3.8.08 - Reef Stock Footage Shoot

Hello again all.

Saturday March 8th finds the Video Dude aboard "Lady Go Diver" heading out to do a couple of shallow reefs to get some stock video footage for an upcoming project. It was an awesome morning with flat seas, but it was a little chilly. I think the water was actually warmer than the air temp as we set out for the reefs.


Dive #1 was on "Opal Towers", a beautiful reef that I have neglected to re-visit for far too long. Lots of Lobsters, Squirrelfish, Grunts, Blue Chromis, Burrfish, Pufferfish and even a Nurse Shark sleeping under the reef. I also got some footage of a Yellowhead Jawfish peeking out of it's hole in the sand. Visibility was about 40ft or so and the water temp on the bottom was 74 degrees.


Dive #2 was on "Hillsboro Ledge", another reef that I haven't visited in a while. Still more Lobsters, a Golden Eel, more Burrfish and Pufferfish, more Squirrelfish and lots of French Angels. I also saw a Queen Triggerfish - something kinda rare around here! Visibility was about 50ft or so and the water temp on the bottom was 74 degrees.


Another day of shooting video in Paradise!

The Video Dude

March 7, 2008 - "Dad's Hearts Are Into Reading"

Hey everyone.

Friday March 7th finds the Video Dude at Broward Estates Elementary for "Dad's Hearts Are Into Reading" - a special program where men come to the school and read to the kids. My class of choice was the 1st grade class of one of my dive buddies, Donna Sacco, and I read the story entitled "The Shark Who Was Afraid of Everything". My friend Worth of AQUANAUTS Scuba Academy loaned me his "Bruce" (Finding Nemo) shark puppet and a shark hat to wear while I was reading. The kids were excellent during the reading and asked lots of questions about sharks and undersea life. They also knew quite a bit about what the fish names were. I was very impressed! Miss Sacco has been teaching them a lot about reefs and conservation.


After the reading, I showed them my video of "Shark Canyon" in West Palm Beach. They were fascinated by the sharks swimming so close to me, asked a LOT of questions and I passed out PADI Bubblemaker stickers and PADI Bubblemaker tattoos to them all (picked up at the Florida Dive Show by Miss Sacco!). Their day ended shortly after that, so we had to end the fun a little too soon. It was a great chance to see some of the kids to whom we are hopefully leaving our reefs to enjoy.

Another of the many hats worn by the Video Dude in Paradise!

March 5, 2008 - Ancient Mariner

Wednesday afternoon, March 5th, finds the Video Dude out on a "Fun Dive" with my friend David to the "Ancient Mariner". We are aboard Parrot Island Scuba's "Fathoms O' Fun" with Captain Jerry at the helm. The weather earlier today was not great, but after a storm blew through, the afternoon was calm and clear. Seas were flat and no wind.


Dive #1 is on the "Ancient Mariner". Visibility was around 40ft, with water temps in the low 70s. Lots of fish on the wreck today, including a couple of good-sized Midnight Parrotfish, a Goliath Grouper, loads of Glassy Sweepers in the cargo hold and the usual schools of Grunts in the wheelhouse. I finally got to meet the "star" of the wreck - Lenny the Blenny - and he allowed me the opportunity for some closeup video. My friend David had never been inside a wreck before, so he got his first taste of that as well.


Dive #2 finds us on "Lighthouse Ledge". Always a nice reef with lots of fish life as well as a few "critters". We dropped down to the reef right over a hole where a Green Moray was hiding, and we also found a second Green Moray trying to hide in a clump of tube sponges! Additionally we saw a Scorpionfish, a Spotted Moray and tons of Blue Chromis, Grunts, Squirrelfish and Parrotfish. A nice drift dive with a moderate current pushing us along so we didn't have to work too hard. Visibility was also around 40ft and temps were in the low 70s again.


A great afternoon of shooting video, diving with friends and "de-stressing"!

The Video Dude