I’ve noticed a few posts on underwater photography, but I haven’t seen any on the topic of actually observing species and tips on how to do it.
My favourite hobbies are observing creatures on land and underwater. But those are vastly different experiences and require different sets of skills. So, divers around the world, how do you usually find the marine life you look for (random chance, actively looking at macro habitats, relying on your guide, etc.)?
When abroad, rely a lot on the guide to spot them (roughly 75% of the species I encounter), but for some of them, I learnt to know where to look. For instance, I have a habit of checking closely every algae suitable for seahorses, which I know might have raised suspicions of narcosis to buddies more than once. Some rocky formations (small caves the size of shoebox) are ideal spots for lobsters and mantis. And rays love to rest in small openings between the rock/coral and the sandy bottom, rather than the open sand.
These kind of observations tips are what I’d like to share. What do you think?
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@DitchingIt and Peter @pmeisenheimer, did you see this thread?
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@AdamWargon, I think that the link got broken somehow, and I can’t find the thread that you intended. Maybe do a repost for the peanut gallery? 
(EDITED) Okay, I clearly rolled a crit fumble on reading comprehension. You were tagging @DitchingIt. Derp. 
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One tip that doesn’t appeal so much to hardcore photographers is ro be clear from the outset about whether you’re photographing or observing. If you’re observing, job one ia getting an image that permits identification as opposed to looking for that National Geographic/Freeman Paterson image. Some of my observations are based on images that might embarrass someone with social awareness or whatever it is that causes people to blush.
When you have a destination picked out, pick three subjects as targets. It really doesn’t matter how you pick them. If you get them all, yay. I often select rare stuff, invasive stuff, endemic stuff, weird looking stuff, weirdly named stuff, etc. etc…
Always check your battery level. Always check your memory space. Always bring a spare battery. Always bring a spare memory card. Yeah, yeah, of course, eh? A friend of mine went to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls, which is an absolutely gorgeous sight, and arrived with no battery power. He had skipped over from the Zambian side, which doesn’t have quite as spectacular a view, and only had a couple of hours so no award winning images for him.
If you’re diving on a group charter, be sure to tell the divemaster(s) that you’re after images of living things and tell them your three (or whatever) targets for the dive. If they deliver, tip; they will remember you kindly next time.
If you’re managing your own dives, just do the homework before you get there.
Good topic. I’m interested in what others have to say.
EDITED fr tupoe i hve fst thmns.
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