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Wing Beach Dive, July 5, 2009

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  • Heading down into "The Canyon."

    Heading down into "The Canyon."

    SaipanCNMIWingCanyon

  • Two Moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus) look on as their realm is invaded by the bubbling aliens.

    Two Moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus) look on as their realm is invaded by the bubbling aliens.

    Moorish idolZanclus cornutusWingCanyon

  • John and Dawn float above the whip coral.  Does sound kinky, doesn't it!?

    John and Dawn float above the whip coral. Does sound kinky, doesn't it!?

    John DouglasDawn Hammermeisterwhip coral

  • Look closely and you can see some Cornetfish (Fistularia commersonnii) in front of Ron.

    Look closely and you can see some Cornetfish (Fistularia commersonnii) in front of Ron.

    ronwhip coralCornetfishFistularia commersonniiRon Smith

  • "Anyone want to do some bowling?"

    "Anyone want to do some bowling?"

    Robert LaurieCushion starCulcita novaeguineae

  • John and Dawn approach an anemone with a pair of Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarksi).

    John and Dawn approach an anemone with a pair of Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarksi).

    John DouglasDawn HammermeisterAnemonefishClarksAmphiprion clarksi

  • Gee, Mary:  You MUST be getting close to deco!  Maybe if we become creative enough when 'narked we can do some ART DECO!

    Gee, Mary: You MUST be getting close to deco! Maybe if we become creative enough when 'narked we can do some ART DECO!

    Mary McGee

  • Twinspot snapper (Lutjanus bohar).  Gee, Ron:  That almost looks like it HURT!

    Twinspot snapper (Lutjanus bohar). Gee, Ron: That almost looks like it HURT!

    Ron SmithTwinspot snapperLutjanus bohar

  • As I was all engrossed in attempting to get a great shot of this Banded cleaner shrimp (Stenopus hispidus, also called Banded coral shrimp), I noticed some movement just to my right.....

    As I was all engrossed in attempting to get a great shot of this Banded cleaner shrimp (Stenopus hispidus, also called Banded coral shrimp), I noticed some movement just to my right.....

    Banded cleaner shrimpStenopus hispidusBanded coral shrimp

  • ...and right there in the shadows (he is illuminated here by my flash) was this Giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus)!

    ...and right there in the shadows (he is illuminated here by my flash) was this Giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus)!

    Giant morayGymnothorax javanicus

  • Here you see the shrimp from 2 photos back (to your left) and the moray from the last photo.  There was a third shrimp to your right from the furthest right shrimp you can see here.  These are among the many shots which make a photographer wish for a dome port.  Even with my 28mm wide angle, a flat port just did not allow me to be close enough to get the dramatic lighting that this scene needs.

    Here you see the shrimp from 2 photos back (to your left) and the moray from the last photo. There was a third shrimp to your right from the furthest right shrimp you can see here. These are among the many shots which make a photographer wish for a dome port. Even with my 28mm wide angle, a flat port just did not allow me to be close enough to get the dramatic lighting that this scene needs.

    Giant moraybanded cleaner shrimp

  • The landscape at Wing is, I think, totally cool!

    The landscape at Wing is, I think, totally cool!

  • Untitled photo

    John DouglasDawn Hammermeister

  • Looking straight up at John and Dawn, with the "sky" in the background.

    Looking straight up at John and Dawn, with the "sky" in the background.

    John DouglasDawn Hammermeisterskywater surface

  • The video of my current camera is of quite poor quality.  Still, I do enjoy placing some in among the stills.  If you decide to watch this, please make sure that your sound is on.

    The video of my current camera is of quite poor quality. Still, I do enjoy placing some in among the stills. If you decide to watch this, please make sure that your sound is on.

    Dawn HammermeisterJohn DouglasVideo

  • Sharing the ocean with some Teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus).

    Sharing the ocean with some Teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus).

    Teardrop butterflyfishChaetodon unimaculatus

  • Sky above, reef below.

    Sky above, reef below.

    abovebelowreefsky

  • We now start our second dive of the day.  I guess this is my present favorite "dive destination."  For lack of a better name, I call it "Twin Sunroof Cave."

    We now start our second dive of the day. I guess this is my present favorite "dive destination." For lack of a better name, I call it "Twin Sunroof Cave."

    wingsaipancnmitwin sunroof cavecave

  • Untitled photo

    twin sunroof cave

  • Untitled video

  • You can see the light coming in through the sunroofs behind Mary.  As you can see, it is a very shallow formation.  Surge can be quite rough here.  When it's calm, however, it is really a cool sight.

    You can see the light coming in through the sunroofs behind Mary. As you can see, it is a very shallow formation. Surge can be quite rough here. When it's calm, however, it is really a cool sight.

    mary mcgeetwin sunroofs cave

  • There are also MANY interesting, fairly shallow crevices near the Twin Sunroofs Cave.

    There are also MANY interesting, fairly shallow crevices near the Twin Sunroofs Cave.

    johncrevice

  • Untitled photo

    crevice

  • Sightseers enjoy touring the 2-lane underwater highway.

    Sightseers enjoy touring the 2-lane underwater highway.

    crevice

  • Crinoid, probably of genus Comantheria.  Closely related to sea stars and cushion stars.  Many divers are surprised to find out that these are critters.  Also, they have tiny suction cups in their appendages which can strongly grip a diver's finger.

    Crinoid, probably of genus Comantheria. Closely related to sea stars and cushion stars. Many divers are surprised to find out that these are critters. Also, they have tiny suction cups in their appendages which can strongly grip a diver's finger.

    crinoid

  • After most everyone else had left the water, Mary spent some time cleaning up some of the fishing trash which was choking the coral.

    After most everyone else had left the water, Mary spent some time cleaning up some of the fishing trash which was choking the coral.

    Mary McGeeenvironmentalistfishing linecoral entanglement

  • A Red-speckled blenny (Cirripectes variolosus) comes up to say "Thanks, Mary!"

    A Red-speckled blenny (Cirripectes variolosus) comes up to say "Thanks, Mary!"

    Redspeckled blennyblennyCirripectes variolosus

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