Muck, Glorious Muck

Mark Webster · Issue 5, Feb 2002 · pp. 22–25

Products mentioned: Nikon F90X, Nikon F801, Subal housing, Inon Quad flash, YS50, YS30, Velvia, Elitechrome EX

We can all understand the appeal of gin clear waters and the dazzling colours of the coral reef, but how many of us find the thought of a low viz excursion onto a dark sandy or muddy seabed in search of sea life enticing? Why would you, you might ask yourself, but this style of diving is becoming increasingly popular with those divers who have an interest in marine life or photography and they are willing to travel to the far flung corners of the world to pursue it. The big attraction is the diversity of fish and invertebrates to be discovered, many of which are small and very well camouflaged and so can present a real challenge to track down. Exotic locations such as the Lembeh Straits, Mabul and Tulamben are often referred to as the best by the connoisseurs, but do you really need to travel that far for a similar experience? I think not, and if you are prepared to explore some of our s…