We are still experiencing the best of Yap diving conditions. Yesterday on an all day boat we had 3-for-3 awesome dives and everyone is bringing home packed SD cards. The pro presenters are leading the way out there and showing us how to get it done – today’s post is some of their work here during this Manta Fest.

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David Fleetham

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Frank Schneider

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Ray Bullion

Tim Rock

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Participant Feedback

Over breakfast this morning Marty asked one of the contestants, Sheila, if she was getting anything out of the training and pro support. The answer is yes – and I’ll cosign that. We’re taking in info every evening and getting hands on with it the next day. Noticeable improvements in our photography from the last few days is showing. David set my rig up for macro with some of his own hardware and helped me bring home some of my proudest shots to date. These guys are putting in the time with all of the guests with whatever they need. Frank has been hosting impromptu workshops in the pool over beers and David is driving developing tutorials on the Crow’s Nest bar after dark. All of this is sending us home a better photographer and breathing new life into our underwater game. Everyday we get to watch these guys in the water and see how they get those shots, from creeping up on sleeping sharks to waiting for that magic behavior moment to click the shutter. Today I am jumping onboard with Frank and Andy for a wide angle shoot at Vertigo and looking for some Mantas. We have only 6 dives left before the contest judging begins and we see how this shootout wraps up for our guests. There’s already 12 rooms booked for Manta Fest 2014 – note to self: Manta Ray Bay only has 35 rooms.