News
New Above & Below photo workshop series launched in Mexico
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JayClue-0082.jpg)
A new photography workshop series entitled Above & Below has been released in Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. The workshop series pairs award winning underwater photographer, Jay Clue, and Sony Alpha ambassador, Stan Moniz. Unlike most destination photo workshops, the Above & Below photo workshop series combines underwater photography with aerial, landscape, and astrophotography giving guests a much wider range of tools to add to their repertoire. But not only that, the logistics for the workshops are being run by one of the top names in dive travel, the Los Cabos based Baja experts — Dive Ninja Expeditions.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LA-PAZ-WORKSHOP10-STANMONIZ-PHOTOGRAPHY-scaled.jpg)
Photo: Stan Moniz
Mexico’s Baja California peninsula has quickly become known to have some of the best big animal encounters in the world. Throughout the year this narrow strip of land plays host to mantas, whales, over 12 species of sharks, jaw dropping mobula ray aggregations, heart pounding striped marlin & bait ball action, playful sea lion pups, gigantic schools of jacks, and so much more. The beautiful desert mountain landscapes which backdrop these abundant waters combined with some of the darkest night skies on earth create a plethora of unique opportunities for photographers of all experience levels.
In a recent interview, Jay Clue commented:
“It’s such a special project. Each workshop in the series has been hand tailored by Stan and myself to find the perfect subjects and spots to shoot for each location at that specific time of year. There’s mobula rays and the milky way, whale sharks and Orion rising, and so many others in the works.”
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LA-PAZ-WORKSHOP5-STANMONIZ-PHOTOGRAPHY-scaled.jpg)
Photo: Stan Moniz
The 6 day photography workshops combine hands on tutoring with classroom presentations & post processing sessions to help those looking to learn new photography techniques or fine tune their skills. Throughout the trip Stan and Jay will be helping you learn underwater photography, astrophotography, and landscape photography as well as sessions on topside wildlife photography, aerial/drone photography, and editing techniques with apps such as Adobe Lightroom. The workshops are customized to meet each students unique experience level so that photographers of any level can join – even those just picking up a camera for the first time. Additionally each workshop is limited to a maximum of only 6 guests to provide the best opportunities for hands on training.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ABOVE-AND-BELOW2-STANMONIZ-scaled.jpg)
Photo: Stan Moniz
The first Baja photography workshop in the series kicks off with Mobula Rays & Dark Skies on May 28, 2022 to coincide with the New Moon and galactic core of the Milky Way being visible almost all evening. Plus the trip takes place during the peak of Baja’s annual mobula ray aggregations – which can see schools of the rays number in the thousands. Stan and Jay have teamed up with their partners at Viking International Phototours to put this extra special workshop together. Throughout the trip you’ll spend time on the ocean freediving and snorkeling with the mobula rays, as well as visiting a cactus forest, artisanal salt mine flats, an old lighthouse and more.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/JayClue-.jpg)
Photo: Jay Clue
The next segment in the series takes place in beautiful La Paz, Mexico from November 17-22, 2022. This special La Paz Above & Below photography workshop takes guests swimming with whale sharks, getting in the water at a massive sea lion rookery with tons of curious pups, as well as to one of La Paz’s most beautiful reefs. For topside they have something very special planned – shooting sunset and astrophotography from Espiritu Santo Island National Park! For those that don’t know, this is incredibly special as it requires special permits to be on the island after sunset. Plus with it’s location so far away from the city there is zero light pollution. Throughout the trip they’ll also be visiting some of La Paz’s beautiful landscapes & bays. And if that wasn’t enough, Jay will be hosting a special underwater portrait photography workshop too!
Tickets for the first 2 photography workshops are now on sale on the Dive Ninja Expeditions website. To learn more about the workshops or book your spot, visit the Above & Below Photography Workshops webpage.
Header Photo: Jay Clue
News
Book Review: Fire on Monroe Bravo by Fred Lockwood
![the ship beneath the ice](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Book-Review.jpg)
Fire on Monroe Bravo is the latest book in the Jack Collier series by Fred Lockwood. Our story begins with our lead characters, Jack and Sandro, owners of Marine Salvage & Investigation Company, arriving on the Monroe Bravo Oil & Gas Platform in the North Sea. Having secured a contract for their vessel the MV Stavanger to act as support ship to the platform for TransGlobal Oil, our protagonists are on a celebratory visit.
However almost as soon as they arrive a series of explosions rock the platform, causing huge damage, loss of life and the very real danger of a massive human, ecological and financial disaster.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/fireonmonroebravo-683x1024.jpg)
As the danger mounts for both our heroes and the surviving workers, Jack and Sandro will have to escape the inferno, all while trying to save the platform and the men still trapped unable to help themselves.
The disaster sets the scene for the unfolding story lines following the fate of the platform and our main characters, the police investigation into a suspected terrorist act and the actions of TransGlobal Oil as they attempt to navigate the pubic outcry and financial repercussions.
In his eighth book, Fire on Monroe Bravo, Fred Lockwood delivers an explosive thriller, with plenty of above and in-water drama, and our heroes fighting for survival, what more can you ask for?
We thoroughly recommend this read and look forward to the next in the series. For more information about his book series, you can check out the reviews of his previous books here on Scubaverse.
