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NUPG April Meeting Report

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This month Alex Tasker gave us an insight into photogrammetry and his journey so far using this technique underwater.

Our usual focus at NUPG is capturing the beautiful scenes we see underwater in 2D, so turning these images into something in 3d so you can move around an object or underwater area on your laptop is a different concept and style of photography. Alex explained some of the history and theory of how this works and explained how he first got interested in this style of photography.

The historical side of things took us back to the thousands of images taken from spitfires in WW2 and the intelligence techniques that spotted the V2 rocket project. Alex’s own journey with photogrammetry first started with East Cheshire Sub Aqua Club’s Highball project and their aim to create a 3d model of one of the highball bombs in Loch Striven to allow non-divers to see what we are able to visit.

The theory started off making things sound relatively easy. The aim is to take lots of overlapping photographs of the subject from different angles. If there’s enough overlap each photograph has common points which the software can identify. The software can use both stills and video (by extracting individual frames from the video) and has the potential to use images from multiple sources to create the final 3d model, so the options on what camera to use are wide. After identifying the points in each image that match those in another image in the set and passing through multiple phases the software (hopefully) pops out a 3d model.

Alex’s first attempt was encouraging, on our ‘NUPG warm-up’ day in Capernwray last year he took hundreds of photos of Thunderbird 4 and produced a good 3d model (he obviously had 2 very patient buddies). Taking the photos that allowed this first attempt to work seemed easy, there was plenty of natural light and good visibility, the lesson learnt on this particular occasion was more about the patience required waiting for a laptop to process the images (or grind to a halt as the case may be). With the aim of the highball in mind though he needed to target objects in bad visibility, leading to trips to other well-known quarries where bad visibility and gloom are more readily found and an attempt to get a model of the hydrobox at Stoney Cove. The visibility on that occasion was so bad that the software thought some of the ‘muck’ in the water was actually part of an object and attempted to make it part of the model! This experiment also highlighted the challenges of getting images aligned, in bad visibility you need more overlap. The resulting model worked well for the top of the hydrobox but not the sides unfortunately. As with any form of photography though, practise is the key, so I’m sure another trip to the hydrobox will be on the cards this year.

At the beginning of March, Alex headed to Vobster Quay for a weekend to take part on the IANTD Photogrammetry course run by Tim Clements. He thoroughly enjoyed the course and got to pick up some tips from the likes of Simon Brown and Marcus Blatchford, who have a wealth of experience on this subject and have produced some amazing models (including entire wrecks and models that combine both underwater and drone photography). The course also got Alex thinking about the use of ‘angel lighting’. He’d been using his regular camera for the stills and attaching a video camera to the rig to collect additional data, having strobes and video lights on the same rig did add complications. By having his buddy carry the video lights it made using the video camera easier as a backup, gave his regular camera a better chance to focus and helped him easily know exactly where to find his buddy (not to mention giving his buddy something to do so she doesn’t get bored!)

Getting the images for photogrammetry is something any of us could do with our existing cameras. The challenges then become the amount of data generated from those images and the amount of processing power needed to turn them into a 3d model. There’s an amazing amount can be achieved by doing this though, from creating models of coral reefs to showing non-diving experts details of underwater wrecks. It will be interesting to see where his journey takes him over the coming months.

Winner by Justin Beevor

The monthly competition theme was Cephalopods. We had an array of fantastic images; the overall winner was Justin Beevor’s coconut octopus. Congratulations also go to Glynn Phillips whose octopus shot came in 2nd, and Maggie Russell who took 3rd place with a nicely isolated squid and also won the Compact category with her octopus entry.


The next NUPG meeting will be on Monday 13th May. This meeting will include talks by Roisin Maddison and Donovan Lewis on Videography and Sharks, as well as the NUPG AGM. The competition theme is “Action”.

For more information about the NUPG please visit their website by clicking here.

The Northern Underwater Photography Group (NUPG) is an organisation of like-minded people with an interest in taking images underwater. The group meets in Manchester but membership is drawn from around the North of England and further afield. Meetings are monthly and previous speakers have included Alex Mustard, Martin Edge, Alex Tattersall, and Scubaverse's own Nick & Caroline Robertson-Brown. Find out more at www.nupg.org.uk

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Aggressor Adventures Announces Major Savings on 2025 Philippines Charters

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philippines aggressor

Dive Into Paradise for Less – Save Up to $2,000 on Upcoming Adventures!

