Pies Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Well as you may or may not know i've just retuned from a 2 week dive holiday in Vanuatu. This makes my 2nd trip to dive Vanuatu and I must be getting close to having made over 100 dives on coral reefs in various parts of the world. Also returned to Havanh Harbour where the latest series of Survivor was filmed. So what did I learn for the home reef tank? 1. Water temprature changes are more rapid than you read in books, with shifts as much as 4 degress across the reef (in one dive from as low as 24 to as high 27). This is something I have commented on inthe past. Interestingly night time never effected the temprature of the same spot. 2. It is always calmer at night early morning than during the day and late afternoon. 3. hard corals like Acropora are often mixed in with softcorals like Sacrophytons, often almost touching. However they are never very close to softies like Dentrinitus (sp?) and the more frilly types. 4. The most commong staghorn coral colour is brown, followed by blue, followed by Purple, Yellow. Some hard corals have solid colours, many have coloured tips. No green, anywhere... 5. Some parts of the reefs are teaming with fish, others are barren with only a few small fish. 6. Daylight is over 14 hrs long. but most intense for 10-11 of that time. Acropora grows close to the surface (sometimes exposed at low tide) to as low as the 45m max depth reef dive I did on this trip. Doesn't seem to worry what depth, or current for that matter, its everywhere, bright light, low light, as long as there is light. Anyway just some interesting stuff for discussion perhapps? Some photos: SS President Coolidge - Even after 60 years underwater there is stuff about this boat. Bicolour Angel. A fairly common site. Every colour under the sun. Often seen in many corals the largest colonies seem to only exist in these porities corals. More! Aquascaping ideas? I want one! These things are huge, poisonous, distructive yet so pretty... Million Dollar Point is an American created scrap heap. A great but disterbing dive and evidence about how little the americans care(cared?) for what they do to other countries. Best left on the reef, not many people have success with this cool fish. Macro shots galore. Cool crabs living in the corals. Lots o fish on the top of the bridge of the SS President Coolidge. Extreme cameraman action, willing to put his life on the line to get the shot... My Yasur volcano on Tanna - Vanuatu. Words cannot describe how much force is needed to sends tonnes of rock hundreds of feet into the air. WOW. Pievivor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_from_nz Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 wow only one pic came up but it was impresive and really interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Well, took me twenty minutes for the puta to download, but well worth the wait. Luuuuuuvvvvd that "mobile-home" shot. Thanks for sharing your experiances. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holiday Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Get jetstream Alan, took a whole 20 seconds for the pics to upload. Awesome pics Pies!! love the moray eel shot, loved all the shots really. Looks like you had a great time, we are all jealous!! 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holiday Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Do you know if those porities corals are available here in NZ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Doc, I look forward to your cheque for the extra running expenses, and initial setup costs. :roll: Then I'll be happy to join the 20sec. brigade Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 its not that expensive now to setup initially for jetstream awesome pics pie, i love the christmas tree things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Boy you can go off some people! :lol: Great pics as usual pies. I have always said temperature wasn't so important when doing water changes (in tropical tanks anyway, I know nothing about marines) as you look at goldfish in a pond...they lie in the sun on the surface until something frightens them and they dive down deep. You all know there is a big temperature difference between the surface and the bottom of the pond, more so the deeper they are. I know one fishkeeper who has bred many fish over the years always does his tropical tank water changes with cold water only and he changes 50% at a time. When I bought my Africans the breeder said he did the same and refilled them straight from the garden hose (lucky us who have no chlorine added). I have done it here and the fish play in the current of cold water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Doc - I have porities and christmas tree worms in my own reef (pics on my site). Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Do you know if those porities corals are available here in NZ?? Yip, the encrusting species often come with the christmas tree worms as well. Hardly ever come in ChCh though. The importers down here don't like importing "SPS" corals, which is a shame. Cool pics Pies, that acro looks really nice! Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Can you post a quick 5 line spec on your digital camera..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Olympus C5050 Olympus PT-015 Underwater Housing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 My dad does under water photography. I might be able to get some pics from the philippines and south africa. Im pretty sure hes got some pics of black sea horses and other rare stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 all good pies. i was considering doing a dive course this year,... now i definately am! oh, and it took less than 5 seconds to download the pictures here modem's suck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 we should organise a dive trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Lucky bastards, I can't even get broadband here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 How many holidays do you get in one year, love the photos I would love jet stream no signal Port Waikato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holiday Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Doc, I look forward to your cheque for the extra running expenses, and initial setup costs. :roll: Then I'll be happy to join the 20sec. brigade Alan Jetstream only costs $3 a week more than dialup 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 I just had a look at prices, Looks like it'd cost me(Ignoring that it's not available here) about $45/month more plus a $250 setup fee. That's for the Surf flatrate plan because I KNOW I'd go over 3 gigs/month. And that would require me changing to Xtra. If I stayed with Paradise that'd be about $85/month more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 free conection till 3rd of oct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janey Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Just for all the skeptics out there (Chris Downs especially). Yes, I AM actually standing in front of that volcano, the photo has NOT been modified and we are NOT trying to pull anyones leg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 I was there and can confirm that there is no trickery going on, that is an unadjusted photo staight from the camera. We have several like it that one is the best. Chris - Would we lie to you? Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 the volcano pic is impressive how large was the crater? (more specifically the lava?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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