- Title: Fire On Monroe Bravo
- Author: Fred Lockwood
- ISBN: 979-8325324536
Available in a paperback version and for Kindle from Amazon and book stores.
Blogs
Alonissos: The complete diving destination (Part 1)
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20-scaled.jpeg)
In June we were incredibly fortunate to be invited to dive in Alonissos, a small Greek Island in the Sporades island chain located in the North Aegean Sea. While I have long been a big fan of the Greek Islands as a great holiday destination, I had not had the opportunity to do any diving on previous visits and Mike and I were extremely excited to see what Alonissos had to offer both above and below the surface!
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_20230611_132718-1024x769.jpeg)
The Sporades are easily accessible via the airport in Skiathos (the first island in the chain), which is served by Jet2 flights from all major UK airports from May through October. Numerous ferries and charter boats make island hopping from Skiathos Town a breeze. After an hour boat ride, the picturesque port of Patitiri was a wonderful introduction to Alonissos, where we were met by our gracious hosts Kostas of Albedo Travel and Dias of Alonissos Triton Dive Center. Mike and I were delighted to be staying at the Paradise Hotel, aptly named for its stunning views over the sea and great location for walking to the waterfront.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_20230611_134526-1024x769.jpeg)
Alonissos is beautifully situated in the National Marine Park of Alonissos and the Northern Sporades, the largest marine protected area in Europe. The surrounding seas offer fabulous marine life, including incredibly rare species such as the Mediterranean monk seal. They boast deep walls covered in gorgonians and sponges, stunning topography with caverns, swimthroughs and pinnacles, and the first accessible ancient shipwreck from 500BC!
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_20230613_155834-769x1024.jpeg)
In locations where historical sites have been reported, the waters are largely restricted, but with collaboration between government, underwater archeologists and dive centres, incredible underwater museums are being created for a truly unique diving experience. Alonissos is home to the first of these, the Ancient Shipwreck of Peristera Accessible Underwater Archeological Site. The chance to dive into history (along with reports of healthy reef life and amazing underwater topography) meant Mike and I were keen to get in the water.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/27-1024x768.jpeg)
Our introduction to the diving around Alonissos was at the Agios Georgios Pinnacles, in the channel between Alonissos and Skopelos. This fantastic site was named “The Chimney,’ and proved to have a huge amount to see. We got to a decent depth here (over 25m), and marvelled at a colourful reef wall with a wonderful swim through whose rocky walls were absolutely covered with life. As well as brilliant topography there was no shortage of macro life here. We saw numerous nudibranchs, five different species in total. The second dive at Mourtias reef nearby was a shallower dive along a nice wall with lots of crevices. Several moray eels and grouper called this site home. We enjoyed looking in the crevices for lobster and smaller benthic life, such as cup corals and tunicates.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/30-1024x772.jpeg)
Our itinerary allowed us two dives a day with afternoons left to explore the island with our hire car and evenings to enjoy the famous Greek hospitality. This proved to be a lovely mix of in-water and land based diversions.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sunset-chapel-1024x694.jpg)
The next days diving to the Gorgonian Gardens and Triton’s Cave was to be even better! These two stunning sites are nothing short of fabulous. The Gorgonian Gardens was a deep wall near to the Agios Georgios islands. The ever-present currents in this deep channel meant that the sea life was amazing … the namesake Gorgonian sea fans dotted the wall at a depth of 30 to 50 meters, getting ever larger the deeper we went. Above 30m was by no means less beautiful, with sponges, corals, scorpionfish, moray eels and some rare and colourful nudibranchs.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15-726x1024.jpeg)
The second shallower dive of the day was to Triton’s Cave or the Cavern of Skopelos, on the east side of that island. The spectacular rock formations had wild striations both above and below the water making a truly epic topography. The cavern entrance was at 14m, and big enough for a buddy pair, winding up to 6m and passing two beautiful windows out into the blue. Emerging from the cavern, the light at the shallower depths and the incredible rock formations made for a fantastic gentle swimming safety stop and we all surfaced by the boat with massive grins.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/34-768x1024.jpeg)
Check out our next blog :Alonissos: The complete diving destination (Part 2)” to hear about our amazing dive on the 2500 year old Peristera Wreck!
Thanks to:
Alonissos Triton Dive Center https://bestdivingingreece.com/
Albedo Travel https://alonissosholidays.com/activities/
Paradise Hotel https://paradise-hotel.gr/
Alonissos Municipality https://alonissos.gr/en/
-
Blogs2 months ago
Diving With… Nico, Ocean Earth Travels, Indonesia
-
News1 month ago
Murex Bangka Announce New Oceanfront Cottages & Beachfront Dining
-
Blogs2 months ago
A new idea in freediving from RAID
-
Marine Life & Conservation1 month ago
Iceland issue millionaire whale hunter a licence to murder 128 vulnerable fin whales
-
Marine Life & Conservation2 months ago
The Shark Trust Great Shark Snapshot is back
-
News3 months ago
Charting New Waters; NovoScuba Goes Global with the Launch of their Revolutionary Dive Training Agency!
-
Gear News1 month ago
New Suunto Ocean – a dive computer and GPS sports watch in one for adventures below and above the surface
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs2 months ago
Book Review: Plankton