Tag Archives: SCUBA Okinawa

The Art of Underwater Wide-Angle Photography – Tokina 10-17mm fisheye

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I started shooting with the Tokina AT-X 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DXA back in 2012.  It is the most popular fisheye lens used for wide-angle underwater photography. It is also known for its close focusing capabilities underwater and on land. The lens is a high-quality product built for professionals working in the field. The Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye is my favorite lens in my bag and has been my go-to lens for the project “Crabs with Beach Trash Homes“

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If you plan on using the fisheye lens underwater, you will need an underwater housing. I currently use the Nauticam Na-D500 with the 100mm Zen dome port (Dp-100-N120T).

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If you want to use the zoom function underwater, you must attach a zoom ring (P#19127) to the lens. The Nauticam zoom ring installation process is relatively easy.

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Below are some of my favorite underwater photographs taken with the Tokina AT-X 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DXA combined with my older Ikelite underwater setup. I mainly focus on macro photography, but I will be pushing myself to shoot more wide-angle this year. 

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Striped surgeonfish on the move (Rear curtain sync)

Ctenochaetus striatus on the move

Masked bannerfish on the move ( RCS )

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Okinawa is best known for its beautiful beaches and seascapes. All photographs were taken with the Tokina AT-X 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DXA.

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18237824403_2e1c1ab075_zLearn more about my favorite lens @ Tokinalens.com

I want to thank Tokina, Light & Motion, Nightsea, and Black Fin Grouper for all their continuous support over the years.

Have a great day!

Testing the Nauticam NA-D500 Underwater housing

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It’s been a blast shooting with the Nikon D500 DSLR combined with the Nauticam Na-D500 housing. I am pleased with the superior quality and design of the entire system. My underwater rig is setup for shooting macro with two Sea & Sea YS-D2 strobes and a variety of Sola lights.  I customized it slightly by mounting a Light & Motion Sola compact tray and loc-line arm kit to the bottom of the housing. This allows me to easily attach other Sola lights underwater based on my vision.

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Nauticam NA-D500 shower

My favorite features of the Nauticam NA-500 Underwater housing 

  • Internal camera lock-to prevent movement
  • Vacuum and leak detection system, Green is good!
  • Port lock system and audible housing lock latches
  • Super responsive optic flash system
  • Comfortable hand grips

I tested the Nikon D500 system with the Nikon AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED lens and the Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G lens.  Both are responsive and quality pieces of glass. The great news is that they 40mm is compatible in the NAU-18701 port as well.

Below are my favorite fourteen photographs taken with the D500 underwater in the beautiful waters of Okinawa.

Bobtail Squid - D500|40mm

Bobtail Squid – D500|40mm

Hermit crab - D500|40mm

Hermit crab – D500|40mm

Reef squid D500|60mm

Reef squid D500|60mm

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Nudibranch D500|40mm

Chromodoris hintuanensis

Chromodoris hintuanensis D500|60mm

Painpot cuttle fish okinawa

Paintpot cuttlefish D500|60mm

Dinahs Goby D500|60mm

Dinahs Goby D500|60mm

Flatworm D500|60mm

Flatworm D500|60mm

eyes of blue

Ryukyu Eyes D500|40mm

Pontoh's Pygmy Seahorse D500|60mm

Pontoh’s Pygmy Seahorse D500|60mm

Fluorescence Nikon| 60mm

Fluorescence Nikon| 60mm

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Bobtail squid D500|60mm

Bobtail squid D500|60mm

Eyes of Okinawa D500 | 60mm

Eyes of Okinawa D500 | 60mm

If your planning on buying a Nauticam underwater housing online, I recommend Bluewater Photo, they are extremely knowledgable and have outstanding customer service.

I want to thank Black Fin Grouper, Light & Motion and Nightsea for all their continuous support over the years. Thank you!

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Ryukyuan Pygmy squids and hydroid-eating nudibranchs

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In the summer of 2018, I documented some exciting animal behavior underwater. While searching for the blue-ringed octopus in a shallow reef cut, I stumbled upon the elusive pygmy squid (Idiosepius sp). I first photographed the Ryukyuan pygmy squid back in 2012 and was excited to see another one. This undescribed pygmy squid is only 10mm-14mm in size. It can be difficult to get an acceptable photograph of it free-swimming through the water.

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Its amazing how fast squid can change color to blend into the sounding background. Look at that camouflage.

29545399098_f064fc3ef3_zThe pygmy squid has defined white nodules on the posterior end of the mantle used for attaching to seaweed and rocks.

Pygmy squid Okinawa

I took a few photographs of the tiny squid and it eventually retreated into fireweed (Aglaophenia cupressina).

DSC_0742The fireweed looks like a harmless piece of seaweed but its actually a dangerous stinging hydroid. The fireweed delivers a painful sting causing redness, irritation and infection.

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I returned to the exact location a few days later in search of the pygmy squid. I found the fireweed but it was much smaller, as if it was purposely cut down. These fireweed colonies have been in the same reef cut for over six years. What could have caused this devastation?  Was it possible that a Scuba Instructor cut down the fireweed colonies for the safety of their students? I mention this because the hydroids are in a high-traffic swim-through area, and some days literally hundreds of divers swim through this reef cut.

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My first thought was someone cut down the fireweed but I was wrong. It was actually a brightly colored nudibranch named Tenellia yamasui (Hamatani, 1993). The fireweed was infested with juvenile nudibranchs feeding on it.

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You would think that the nudibranchs would be conservative and keep some food for the future. The sea slugs devoured the entire fireweed.

Ever wonder what this stinging hydroid can do to your skin?  To learn more about the dangerous animals and treatments, check out my post on The Hazardous Marine Life of Okinawa.

Hydroid sting © Mark Kane

Hydroid sting © Mark Kane

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