Equipment

Camera & housing

I had been using Nikon cameras for a while on land when I took-up underwater photography, and I still use them underwater.

My current camera body is a D200 (Digital SLR) housed in a Sea & Sea DX-D200 housing, supplied by Alan James Photography in Bristol.

Lenses

For wide-angle underwater photography, I use the Nikkor 10.5mm, 16mm, 20mm and 28mm. For macro subjects, I use the Nikkor 60mm and 105mm lenses.

Lighting

I normally use two YS90 Auto strobes for macro and most wide-angle photography dives. In the past year, I have also been experimenting with Magic Filters developed by my friends Alex Mustard and Peter Rowlands.

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Diving equipment

I use pretty-much the same diving equipment both in tropical and temperate waters, except the exposure suits !

Wetsuit

I wear a 5mm Scubapro Everflex wetsuit, complemented by a Body-Glove shorty if the water is slightly too cool for my liking!

The Everflex is a tough suit that is extremely stretchy and does not restrict movements. I find it very comfortable even if it does little to compliment my figure !

Drysuit

In the UK, I love my DUI CNSE 1.5mm hyper-compressed neoprene drysuit. With no boots attached (RockBoots are worn over the socks), it is possible to turn the suit completely inside-out to dry it quickly.

Buoyancy Control

My old Buddy Profile has seen better days but is still a fantastic BCD. Originally black, its colour is now dull brown ! A trip to AP Valves to service it at the end of the season and it will probably be ready for another 10 years !

Regulators

I have just started to use an Oceanic FDX1/Delta 4 which has a very light mouthpiece and a swivel on the second stage to avoid the pulling sensation when I turnn my head.

It is replacing my old trusted Apeks TX50. Many thanks to Mike's Dive Store for looking after my regs season after season !

Computers

My primary computer is an Aladin Air Z O2, which can be used both on Open Circuit and on SCR with the wireless OXY2 analyser. I love this piece of kit, which I originally purchased from Wittering Divers in West Sussex. Sadly, it is no longer manufactured. A great loss for SCR divers.

I used a Suunto Stinger as back-up computer and watch until very recently and have been very happy with it. I have just upgraded it to a Suunto D6.

Cylinders

I sold my twinset in 2004 because it was to cumbersome to take on UK trips. I normally use single 12 or single 10L cylinders, to which I attach a 3L pony if the dive will be too deep for a free emergency ascent or if it will require decompression stops.

Rebreather

I occasionally dive with a Draeger Dolphin semi-closed rebreather to try and get closer to the marine life. Whether I do get closer or not is quite subjective, but I do like the quietness of the machine and the greatly reduced amount of bubbles that come out behind my head.

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Clothing

I try to avoid taking too many things to wear. They tend to make the bags heavy and airlines don't like that too much !

There is an item I wouldn't fly to exotic destinations without

Photo jacket

It looks really naff when I wear it but there are so many pockets that I can carry great loads that would normally be in my hand luggage. And since BAA has implemented a strict 1 pc luggage policy, it has helped me a lot, especially as many airlines are more and more rigourous with the weight of hand luggage.

I normally carry my batteries, chargers and heavy power adapters in the jacket.

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