Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[shoutatthesky]

Yesterday I had a really enriching dive. Everything was right - the weather was fine and calm, the visibity was superb for this area(about 10 - 15mts), My weighting was spot on, and equalising was trouble free.
The maximum depth on this dive was approximately 12 metres at the deepest point. I entered from the shore and explored an area of coast of about 300 metres. The landscape of this section of coast is one of steep rocky unnavigable hillsides interspersed with small stony beaches. There are many large boulders and rocks; some rock outcrops 20+ mts from the sea floor to top. The area lends itself well to exploration. There a multitude of crevices to explore, cracks, caves, and channels through which to glide through with the gentle current.
I saw quite a bit of life. I saw about 10 different species of fish. Some I am yet to identify but have photos of. I saw a stingray, a red moki, a marblefish, and also two paua (abalone) which I have only seen two of in multiple other dives in this area.
I am sure you get the point I am trying to make - it was a fantastic dive. It got me thinking about how subjective the experience of freediving is. What is a great area, or time, to dive for one person is the opposite for another. What is a great day for one is a bad day for another.
On this day I was relaxed. I don't mean just physically but mentally also. It wasn't some far away place. Just ten minutes by car fom home. Not some tropical island where you can fly, stay in a resort for 7 nights and it all costs only $XX99.
It sure is amazing how easy it is to find beauty if you just look. Is there beauty where you are?

[podge]

Nice one Adam it’s always good when someone’s touched by the beauty of their surroundings.
Rock on baby

[azapa]

nice story adam, congratulations on finding such a nice place so close to home, and you are obviously enjoying the camera. I have just got one too, and you will see several similarities with our underwater seascapes. These too are just in front of my beach house.

[shoutatthesky]

Nice pics Azapa. What type of camera are you using?

[azapa]

Its a Panasonic TZ3 with respective housing. I still suck at using it though, those pix were my first two days with it. I was blessed with good vis though, since then it has gone to hell. I need to work on fixing Focus length, shutter speeds etc. What are you using?

[shoutatthesky]

I am using a Sony W80 7mp in a Sony marine housing. It takes nice video aswell

[Spaniard]

Great pictures both of you!

[Lockedin]

Good Job, Both!

[BatRay]

Very, very nice story and pics, Adam. It is true that we often overlook the lovely things that are closeby in favor of the unfamiliar and far-away. There is indeed a place to dive closeby. It is the local river, very shallow at the moment, but it can still offer many beautiful things to see. There are very, very few times when I even need to equalize, but it helps in getting used to being in a current I'd post pics, but my cheapie camera with the pics malfunctioned.

Very nice thread.

[madturk]

great pictures nice one