I am relaxing the 200m rule for DSN, to bring you some photographs from one of my favorites,
Kawika Chetron. To say that Kawika's photos of the kelp forest are stunning would be a gross understatement.
Luckily, you can view most of his portfolio online.
"Deep Shale", Monterey Bay, California February 17, 2007:
Often, when I show a picture to a non-diving friend, the first question they ask is "How deep were you when you took that?". The implication, of course, being that the deeper the depth, the better the photograph must be. This, then, is the very best photograph on the site. This simnia, Delonovolva aequalis, lives on red gorgonians(Lophogorgia chilensis). If you'd like to see one in the Monterey area, you'll have to make a relatively deep dive. This picture was taken 120ft. At this depth, the photographer's senses were impaired the equivalent of two and a half glasses of scotch. Likely this photograph would not have been taken at all had not the boat's anchor landed smack on top of this very gorgonian. To be sure, this squished the subject somewhat, but also reduced the photographer's drunkard walk (or, swim) towards the dive's turnaround point to a voyage of only inches. In truth, diving to this depth without the benefit of helium in one's breathing gas isn't very smart. I'm actually a little surprised I didn't get distracted and start taking pictures of the leprechauns also commonly seen after about 100ft.
Craig is temporarily a post-doctoral fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who is looking for a permanent position. He spends most of his time balancing his overwhelming geekdom with normalcy so he can function in the real world. Luckily his wife likes his geekiness.
Peter Etnoyer is a Graduate Research Associate at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He studies deep corals and ocean fronts, and he loves to be on the water.
Kevin Zelnio is a Graduate Student Researcher at Penn State studying the ecology of hydrothermal vent and methane seep communities. He raises awareness of the plight of the spineless through folk music.
Life Science
Environment
Comments
mmm...beautiful.
I would say, salt and pepper it heavily and flash fry it in a hot wok with peanut oil.
Posted by: PalMD | October 19, 2007 10:57 AM
Indeed his photos are amazing.
RIP my friend.
Clinton
Posted by: Clinton Bauder | October 19, 2007 2:56 PM
what a tragedy! Why on earth was he diving on his own? Where was his buddy? I hope other divers are warned by this tragic and unnecessary death of a talented person.
Posted by: Mrs Hilary Victoria Minor | October 20, 2007 10:27 AM
Some folks are just so driven to explore that they can't resist temptation. Kawika was one of those people. If a weather window opened up allowing him to dive an out of the way place he just had to go. For him it wasn't an option. When he couldn't convince somebody to go with him he'd do it alone. The very last email I have from him was simply a link to the marine forecast that day which was an invitation to go diving. I couldn't make it, and probably would have told him I wasn't comfortable going there in a single 17 foot Boston Whaler anyway. I wish he'd been more cautious and listened to his friends when we advised restraint but alas that was not his nature.
The sea is a cruel mistress and it's my hope that this does serve as a reminder of that fact. I know he had more to offer than a mere cautionary tale but at least we have his pictures.
Posted by: Clinton Bauder | October 20, 2007 10:08 PM