I have decided to feature two of the many stunning images from the National Geographic International Photography Contest 2009. They are great examples of those opportunities we sometimes have as divers with cameras in tow. BTW both of these subjects can be found in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Editor,
divingportdouglas.com.au

"After a rarely seen spyhopping of a dwarf minke whale the whale slowly descended in my direction and we came close to a 1.5m distance. The shot happened early in the morning around 7 a.m. and it was a rough surface and it was not easy to control my own movement. ISO 200 1/400 f7.1 13mm Tokina fisheye 10-17mm lens Nikon D200 aquatic housing."

Photo and caption by Steffen Binke

"I was lucky enough to follow this lionfish into a huge ball of baitfish. Very exciting moments as the baitfish swirled to avoid being eaten."

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The photo is of an addict. No! Not your usual addict but someone who is addicted to diving out of Port Douglas and does it as often as possible. I am Meryl and the above image is of me enjoying the surreal experience of swimming with a green sea turtle on the Great Barrier Reef.

I have just recently celebrated my seventieth birthday and achieved a long term goal of logging two thousand dives before that milestone. Today BTW I logged my 2050th dive. It may seem strange to the average person as to why a recreational diver has to dive so much and also to log those dives but as I said, I'm addicted to diving!

BTW I have a ninety-three year old mother who often asks, "How many dives now, Meryl?" She used to worry about me putting myself into an alien environment and tempting the creatures of the deep to make a meal of me. I reassured her that I am in safe hands and that the Calypso Reef Cruises crew all look after me so wonderfully well that I am probably safer underwater than I am walking down a city street.

The walking bit is slow at the moment as I have arthritis in my hips and knees but with the help of good fins and a variety of kicking styles, I am not hampered by this underwater. I also told my mother that there is a "whole new world down there for me to discover" and she quotes that to her many friends when she talks of my exploits.

The above photo was taken about a month ago by a Calypso Reef Cruises Divemaster who used my camera to get me in the shot. Thank you Matt. In over ten thousand photos that I have collected of my underwater visits, I have far less than one hundred with me in them.

I'm going to hand my camera over more often then that now as when I'm older and greyer I'll have my ailing memory refreshed by the images of my dives.

BTW Fortunately, I don't have a problem with remembering as yet. I attribute that to the fact I am still active and alert with a very inquisitive mind.

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