Aggressor Adventures® is excited to unveil major limited-time savings for divers planning their dream escape to the Philippines. From now until June 30, 2025, guests can take advantage of up to $2,000 in savings on select Philippines Aggressor and Philippines Aggressor II itineraries.

These deep discounts span across both 7-night, 10-night and 11-night trips, giving adventurers greater flexibility and value while exploring some of the most biodiverse waters on the planet.

SAVE $2,000 – PHILIPPINES AGGRESSOR II

Celebrate with a $2,000 savings!

Booking Window: Now through June 30, 2025

Eligible Trip:

  • October 4 – 14, 2025

SAVE $1,500 – PHILIPPINES AGGRESSOR

On select charter dates:

Booking Window: Now through June 30, 2025

Eligible Trips:

  • June 29 – July 10, 2025 (11-night Transition trip)
  • November 8 – 18, 2025 (10-night)

SAVE $1,000 – PHILIPPINES AGGRESSOR

On select 7-night charters:

Booking Window: Now through June 30, 2025

Eligible Trips:

  • November 1 – 8, 2025
  • December 6 – 13, 2025

“Aggressor’s Philippines itineraries are among the most vibrant and diverse in the world,” says Wayne Brown, CEO of Aggressor Adventures. “These new specials give more travelers the opportunity to explore thriving coral reefs, pelagic encounters, and spectacular macro life at a fraction of the cost.”

Guests will enjoy Aggressor’s signature five-star service, spacious staterooms, world-class diving amenities, chef-prepared meals, and much more. These special offers are only available for a limited time and are expected to fill quickly.


About Aggressor Adventures

Since 1984, Aggressor Adventures® has offered travelers live-aboard scuba and snorkeling charters, luxury river cruises and exotic wildlife and cultural safaris. To learn more, visit Aggressor’s Media Hub, listen to its podcast series, view videos on Aggressor.TV and browse the new catalog. Worldwide locations are Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Cocos Island, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Galapagos, Komodo, Indonesia, Maldives, Palau, Philippines, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Red Sea, Roatan, Honduras, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turks & Caicos. Reservations can be made online at aggressor.com, or by calling 800-348-2628 or +1-706-993-2531.

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Explorer Ventures Launches Hot Summer / Cool Prices Sale

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Explorer Ventures

Save up to $1100 on select liveaboard dive trips from June through October 2025

Explorer Ventures Fleet is turning up the heat with its new Hot Summer / Cool Prices sale. For a limited time, divers can save $1000 or more on select liveaboard departures from June through October 2025.

Whether you’re ready to dive into crystal-clear summer waters or planning a cool fall escape, this promotion offers major savings on world-class dive adventures in the Galápagos, Turks & Caicos, and the Caribbean.

Hot Summer / Cool Prices – For the Summer Dive Traveler:

From June through August, take advantage of deep discounts on summer getaways. Enjoy up to $1100 off select trips aboard the Humboldt Explorer in the Galápagos or save $1000 on select summer departures aboard Turks & Caicos Explorer Il and Caribbean Explorer II, exploring magic of Saba and St. Kitts.

Cool Fall / Hot Prices – For Travel in the Fall:

Leave the cool weather and falling leaves behind — fall is the perfect time to head south and save. Take $1000 off select departures from September through October aboard Turks & Caicos Explorer II and Caribbean Explorer II.

See all details and departure dates: www.explorerventures.com/discounts-and-specials

Space is limited – and once the trips are full, the savings are gone. Book now to secure your spot!

Looking for other dates or destinations? There are more savings available across the fleet, including liveaboard diving holidays in Indonesia, the Maldives, the Red Sea, and Palau. Explore all current deals here: https://www.explorerventures.com/year-of-savings-dive-liveaboard-specials/

Contact:

info@explorerventures.com

1.800.322.3577 (US/Canada) | +1.307.235.0683

www.explorerventures.com

About Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Fleet

Since 1987, Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Fleet has been delivering world-class liveaboard diving, blending authentic experiences with a commitment to safety and sustainability. Operating in some of the world’s most breathtaking underwater destinations, their fleet of well-appointed vessels ensures every guest enjoys the highest level of comfort and care.

Explorer Ventures is proud to be the first liveaboard company to collaborate with Green Fins, earning certifications on four vessels: Caribbean Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Tiburon Explorer, and Humboldt Explorer. Notably, Tiburon Explorer and Humboldt Explorer are the only PADI Eco Centers designated in the Galápagos, underscoring their dedication to sustainable and responsible diving practices. With exceptional destinations, a global array of itineraries, and diver-focused design across the fleet, every voyage is crafted for comfort, convenience, and adventure—both above and below the surface.

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