Bob Boyle, our contributor to the Featured Photo section, has almost thirty years of experience helping others learn to dive. He has been working in the industry since graduating from high school. The business he has built is a clear testament to the second reason he got into the dive industry, he loves working with people. The first is, of course, that he loves to dive! Bob has learned to share that love with thousands of people who have come through his shop. The place was in a perpetual state of motion when I arrived, even at 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. People come and go, and call even before the shop opens.

Bob has passed his love for helping others onto the rest of the staff at Undersea Divers. They have a "you can do it" attitude. I can speak of this first hand because I did my class and pool work for my open water certification at Undersea Divers. Believe me, helping this reformed aquaphobic learn to scuba dive was no small feat. Bob says, "If we could teach you, we can teach anyone!" I highly recommend anyone who is thinking about learning scuba to give Undersea Divers a call.

While Bob loves warm water diving, his shop is in New England. He is knowledgeable about local site conditions, marine life, and what you can expect to see, in what season. Undersea Divers runs dives year round in the local waters off Boston's north shore, and hosts several indoor events each month which are a boon to those among us who do not want to dive in the fall/winter. The Undersea Divers Society has a full program which includes night, shore and boat dives and seminars on a variety of subjects. It only costs $49.95 for a Lifetime Membership! They also have many other perks. Check out their site for more information, or e-mail to bob@underseadivers.com.

As an avid photographer with over twenty years experience Bob knows a lot about taking pictures. He says the Cape Ann area north of Boston has many kinds of marine life and is best for picture taking in the fall and winter when the algae is less. He usually uses a Nikonos camera with two strobes. The film speed varies from 50 to 100 ASA depending on the lens, conditions and the subject. With the increased visibility of the colder months, Bob likes to use a wide angled lens when possible. The shop takes trips to these areas, and guess what? Winter is upon us. Let us see your great pictures, or if they're not so great, talk to Bob about lessons.

Last year in Bonaire I watched Bob on one dive, hovering in perfectly neutral buoyancy, with crossed arms and legs, watching everything. He reminded me of a big grouper, in his own space, slowly moving up and down as he breathed. Then he turned and swam off , his attention caught by a photo subject. But that is the story for another time.

By Rhonda F. Waters, PhD, diverstravel.com

Cold Water Photography
Five Tips by Bob Boyle, Undersea Divers, Inc.
www.underseadivers.com

1. Know your activity limit. Don't try taking a camera until you are completely comfortable in the conditions for that specific dive.

2. Take your time looking for marine life. Rushing around makes things worse.

3. Wait until the water is most clear, either before or after the algae bloom.

4. Practice working all your camera equipment with your gloves on before you get into the water.

5. Take lots of pictures.