After we’d been here a few days, we invited hard working Josh and Claire from “Elvis the Gecko” to go on a dive with us to the artificial reef placed immediately seaward of the Papeete international airport. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
Josh and Claire went flying….Note the fish!… Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
This is what appears to be an old PBY seaplane. The local dive companies use it as a check out dive site for their students. It was in about 65 feet of water, no current, lots of fun. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
Claire went for a tour of the cargo hold. These artificial reefs are made quite safe by making it virtually impossible to get stuck inside by opening and removing any impeding doors, etc. You can always easily swim out. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
Cindy checks out the single wing. You can see where the flaps “skin” is missing on the trailing surface of the wing too. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
Josh, Claire and Cindy check out the wing section. You can just imagine them hanging on in flight…. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
My Father Art Stolnitz, was a Seaman 2nd Class at the end of WW2 and was a radio operator in one of these babies. He told me his one and only war story. “I flew the battle of the Great Lakes”, he said. “Flying from Great Lakes Naval Air Station in Wisconsin to Norfolk, Virginia and back!”…… Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
Claire, Josh and Cindy hanging in there. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
Josh and Claire go for the ride…. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
The engines are removed to make sure no oil leaks into the water and no one gets cut on the sharp radial spokes that were the signature of the engines on the PBY. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
Josh is flying in the cockpit, Cindy and Claire “attending”….:) Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
I thank Claire for these shots taken by her “point and shoot” in a small water proof housing. Many people have asked what I look like underwater carrying all this stuff. I wear a head scarf so I don’t get my head burned when going to and from the dive site and sitting on top of the water. Follicularly challenged, this works best for me. My Dermatologist approves! Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
Your can see my two YS-250 strobes at the ends of the “spyder like” arms attached to the camera housing. I use a very wide angle 12-24 mm zoom (equivalent to an 18 mm land lens) to get the “wide angle” shots. In the water, the camera system is neutrally buoyant. Out of the water, it ways about 20 lbs! Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
Bang….It’s nice to have cooperative models at anytime, underwater it’s essential. Diving skills are important as to not kick up the sand and organic matter that is always in the mix. So now you see how it’s done…. Not so easy, trust me…..I’m a Doctor!….. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
When we go diving, this is pretty much how I look. Hold still, I don’t want to miss the shot!…. Tahiti – Society Islands – French Polynesia
