Global Dive » Dive Club http://www.globaldive.net Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:23:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Sea and Sea YS series Strobes http://www.globaldive.net/sea-and-sea-ys-series-strobes/ http://www.globaldive.net/sea-and-sea-ys-series-strobes/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:03:23 +0000 Anna http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2304

YS02 strobe Eel with Shrimp

Global Dive customer Glenn Smith has sent us an example of what you can shoot with a YSo2 strobe

Strobe Review by Tom Crisp

Usually I am the diver in front of the camera, posing for photographers, recently this has changed.  In July I took the plunge and bought my first camera.
After all, we do have a lot of talk about photography around the shop and I was starting to feel left behind.
Buying a camera system is no easy task as there are so many options and opinions out there. You have to consider the camera itself, lenses, housings, ports and finally strobes, each with their own sub categories to make the decisions harder.
After finally deciding on which camera and housing to get with a lot of help from both Andrew and Bonnie (thanks guys) I set my heart on a Sony NEX5 camera with fish eye lens and Nauticam housing.
This system is small, light and very high quality so I needed strobes to match.

The search began for a strobe (or two) which would complement the size of my housing whilst maintaining build quality. I have had little previous experience with strobes. In fact about the extent of my experience was being blinded by them.
So once again I turned to Andrew for some expert guidance. He told me to borrow the shop’s rental strobe which was a Sea and Sea YS27 so I took it to the pool along with my new setup and started to fire away.
It was almost exactly what I was looking for. A week later we had a new strobe in the Sea and Sea range dropped in to us so we could have a look, the YS01. This was the newest model in the range so naturally, I had to have it.

Munching mollusc / Photograph by Tom Crisp

With little persuasion I ended up making the YS01 the latest addition to my equipment, and I have not looked back since.

There are two strobes to choose from in the new YS series, the YS01 and YS02.
Both have the same features except the YS02 does not have TTL function or a built in focus light.
The focus light was the deciding factor for me as I bought it with the intention of getting some cave diving shots, making it a necessity.
The strobe itself weighs only 500g keeping it in line with my lightweight rig. It uses a fiber optic cable allowing the unit to be used with almost every camera and housing on the market.  The controls are extremely simple, off, pre flash, normal flash and power adjustment. They are also very easy to use when wearing thick gloves.
I was overwhelmed by the power output of the YS01 and found myself dialing down the power on some of my shots in open water.  Sea and Sea have clearly improved on the YS27 by making the unit smaller, lighter and brighter. At the moment I still have only one strobe so I am still borrowing more for my trip to Mexico (the camera was bought specifically for this trip).
As soon as I get back I will definitely be taking the next step to obtaining the younger brother, the YS02. As I will already have a focus light and rarely use the TTL function this seems the logical choice to accompany my existing kit.

All up I think the newest editions to the Sea and Sea YS series are a winner for entry level to advanced photographers alike.

They will also make a great travel set of strobes and really don’t hurt the wallet as much as some others on the market.
You get a hell of a lot for your money with this package and I can’t wait to start shooting with two of them.

  

Open water photos shot with YS01 and YS27 strobes

Pool photos shot with YS27 only

As promised here at the Cave photos I took on my recent trip to Mexico.

  

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]]> http://www.globaldive.net/sea-and-sea-ys-series-strobes/feed/ 0 Steve and Stafish http://www.globaldive.net/steve-and-stafish/ http://www.globaldive.net/steve-and-stafish/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:42:44 +0000 Tara http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2323 Steve Richards and Starfish at the Mercury Islands / Photograph by Tom Crisp

Steve and Starfish / Photograph by Tom Crisp

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]]> http://www.globaldive.net/steve-and-stafish/feed/ 0 Global Dive Underwater Olympics 2011 http://www.globaldive.net/global-dive-underwater-olympics-2011/ http://www.globaldive.net/global-dive-underwater-olympics-2011/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:06:55 +0000 Tara http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2293

The date is set:
Saturday 20 August 2011

The location is set:
The Pumphouse, Lake Pupuke

Teams of 4 will be competing for the trophy and the title (and bragging rights) of “2011 Underwater Olympics Champions”.

Tug O war and the red team pull... / Photograph by Andrew Simpson

Last years event was a lot of fun – for spectators and competitors alike – and gave us lots of laughs and funny moments which will live on in the Dive Club’s photo and video albums.

