Had a little forced vacation time from the PNG due to my visa, and as usual, what does an underwater photographer do for vacation?  Go do some more shooting, of course!  This time, I jumped on a quick 4-night/3-day trip on the Mike Ball SpoilSport out of Cairns, Australia.  Years back, I saw a documentary about Osprey Reef, and the huge population of resident manta rays.  And everything we see on TV is true, right? Wrong.  Whereas I always want the accurate truth rather than hollywood pizzaz, the news from the crew that mantas get seen a few times per season was nothing short of heartbreaking for me.  I had been led astray!  Run amuck!  Flim-flammed!  Vamboozled!  Done wrong!  Okay, but there’s a chance, right???  So I kept my eyes peeled the entire time, eager to land a shot of one of the beasts, but to no avail.  Woe is me . . .

But the trip was still a success, in many ways due to the amazing Cod Hole.  There are few places on Earth that such awesomely massive creatures will let you get that close.  The potato cod are just unreal - they all have their individual personalities, but generally, they are curious, friendly, and brave.  All the ingredients that add up to a superb underwater photo-op.  Even without Cod Hole, it still would have been a great trip.  The boat, crew, food, logistics, & relaxation all get great marks from me, although the crew don’t spend much time in “critter-finding” mode, as many Indo-Pacific liveaboards do.  Major “thumbs-up” results from their policy on not limiting my bottom time (I’ll never return to any dive operation that limits bottom time), and allowing solo-diving, with proper certification, experience, & redundant gear.  My only “thumbs down” was that there wasn’t an opportunity to get close enough on the shark feed to get any real shark photos.  But like I said, the opportunity to play at Cod Hole for half a day was worth every penny & more, and I’d do it again. 

There was a great group of guests on board, including legendary pro U/W photographer Pete Atkinson and his photographer wife Darren.  Great shooters and now great friends.  After the charter, Pete invited us over for dinner with PNG pioneer & top photographer Bob Halstead, and Australia diving great Mike Ball himself, both awesome guys.  I was humbled to be in such company - remember that scene from Wayne’s World when they met Alice Cooper, and Wayne & Garth fell to their knees, chanting “we’re not worthy . . .we’re not worthy”?  Well, that was me.

Nifty note here - one of my images taken on this trip (not in this gallery) won 1st place in the 2010 Cairns Underwater Photography Competition, and the prize was . . . . . a 7-night trip back on the SpoilSport!!!  Can’t wait to get back down there to do it all over again!!!