Pictures from Thailand Dives

[mcliffy2]

I'll put these pics up gradually, but I'll start with some of my favorites from a mesmerizing encounter with an 8 ft. leopard shark that swam by me twice no more than a foot away.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuVpt98f0I/AAAAAAAACgg/72mYSs0Xdkg/s800/IMG_2238.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuVsAWOKBI/AAAAAAAACgk/JaVA1GbKnuE/s800/IMG_2242.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuVvNbZHiI/AAAAAAAACgo/PmLW5bOZRsw/s800/IMG_2243.JPG

Note the abundance of fish and beautiful soft coral in the background of this pic:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuVxeRNWRI/AAAAAAAACgs/dhxiC480RuM/s800/IMG_2244.JPG

[mcliffy2]

Here is a lionfish posing at the Ko Phi Phi Tsunami Memorial:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuV_AJqfsI/AAAAAAAAChE/HLQKQ40JgyA/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20118.jpg

An absolutely massive coral colony:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWExOAxlI/AAAAAAAAChM/UKqFtkMHIKk/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20144.jpg

A huge tabling acro providing shelter for anthias and chromis:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWXg2d2dI/AAAAAAAAChg/zGePXq_NciI/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20161.jpg

[mcliffy2]

The biggest Mantis shrimp I've ever seen - probably 6".

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STqNRgEnLLI/AAAAAAAACgE/6dnKixLVmiA/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20655.jpg

Beautiful Nudis were everywhere:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STqNNVsbNJI/AAAAAAAACgA/uzcqLuHozrg/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20671.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STqNJ8rtNyI/AAAAAAAACf4/qz6UX55cAwI/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20745.jpg

[mcliffy2]

More tabling acros:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuV8PBEiGI/AAAAAAAAChA/MELxQvQz1mU/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20095.jpg

The view up a wall from 60 feet below the surface:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuV5Ve0_gI/AAAAAAAACg8/UpAqO_r0Yjc/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20080.jpg


A view up from inside the underwater temple at the Ko Phi Phi Tsunami Memorial - it was amazing the life that had populated it in only 3 years...

[IMG]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWBxzp39I/AAAAAAAAChI/xQLdbnv_ICo/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20109.jpg

We saw five different clownfish species (percs, saddlebacks, clarkiis, tomatoes and pink skunks) - of all these the skunks were by far the most common:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWJMeb0PI/AAAAAAAAChQ/_Lb604VavmA/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20149.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWN9wdrRI/AAAAAAAAChU/TF5U-8lMP9Y/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20152.jpg

In the reefkeeping hobby, we focus so much on SPS, you forget how beautiful some soft corals are. This one is a fine example:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWUKF_XNI/AAAAAAAAChc/UbLu3x79EF8/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20158.jpg
[IMG]

[mcliffy2]

A sea fan providing a home to some species of Chromis (I think - maybe someone can correct me if wrong). You can really see the poor vis in this pic, which existed our whole trip and made photography a challenge. Of course the plus side of poor vis the fact its caused by plankton which attracts the big boys, pics of mantas to come :) )

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWbIJHG5I/AAAAAAAAChk/E8e998V7OIY/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20163.jpg

These giant porcupine puffers would let you swim with them, it was very cool. This one was about 2 feet long.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWdpM3DsI/AAAAAAAACho/gzANCl4gmZk/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20175.jpg

[mcliffy2]

My girlfriend posing with a HUGE sea fan:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWjTh8wfI/AAAAAAAAChw/XZeH-ka5aDE/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20185.jpg

And a couple topside pics:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuV3noSw1I/AAAAAAAACg4/G0RMdVCqonc/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20024.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuV02-4zRI/AAAAAAAACgw/2S80hyGqhiU/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20041.jpg

The famous Maya Bay (where the movie "The Beach" was filmed)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuWmopoTyI/AAAAAAAACh4/0EZ6N0c6gCI/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20211.jpg

More to come later....

[1mbrews8]

cool!

[Jflip2002]

Absolutely awesome, Mike. I always think its awesome just watching some reef scenes on TV, and seeing what we find in our tanks. Its gotta be a whole new level swimming in that scene. Looks like a trip of a life time.

[mpoletti]

Great stuff Mike. It looks like you had an amazing trip.

[Letmegrow]

Awesome.

What is the temp 60ft down ?

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Again, awesome!

[weaver5]

wow simply awesome

[snorvich]

Nice pictures. Looks like a lot of fun!!

[murfman]

Very nice pix, looks like the trip of a lifetime!

[CHOPRJOHN]

Friggin awesome!

[Lowredranger]

Those pic are amazing!! I can't wait to see the rest.

[Chrisrush]

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuV02-4zRI/AAAAAAAACgw/2S80hyGqhiU/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20041.jpg[/QUOTE]

Great pictures Mike.

One question though, did the guy on the right of this shot like it when you smashed your camera into his face? :lol:

[mcliffy2]

Thanks all, it was the trip of a lifetime. Of course I like to try and find a way to have the trip of a lifetime once a year :)

Here are a few more:

This lionfish was flashing his fins and posing perfectly (probably telling me to get the heck away since my lens was probably about 8" away from him :) ).

