William Warmus
Overview
1997-2003
Still images are from video by Rob Barrel 2002
Underwater off Namena Island Fiji
This moody image captures something of the thrill that engages the diver immediately after plunging into the ocean and looking down toward the coral reef as it emerges from the deep. For a sense of scale, notice the diver at bottom center of the image, who is at a depth of about 80-90 feet. Some of the shapes that glint silver are bubbles; others are fish.
Many dive guides describe the North Save-a-Tack Passage dive area as "world class." Currents can be strong and the diving is as deep as 125 feet or greater.
Rob Barrel is an excellent filmmaker. I asked him to make this video clip for me as I wanted to write about the scale and other aspects of the underwater world that are less frequently the focus of underwater photographers and naturalists. What I wanted and what Rob provided are not gorgeous colorful images (he has made many) but a set of images that obliquely indicate the tremendous scale of the site and the physical thrill of diving in a world where the horizon is severely, but luminously, restricted. At such scale, colors evaporate or are severely muted by the density of the water.
Prominent in the two images just below is the blue half disk or wedge of ocean (top center): the surface of the sea, as seen at depth.
Composite wide vista panorama of stills from video showing arch at North Save-a-tack, near Namena Island, Fiji.
The arch at North Save-a-Tack passage near Namena Island, Fiji. Image levels adjusted to reveal colors.
Overview
1997: Fiji and Cayuga Lake
1998: Fiji, Myrtle Beach and Austin
1999: Hawaii
2000: Hawaii
2001: Nai'a, Manzanita and Austin
2002: Nai'a and Florida Keys
2003: Palm Beach and Cornell
Site Map
December 31, 2001 at 4PM
View from aboard the Nai'a, off the coast of Viti Levu, Fiji Islands, South Pacific
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