isley and his colleagues from Scubazoo Images. The winning shots, achieved by Colin Bateman, for wide-angle and Antonio Sanchez-Cappuchino for macro were of a surfacing turtle reflected in the surface of the water in natural light and a full frontal view of the elusive red frogfish. The trophies presented by Martin Edge now treasured and indeed, envied possessions!

For all a great sense of personal achievement and a delight that for two weeks every, and believe me, ewery conversation has been orientated towards the love that these people share.

Reproduced from in focus 69 (October 2002)