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSriLNjZj5I/AAAAAAAACSs/YjrZJk9IhMg/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20804.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSriVBEWIZI/AAAAAAAACTI/G9rvqmC384I/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20803.jpg

There was a small feeding frenzy with fish eating this jellyfish - it was really cool behavior to see unfold in front of you.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSriN_4eciI/AAAAAAAACS0/omnXpj8I9cM/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20801.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSriQeJ3jHI/AAAAAAAACTA/U6qjduFtcXc/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20800.jpg

[mcliffy2]

Speaking of behavior, it was really cool to catch these sea slugs mating;

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSrivd9do5I/AAAAAAAACUI/Wv9u6ROTjY0/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20701.jpg

There were beautiful feather stars everywhere, but this was the only red one I saw during the trip:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSrizm1sB-I/AAAAAAAACUY/7oU_95b3MzU/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20681.jpg

This school of snapper (I believe) seemed like it went on forever:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSrjKWZPv9I/AAAAAAAACVs/avL-HmFknWQ/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20583.jpg

This school of Chaetodon collare was just beautiful:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSrjF49v4AI/AAAAAAAACVc/bDfVXuLUvJE/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20619.jpg

I had never seen this blue variety of crown of thorns found in Thailand - it was actually quite beautiful, but fortunately they were few and far between.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSrkMwlRTaI/AAAAAAAACY8/2Tg8XWQMDws/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20339.jpg

Another cool shot of a tabling acro with schools of fish (this one was actually taken while snorkeling):

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSrkXj7N7yI/AAAAAAAACZc/eVBo7jC544E/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20369.jpg

[mcliffy2]

Not sure what variety of wrasse this is, but it was a ham for the camera:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSrkeGZP34I/AAAAAAAACZs/BjNCnec4twU/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20411.jpg

I've always been fascinated with sea snakes, so was really happy to see a few of them:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSrkgjUEMdI/AAAAAAAACZ0/9GSzgpoh_9A/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20418.jpg

And while the pictures aren't the greatest due to the low vis, seeing several 12-15 ft. mantas do circles over my head was hands down the highlight of the trip. Swimming with such amazing creatures is an experience I'll remember forever:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSriXDekxtI/AAAAAAAACTQ/qfNI9QQyxUo/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20775.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/SSriYNTh_QI/AAAAAAAACTY/G56vTU6f5no/s800/Thailand%20Nov%2008%20776.jpg

[ataylo13]

Pics look good Mike. How satisfied were you with the G9 and all of the diving extras you got?

[todd03blown]

WOW, amazing pictures!! thanks so much for sharing!!

[mcliffy2]

Thanks todd.

Brandon - I was very satisfied. There definitely is a steep learning curve for UW photography, especially since I'm a fairly inexperienced diver. The visibility was actually very poor (10-40 ft at best) most of the trip, which meant less than ideal conditions for photography (you'll notice plankton in many pics). But despite this, I thought the setup made it pretty easy to get decent pics.

[vetdog]

wow. that looks like it was such an amazing experience

[glassbox-design]

Great photos Mike :thumbsup:

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13894309#post13894309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
I'll put these pics up gradually, but I'll start with some of my favorites from a mesmerizing encounter with an 8 ft. leopard shark that swam by me twice no more than a foot away.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuVpt98f0I/AAAAAAAACgg/72mYSs0Xdkg/s800/IMG_2238.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuVsAWOKBI/AAAAAAAACgk/JaVA1GbKnuE/s800/IMG_2242.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuVvNbZHiI/AAAAAAAACgo/PmLW5bOZRsw/s800/IMG_2243.JPG

Note the abundance of fish and beautiful soft coral in the background of this pic:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZUUEzqB4iWg/STuVxeRNWRI/AAAAAAAACgs/dhxiC480RuM/s800/IMG_2244.JPG Beautiful pics!! WOW
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is a zebra shark. Goofy, I know, but zebra sharks have spots and leopard sharks have stripes.

[Capt_Cully]

SPECTACULAR!!!! Thank you for posting. Unbelievable amount of life, and those TABLES :eek2:

[stunreefer]

WOW Mike, great shots! :thumbsup: The dives look awesome, glad you enjoyed it!

[mcliffy2]

Thanks all!

yousmellfishy - its my understanding the zebra and leopard shark are the same, as juvies they have zebra coloration, which changes to leopard coloration as an adult.

[Sloeber]

Thanks for posting!

[breebauer]

Where did you dive? Phi Phi looks great ! Did you dive any other sites?

[mcliffy2]

The Dive Sites were the Phi Phi Islands, Racha Yai & Noi (mantas at noi), and Shark Point & Anemone Reef.

[SaraB]

Thanks for sharing your photo's Mike! Looks like you saw plenty of sea life while diving! I love the blue star photo!

[Rossini]

cool photos.

definetley a leapard shark,really nice.

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13976254#post13976254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rossini
cool photos.

definetley a leapard shark,really nice.
From the Shedd Aquarium website "Zebra Shark"
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/sea/fact_sheets.cfm?id=105#
If you click on the link and scroll down to the "Did you know" part it says "The zebra shark is often confused with the leopard shark, a smaller, cold water shark."
Although, I also read that zebra sharks are called leopard sharks in Asia, so.... go figure.:rolleyes:

pic of a leopard shark (the non-Asian variety) for comparison:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/DSCF0102b.jpg

[Rossini]

thanks for the info. when in have been in asia thats what they commonly call them though. thats common names for you huh. maybe we should all stick to scientific names....

[mandynm]

THis is how incredibly untraveled I am. While I knew that a lot of the stuff in our tanks can come from this area, I had this concept that it was ugly and brown? No idea where that idea came from, but I just added another area I want to visit sometime to my list.

[dogpound]

great picture man its like being there thanks again i hope u post more.

[teamstuffit]

Very cool, nice shots