About the equipment I use

Strobes

Ikelite Substrobe DS51’s
Ikelite Substrobe DS125’s
Ikelite Substrobe 200’s

Cameras

Nikonos V
Nikon D100
Titan D100 housing
Nikon D200
Subal ND2 housing

Lenses

Nikonos 15 mm lens
Nikonos 35 mm lens
Nikon 105 mm lens
Nikon 60 mm macro
Nikon 10.5 fisheye
Nikon 12-24 wide zoom
Nikon 17-200 telephoto

I have always had exceptional performance from Nikon products and prefer to use this brand due in a large way to the fine optics and equipment reliability.  Also as important to camera performance is strobe performance.  I have never used any strobe product other than Ikelite.  Excellent performance in conjunction with superior customer service makes their products hard to resist.  The advent of digital has changed the way photography is pursued and has opened the doors for the ultimate creativity tool.  I use a D100 and D200 digital setup with Light & Motion and Subal housings. It’s not all the camera, however.  The photographer is as important as the camera equipment; patience is a very powerful tool and your chances of getting a good picture go up exponentially the more you dive and the more you learn.
Be persistent, ask questions, practice in a pool, and look at what other photographers have done and ask yourself, "how can I take a better picture than that?" or "what angle would be more dramatic or pleasing?"  And if you see another photographer on the dive boat, do not be afraid to approach him or her, as we are pretty open and nice people and willing to share our knowledge, however limited or expansive it is.
For more information regarding the equipment used or the photographs contained in this web site and many others not shown, please feel free to send an email to Joe.

 

Dive Equipment

 

 

 

DUI DRYSUIT
Back in the early 1990’s I dove exclusively with a wetsuit and there were many times I abandoned a dive because I was just too cold.  It took a good friend to convince me to take a drysuit class so that I could learn how to dive comfortably in cold water all the time.  I took the class and was hooked on the first pool dive.  I had several choices of drysuit manufacturers but chose Diving Unlimited International (DUI) as my drysuit. My DUI CF200 changed the way I shoot underwater.  I no longer worry about getting cold and can concentrate solely on my photography.  The material on the CF200 is so rugged that getting in tight spaces isn’t a worry.  The crushed neoprene is heavily resistant to tearing and ripping, which is one of the key reasons I chose DUI.

 

 

 

 

BC
Not too long after I acquired my DUI suit, I purchased their DUI Wing buoyancy compensator because it had the same rugged construction as their drysuits.  It’s lasted eight years so far and still performs the same as it did when I purchased it.

 

REGULATOR
I have owned many regulators but two have served me extremely well.  Scubapro’s D200 was my workhorse for years and it breathed so easily that I never felt starved for air.  In 2005 I purchased Atomic Aquatics T2 regulator.  This little jewel breathes effortlessly even at levels below 100 psi.  I’d go as far as saying that it breathes easily until the last few PSI, at least that is my perception.  I’ve dragged this regulator all over the world and am really pleased with it.  I also use Atomic’s SS1 safe second, which provides me an easy breathing option in a diving emergency. 

 
FINS
The final major piece of equipment that is considered essential for good photography is my fins. I use Atomic Aquatics split fins and I have to say that when I first used them the level of control I had was far greater than any other pair of fins I ever owned.  They are longer than most fins but the level of control and maneuverability is astounding and worth the added weight and size.