These are the photographs I took from my second dive trip at Lembeh, Indonesia.
Camera, diver, and fun! That was me in a nutshell this May of 2013. I take around a month out of the year to go to Indonesia. I train our employees there and then take time to scuba dive. This month I lived mostly on the island of Java, Bali, and Northern part of Sulawesi. It was a superb month of Indonesian living! Bali is my center point for diving but I also try to dive other places in Indonesia too. This time I went to Lembeh, North Sulawesi again. My second time visiting Lembeh. Why? Well, I am not much into macro diving but this time I was meeting up with a group diving doing wide angle diving. This was a 7 day dive trip consisting of class and working our skills underwater. For me it was a tough 7 days because the class was more for graduates of underwater photography and I still was in the “sand box” for preschoolers. But, I have to push myself and so I decided to go on this trip with the experts. 
I had my little Sealife camera next to these “Lamborghini” cameras and so I was at a disadvantage already. But the real disadvantage was the operator, me. But that was ok because one has to start somewhere. Right? In fact, all experts had to start at the very bottom of their profession/trade/hobby before they were classified as experts. Will I ever become an expert underwater photographer? Well, epert like beauty, lies in the eyes of the beholder. Right? So I feel I am more of an expert than I was prior to this great diving trip. Maybe I graduated to a bigger “sandbox” to play with. At least I gave myself a smiley face at the end of this trip. Not as much for great pictures but for learning a ton! I thank Andy Sallmon and his wife, Allison, for a wonderful great seven days!
One thing I learned. I need to “graduate” from the Sealife (sorry Sealife ol’ buddy camera) to a better one. Yes, it is always the operator challenge for sure! But now I can push myself more to get out of the “sandbox” level of my photography skills to the next level, like “matchbox car” level!
In the end every dive, no matter how bad the the pictures I took, is a great dive! I love diving. I love the feeling of “chill out” time. I love the underwater photography part too because I get to try new things and figure out different ways to see a subject to shoot a great shot. I love it, no matter if I am in the sandbox or out of it when it comes to underwater photography.
What I really enjoyed was reconnecting with the folks at Lembeh Resort. They are great folks to dive with and stay with! If you are ever at the NE corner of North Sulawesi you need to stay at Lembeh Resort and connect with their great staff. Trully a 5 star experience!
Well, all for me for now. I will be getting a new camera and pulling out my hair trying to figure it out. Actually, since I am bald I may be pulling scalp! There is always another dive trip planned and I sure can’t wait!
Chow for now! Scuba Diving Doug
