First UK Dive - Capenwray

The sunshine has arrived, so it was off to Capenwray with Robin Hood Watersports to dip my toe into UK waters and brave 9 degrees! It definitely took me a while to get used my new "ice cream head" but once I was in, it was amazing. I was surrounded by a huge school of trout zooming in front of me, and it was really great to see so many wonderful things underwater to photograph. Alex and Carl played models and I nearly passed out laughing when I met Shergar underwater, just in time for the Grand National!

A new course has been announced for the weekend of 28th and 29th May, the 28th has already sold out and there are just four spots for the 29th, so if you are interested, just let me know!

Really looking forward to spending more time up north .....

London Dive Show, Excel 2011

So it was all nerves for the London Dive Show as I picked up my Diver Award for Best Publication of the Year on the Friday night. I really was so scared at turning up! It was definitely one of the most amazing things that has happened and it was even more fabulous to share the moment with so many lovely colleagues and guests who visited me at the show. Thank you to everyone who came along to visit me and attended my talks. I'm even more exciting about helping you with your underwater photography than ever before.

Back to Raja Ampat with Papua Diving

And so it was back to the place that I had fallen in love with and back to Raja Ampat in early March to do some preparation work for the London Dive Show, this time staying at a beautiful peaceful paradise island called Kri. I was lucky enough to be with Max Ammer, the pioneer of diving in Raja Ampat and he told me lots of incredible stories of this area.

The team were friendly and extremely helpful, there was even a British dive guide, Ross Pooley who is growing corals at Kri Eco Resort with the hope of helping the locals to grow their own and make an income, protecting the local reefs at the same time.

The dive sites of Sardines and Blue Magic completely blew me away with the quantities of fish that almost clouded the sunlight. It was macro heaven too with gorgeous pygmy seahorses being seen in Blue Magic also.

The beauty of Kri Island is that the endemic Epaulette Shark can be seen just off the pier, as well as a friendly resident turtle. Mandarin fish are on the jetty at Sorido Bay, making it the perfect place for a night dive.

If you are thinking of planning a trip to Raja Ampat, I definitely recommend a stay at this resort to take in the numerous wonderful dive sites that it offers.