From Mexico ...

[Grateful Diver]

I'm now halfway through my first-ever cave trip to Mexico. And yesterday was my first-ever successful photo shoot inside a cave. I attempted some shots the previous day, but the learning curve got the better of me. So rather than blather on with words that won't even begin to describe this place, I'll share a few of my first shots from inside a cave ... this one's called Pet Cemetery.













Three diving days left to go ... so I will hopefully have a few more to post before the end of the week ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[GearHead]

Wow. Amazing decorations. I'm going down in October to take a Cavern course and get my first taste of the Cenotes. Seeing pictures like these makes me wish it were sooner.

[Linedog]

WOW, just wow.

[Jan K]

Adding another WOW !
These scenes are truly out of this world ! Great job, Bob

[RoxnDox]

Wow from me too! All great, but I love the second shot, it's a perspective not usually seen...

Jim

[seattlepaul1975]

Amazing pics!

[Dusty2]

Lovely, What viz! Who was that in front of you? anyone we know?

[Gdog]

Incredible. Looking forward to seeing more!

[Tom Nic]

So rather than blather on,,,,

Yeah, caves tend to produce blathering...

In me, anyway, and I haven't even dove them... yet.

Great shots Bob!

[Waynne Fowler]

WOW..... I'm drooolin'
Nice shot's Bob...

[Grateful Diver]

A few shots from today ... a recently explored cave called Phenomenal (aptly named). My dive buddy is Eric Myers, from Texas. We met on ScubaBoard, and had never dived together before this trip. He's learning to model as I'm learning how to take pictures in caves. As you can see, I think we're both getting the hang of it ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[ORDiver]

Awesome shots Bob. I think your doing quite well. That looks beautiful. Is the cavern zone nice? Also, off topic but, how many pounds do you use to keep those AL80's negative?

[GearHead]

What light(s) are you using? Very nice, even fill.

Again, the formations are amazing!

[Grateful Diver]

Awesome shots Bob. I think your doing quite well. That looks beautiful. Is the cavern zone nice? Also, off topic but, how many pounds do you use to keep those AL80's negative?

There's not much of a cavern zone at Phenomenal ... but what's there is very nice. Even in the cave, the best decorations are within a few minutes of the entrance.

I'm using 2# weights on the cam band of each tank.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[Dusty2]

It is purty down there. That next to the last shot is really an unusual formation. The Dragons teeth!

[Grateful Diver]

What light(s) are you using? Very nice, even fill.

Thanks ... I'm using the same setup I use at home ... dual YS-110a strobes.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[Joshua Smith]

You're making it harder for me to act like I don't have any interest in cave diving, Bob. Terrific shots.

[sarinae]

I am so excited for the trip with Bubbles Below in October now, this is awe-dropping and inspiring. Thanks for posting the amazing pics!

[LCF]

sarinae, you WILL get to see similar things on your cavern dives!

[Scubie Doo]

Way cool. These photos are awesome!

[Grateful Diver]

Wrapped up the diving part of the trip yesterday, heading home later today. On Thursday I had a little accident that got me a couple stitches in my left hand forefinger ... slipped on some stone stairs while carrying a couple tanks and got it caught between a rock and a hard place ...



Doc said I could dive the next day if I could keep the stitches dry. Not having brought my drygloves on this trip, I came up with a creative solution ...



Glad I finally managed to get down here ... I hope to return next January ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[Scubie Doo]

It's just a flesh wound (in my best British accent).

Glad to see you remedied the situation. I am curious how much prep it takes to make this trip. I'd love to do it someday. The photos really make me want to do this.

[LCF]

You can go to Mexico and do some cavern tours with just an open water cert, although you'll enjoy them more (and be easier on the caves) if you have pretty good horizontal trim, solid buoyancy, and some kind of non-silting kick.

To get to where Bob was, you have to take training through Full Cave. Although that can be done in a mammoth zero-to-hero class, it's generally recommended not to do that, but to take at least two separate classes, with some cave diving experience in between. After the first one (Cavern + Intro, or Cave 1, depending on agency) you can do the main lines. The second one buys you access to the caves with restrictions and restricted entries, and to the jump lines.

[Scubie Doo]

Thanks for the info Lynne. I'd don't want hijack Bob's cool trip thread. So we should meet, dive, and discuss I will pm you about this. Thanks again for the preliminary info.

[olalladiver]

Wow, spectacular pics... I might catch the cave diving bug with scenery like that. Just wow.

Hope you had a safe trip back and looking forward to splashing with you soon...

olalladiver