Just a few weeks ago I was diving with giant manta rays, sharks, and even a few dolphins and schools of fish. It was an incredible experience, and after this diving trip I am seriously ruined for diving. The seas were clear, blue, and the life in the ocean was amazing. It was only my second diving trip after getting scuba certified, and I’m already planning my trip back on this boat to do it all over again later next year.
I’m still very new to diving, and it’s interesting how many comments I have received from other divers, something along the lines of it being impressive that I am already diving with such a large camera setup. For me, I guess there is just no other way. Holding a camera in my hands, regardless of where I am, feels natural. With that said, I am a very safe and conservative diver and would never do anything that was outside of my limits (which were definitely tested on this trip!).
Here is a collection of some of my favorite photos from this trip, as well as a video showing what it was like to dive with these beautiful creatures. I had a lot of fun playing with the light beams, and a few times the mantas followed me to the surface … enjoy!
The Photos:
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- Giant Manta Ray, Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- Giant Manta Ray, Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- Giant Manta Ray, Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A diver photographing a school of fish at “The Boiler” in Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- Giant Manta Ray, Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- Giant Manta Rays, Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A dolphin at Roca Partida, Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A pod of dolphins and a diver at Roca Partida, Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
The Video:
Just a few weeks ago I was diving with giant manta rays, sharks, and even a few dolphins and schools of fish. It was an incredible experience, and after this diving trip I am seriously ruined for diving. The seas were clear, blue, and the life in the ocean was amazing. It was only my second diving trip after getting scuba certified, and I’m already planning my trip back on this boat to do it all over again later next year.
I’m still very new to diving, and it’s interesting how many comments I have received from other divers, something along the lines of it being impressive that I am already diving with such a large camera setup. For me, I guess there is just no other way. Holding a camera in my hands, regardless of where I am, feels natural. With that said, I am a very safe and conservative diver and would never do anything that was outside of my limits (which were definitely tested on this trip!).
Here is a collection of some of my favorite photos from this trip, as well as a video showing what it was like to dive with these beautiful creatures. I had a lot of fun playing with the light beams, and a few times the mantas followed me to the surface … enjoy!
The Photos:
-
- Giant Manta Ray, Socorro Islands, Mexico
-
- Giant Manta Ray, Socorro Islands, Mexico
-
- Giant Manta Ray, Socorro Islands, Mexico
-
- A diver photographing a school of fish at “The Boiler” in Socorro Islands, Mexico
-
- Giant Manta Ray, Socorro Islands, Mexico
-
- Giant Manta Rays, Socorro Islands, Mexico
-
- A dolphin at Roca Partida, Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A pod of dolphins and a diver at Roca Partida, Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
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- A silky shark in the Socorro Islands, Mexico
The Video:
Nicole is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and experimental imagery.
Isn’t Socorro fabulous? Many years ago my husband and I were there on our sailboat. We met the Commandante and his family. They were so wonderful to us. They gave us a hiking guide and two guides to dive with my husband and when we left for further should they gave us leg of lambs to put in our freezer. I don’t know if the base is still so active but your photos brought back such wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing them.
Such a lovely and serene video. A majestic place for sure. Can’t wait to show it to my daughter whom I hope to share scuba with some day.
Fantastic place. Easily one of the top dive sites in the world. I have been out there twice know.
For myself Roca Partida is outstanding.
Thank you for sharing…it was a wonderful window view.
The photos and video are great! I hope you are going to follow up with an extended article with information about camera(s) used, exposure, what it was like to be among these creatures, etc.