Check out Nickie’s report from last years event : http://www.globaldive.net/global-dive-underwater-olympics/

This year we will be having both above water and below water events.
The schedule will be as follows:

9.30 am

Meeting at the Pumphouse for events briefing

10:00 am

Shot Put on the grass

10.30 am – 12:00 pm

25m No Fins Race (group start)

Underwater Obstacle Course

12:00 – 1:00 pm

Lunch

1:00 pm

Long Jump on the grass

1.30 – 2.30 pm

Tug ‘o’ War

Pony Bottle Relay

3:00 pm

25m Fin Race on the grass

The IMPORTANT Information:

  • Your team must have an identifying uniform.
  • The cost is $20.00 per team.  Or $5.00 per individual.
  • We will  have lunch on the shore of the lake.  We’ll take a BBQ along.
  • The awards ceremony will be held on the day.
  • Global Dive Instructors will be the judges and we will be both photographing and videoing the days events.
  • Bring your families, bring your friends.
  • Bring at least your mask and your snorkel if you want to watch all the goings on.
  • Registrations will be completed on the day but please let us know before hand if you will be coming along.
[contact-form]

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]]> http://www.globaldive.net/global-dive-underwater-olympics-2011/feed/ 0 Club Night Quiz http://www.globaldive.net/club-night-quiz-2/ http://www.globaldive.net/club-night-quiz-2/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 07:07:33 +0000 Anna http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2273 In May 2011 we hosted our first “Dive Club Night Quiz”.

Congratulations to the winning team!

You’ve been asking for the questions – and the answers – so here they are ….

  • What is the scientific name of this nudibranch … (to the right)
    • Aphelodoris Luctuosa
  • How many hearts does an Octopus have -1, 2, 3 or 4?
    • 3
  • What year is the calendar of Jessica Alba above the compressor?
    • 2005
  • What does DIN stand for?
    • Deutch international norm
  • The fastest fish in the ocean is the sailfish. What is the top speed recorded for this fish (to the nearest 10km)?
    • 110km
  • How many bubbles are on the wall to your left as you walk in the front door of the dive shop?
    • 27
  • How many d-rings come as standard on the halcyon infinty BCD?
    • 5
  • When was the song ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’ first released?
    • 1918
  • In what order are colours lost underwater?
    • Red orange yellow green blue
  • 10.  What is the English translation of Lake Pupuke?
    • Overflowing lake
  • 11.  What is the deepest lake in NZ?
    • Lake Hauroko.
    • Bonus point - Depth? 462m
  • 12.  In what year was Global Dive established?
    • 1995
    • Bonus point – And where? London
  • 13.  What is a Carcharodon Megalodon?
    • Prehistoric shark.
  • 14. What came first – Open Circuit or rebreather?
    • Rebreather
  • 15. Name three plankton eating, filter feeding sharks.
    • Basking shark, whale shark, megamouth shark, is an extremely rare species of deepwater shark
  • 16.  What year did Jacques Cousteau pass away?
    • 1997 aged 87
  • 17. What is a halcyon?
    • A halcyon is a mythical bird—often identified as a kingfisher said to breed in a floating nest at sea during the winter solstice, during which time it charms the wind and waves into calm. The term originates from the Greek myth of alcyone.
  • 18. Where are Suunto dive computers manufactured?
    • Finland
  • 19. What is the deepest surveyed depth of Lake Pupuke?
    • 57m
  • 20. What does the Fijian phrase ‘senga na lenga, nogu e tau’ mean?
    • No worries my friend

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]]> http://www.globaldive.net/club-night-quiz-2/feed/ 0 2011 Photography Winner – Tara http://www.globaldive.net/2011-photography-winner-tara/ http://www.globaldive.net/2011-photography-winner-tara/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 04:55:43 +0000 Tara http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2207 Yellow Moray at Rikoriko Cave / Photograph by Tara

Yellow Moray at Rikoriko Cave / Photograph by Tara

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]]> http://www.globaldive.net/2011-photography-winner-tara/feed/ 0 2011 Photography Winner – Mario http://www.globaldive.net/2011-photography-winner-mario/ http://www.globaldive.net/2011-photography-winner-mario/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 04:51:21 +0000 Tara http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2204 Koheru Ball / Photograph by Mario

 

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]]> http://www.globaldive.net/2011-photography-winner-mario/feed/ 0 2011 Photography Winner – Alice http://www.globaldive.net/2011-photography-winner-alice/ http://www.globaldive.net/2011-photography-winner-alice/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 04:48:26 +0000 Tara http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2201 Variable Nudibranch / Photograph by Alice

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]]> http://www.globaldive.net/2011-photography-winner-alice/feed/ 0 Jono on the HMNZS Canterbury http://www.globaldive.net/jono-on-the-hmnzs-canterbury/ http://www.globaldive.net/jono-on-the-hmnzs-canterbury/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:04:08 +0000 Tara http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2197 Jono posing with anemones. Photograph by Tara Sutherland

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]]> http://www.globaldive.net/jono-on-the-hmnzs-canterbury/feed/ 0 Diving the HMNZS Canterbury http://www.globaldive.net/diving-the-hmnzs-canterbur/ http://www.globaldive.net/diving-the-hmnzs-canterbur/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:01:18 +0000 Tara http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2194 Tara, Ian and Alice head for the bridge on the HMNZS Canterbury. Photograph by Jonathan Gatland.

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]]> http://www.globaldive.net/diving-the-hmnzs-canterbur/feed/ 0 Tara on the Canterbury http://www.globaldive.net/tara-on-the-canterbury/ http://www.globaldive.net/tara-on-the-canterbury/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:58:45 +0000 Tara http://www.globaldive.net/?p=2191 Tara on the HMNZS Canterbury.  Photograph by Jonathan Gatland.

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