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Mark Strickland and Chris Huss Underwater Photography Dive Andaman Islands 2012
Tue, Sep 07, 2010
Date Posted: 2010-07-21
Close Date: 2012-03-02
Price: from 4150 USD*/3200 EUR *subject to currency flux
Andaman Islands
February 21- March 1, 2012 (9 nights)
March 2- March 10, 2012 (8 nights)
OVERVIEW
Chris Huss and Mark Strickland, professional photographers and dive tour leaders, are teaming up for a series of unique dive trips. Destinations and dive operators will be carefully selected from their stringent criteria to provide the best opportunities for diving, comfort and photo opportunities.
By combining their individual talents and experience, Mark and Chris are providing a tremendous added value to these trips, with no additional cost to participants.
These trips will be equally appealing to photographers and non-photographers alike.
All trip participants will enjoy Mark’s popular animal ID and behavior slide shows. Marks’ infectious enthusiasm for the marine life really comes across in these entertaining shows, and helps guests get the most from their underwater experiences. Chris combines photos of the guests and activities during the trips with his favorite underwater photos for what he calls his “trip experience” slide show. Copies of the show will be provided to the guests as a quicktime movie for a keepsake they can share with others.
Of special interest to underwater photographers is the availability of
twice the amount of personal one-on-one underwater photography instruction. Regardless of skill level, from beginner to advanced shooter, Mark and Chris will tailor their instruction to suit. While equipment varies widely, photographic principles are largely the same whether you’re shooting with a compact camera or sophisticated SLR. Instruction ranging from the basics of equipment, proper exposure, composition and digital workflow is available. Guests can even get advice in advance of the trip to help them prepare. Additionally, there will be plenty of opportunities to review and critique your work, all with the aim of helping you get the most out of the experience and returning home with images you are proud to share.
Trip Description:
Pricing:
•9 nights = 4400 USD*/3400 EUR
•8 nights = 4150 USD*/3200 EUR
*Please note prices are subject to currency flux of the EUR
Payment Balance: To receive confirmation of your booking, the customer must pay a minimum of 50% non-refundable deposit or payment in full. The remaining balance will be due no later than 60 days before the departure date of your diving expedition. Bookings made within 60 days of the departure date of your expedition must be paid in full at the time of the booking. Late payment may be considered cancellation of contract by the customer.
Inclusions:
•Lodging and meals aboard the S/Y Siren
•All diving and FREE Nitrox
Join professional underwater photographers Chris Huss and Mark Strickland in the remote and largely under-explored Andaman Islands. This extensive archipelago offers a rare glimpse of tropical islands and reefs in their natural state. There is almost no commercial fishing, resulting in unusually abundant fish populations, including giant grouper and napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, giant mantas, schooling mobula (devil rays) and endemics like the electric-blue Andaman Damselfish, and the strikingly patterned Andaman Sweetlips. There are also interesting invertebrates, including Wire-Coral Shrimp, colorful Trapeze Crabs, Bobtail Squid, and a wide range of nudibranchs and sea snails.
Among the best dive areas are Narcondam and Barren Islands, both of which are volcanic in origin. Widely separated from the rest of the island chain, these mountainous isles are surrounded by thousands of feet of clear, blue water, and provide some of the most spectacular scenery in the entire archipelago. Underwater, razor-back ridges are populated with massive barrel sponges, gorgonians and soft corals, while shallow bays feature vast fields of healthy hard corals. At Barren, the region’s only active volcano, fan corals of many colors dominate bottomless walls; steep slopes are covered in forests of pink soft corals accented by red and yellow encrusting sponge. Clouds of Anthias hover just above the corals, while Schooling
Bannerfish and Pyramid Butterflies come and go in waves, along with assorted surgeons and fusiliers. These brilliantly hued creatures appear all the more vivid because of the black sand bottom, making the colors appear to jump right out at you. At Narcondam, a submerged pinnacle is home to huge Dog-tooth Tuna and a hundreds of Bigeye Jacks. Huge fan corals and sponges populate many sites here, and manta sightings are a near-certainty. Other noteworthy sites include the appropriately named Fish Rock, pristine coral gardens at South Button, and a large, shallow shipwreck called the Inchgard.
Topside, the Andamans are equally compelling, with miles of deserted shoreline, abundant wildlife, and vast tracts of virgin rainforest.
Your home for this adventure will be the luxury liveaboard dive yacht S/Y
Siren, custom built by World Wide Dive and Sail on the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi, she is a traditional “gaff rigged Phinisi” handcrafted from ironwood and teak. You will find no other dive liveaboard as beautiful, or as comfortable, in Andaman waters.
For full description of the boat visit: S/Y Siren
Mark and Chris will provide personalized one-on-one photography instruction to any guest interested in underwater photography. Everything from equipment basics, proper exposure, composition and digital workflow can all be covered.
Exclusions:
•Marine Park Fees
•Airfare
•Transfers and any lodging or meals required while in transit to and from the boat
Mark Strickland and Chris Huss Bios
Mark Strickland’s life-long interest in the sea has included over 10,000 dives and careers as lifeguard, boat captain and scuba instructor. His passion for underwater photography has led him to many top dive locales, including Thailand, where he spent 17 years as Cruise Director on a series of live-aboards. An avid marine naturalist, Mark has discovered several nudibranch species. He is co-author and principle photographer for Lonely Planet’s award-winning book, “Diving and Snorkeling Thailand”, and his work appears in many magazines, books and displays around the world. Currently, Mark leads several dive trips each year to his favorite destinations, while working on a career-spanning large-format pictorial book. For a sampling of Mark’s work, visit www.markstrickland.com.
Chris Huss has been a full-time professional photographer since 1981 after earning a degree in photography and film-making from the University of Washington. Chris's passion for the marine world was in full swing by age 14 when he started taking photos underwater with an instamatic camera protected by a plastic bag. He has since received over 60 national and international awards for his photography and has been published in countless magazines, books, calendars, brochures and postcards. His list of publication credits and clients include: National Geographic, Vogue, Natural History, The New York Times, American Express, Time-Life, ABC, Alaska Airlines, Hallmark, and Nikon. He is also a frequent presenter at underwater film festivals and leads groups on dive/photo trips all around the world. His work can be previewed at www.chrishuss.com.
Call (877) 357-0022 or email info@livewellventures.com
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