Turtle at Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico

Last night we were having drinks with some friends when the topic turned to our adventures underwater... especially at Desecheo Island. I was reminded of this photograph I made at the Island. Usually we see underwater photographs made in wonderful color. This image was made when I was working a bit with BW underwater photography using a dark red/orange filter and no strobe light. I was leading a tour and this Hawksbill turtle came by to check us out. It swam with us for several minutes and as long as we kept our distance the turtle was quiet comfortable.

You never know what you will see out at the Island. Its a great destination for divers, of course and also for snorkelers. The water is so clear that even from the surface you can see everything on the bottom 40 feet more and less below. Taino Divers is the best ticket out to the island. Be sure to book early as they do sometimes fill up. Its a great day out and can be a wonderful, memorable part of a trip to Puerto Rico.

Crab and coral, Desecheo Puerto Rico

We are looking at a really substantial swell to roll in in a couple of days... which will knock out diving here as the water will be too rough to make the passage out to Desecheo Island. So, thinking about it I thought I'd bust an image I made there. This particular image was made at the Aquarium... one of my favorite tours. The crab was bold and just kept on moving, pausing and moving again. I had the strobe with me that day and was able to make this fetching portrait.

Its a red crab and was about twice the size of your outstretched hand. Moved pretty well and did not seem to mind my presence.

There is a ton of things to do here involving the water... below, on and beside. This is just one of them.

Panorama, Rincon Puerto Rico

This is a panoramic view of three of Rincon's iconic sites. Its a bit difficult to make out from the thumbnail but if you click on the image and expand it you will see on the left at the horizon, Desecheo Island; then, moving to the center, the Lighthouse (its the white vertical) and then on the right, Domes, the deactivated Nuclear plant. I made the photographs which comprise this panorama several days ago, shooting from the crest of the hill on Rt 413, known as the "Road to Happiness." We see these everyday, driving along the coast and yet, here in this picture, I see them anew.

Reef life at Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico

Its been a bit since I have written about the diving at Desecheo Island and so I thought I would remind readers just why it is so well regarded. We have recently had a number of Lemontree guests who have booked a trip to the Island with Taino Divers, which is pretty much the only ticket out to Desecheo. Its a great day's outing for divers or snorkelers. I made this photograph after coming back from a deeper dive out at Candyland. This shot overlooks the sand channel that forms a divide between a zone of seafans and the shore line rock reefs. It was taken in about 40 feet of water. As you can see the reef was crowned with a wide variety of tropicals. Typically, these fish are a bit skittish of large bubble blowing creatures. Stealth and calm were the key for me. In truth when I am photographing the reef, a shallow dive is the best. You use less air at shallower depths, the light is better, and so you have more time to compose and see an image than if you are deeper and working hard to keep up with a tour. If you are a good diver and have a buddy who will hang out with you, some of the best opportunities for photography are right under the boat.

Stingray Bay - Desecheo Island

I made this photograph in Stingray Bay on the way out to Ladder Reef at Desecheo Island. The depth was about 50 feet and the temperature in the water close to 85F. The Southern Stingray is not an unusual sight at Desecheo, although it is not an everyday occurrence that you get to see one quite so up close and personal. The larger creatures are what most hope to see... the Stingray, Turtle, Octopus, Crab and Lobster but really the wonder of Desecheo is the visibility and the shear diversity of life... soft and hard coral, micro creatures, schools of tropicals and yes... the occasional encounter with a creature as big as you are. Desecheo is one of the must do dives in the Caribbean.