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Greetings Mytour members,This marks my first-time sharing a relatively uncharted and fascinating discipline with you all on the Mytour forum - Underwater Photography. I'm sure some of you have come across fellow enthusiasts sharing underwater landscape images or captivating shots of coral reefs and marine life captured with cameras or GoPros designed for underwater use. Today, I present a new genre: Macro & SuperMacro, requiring both advanced photography and diving techniques at a professional level.Meet Trí Nguyễn - A PADI Divemaster and Professional Underwater PhotographerFor over a decade, I've immersed myself in the underwater world, particularly in the conservation areas of Hòn Mun, Nha Trang, Vietnam. This extensive photo collection represents more than 12 years of exploration and photography. To bring these images to life, my colleagues and I dedicated over 3 years to underwater exploration, enduring challenging weather and obstacles. Underwater photography demands a level of diving proficiency, and I've honed my skills to capture the marine wonders of Vietnam.
Here's a glimpse of some equipment I used. For more details and interesting information, please refer to the photo captions. All creatures featured in this collection range from small to super tiny.I hope, through this photo series, to connect with fellow enthusiasts and friends who share the same passion. Perhaps one day, we can explore the ocean together in our unique ways.
Imperial Shrimp (Periclimenes imperator), also known as the 'companion shrimp,' coexists on a sea slug, surrounded by the slug's gills. Despite its name evoking images of an emperor crab, this shrimp is incredibly small, measuring less than 2.5 cm.Captured at night in Hòn Ông, Thôn Đầm Môn, Vạn Thạnh, Vạn Ninh, Khánh Hòa, at a depth of 20 meters with a water temperature of 28°C. These shrimp typically live in pairs and peacefully cohabitate with hosts like sea slugs or sea cucumbers. They provide food and protection to the shrimp while helping the host clean algae and parasites.
Neopetrolisthes ohshimai
Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus), a mesmerizing creature with the ability to switch gender based on its environment. Divers can encounter them at depths ranging from 3 to 25 meters, especially near rocky formations and coral reefs.
Wire Coral Goby (Bryaninops yongei), a master of camouflage, inhabits and blends seamlessly with coral wires at a depth of 25 meters in the waters of Hòn Mun. This particular shot required meticulous effort, as I spent over 60 minutes suspended in stillness, avoiding any sudden movements that might startle the fish away.
Feather Duster Worms (Sabellidae), a distinctive family of polychaete marine worms characterized by feather-like branches. They inhabit tubes constructed from a self-secreted mucous substance, reinforced with sand and shell fragments.Capturing this image at a depth of 10 meters took over 90 minutes, as any slight movement would cause these feather-like structures to retract. Patience was key, waiting for them to naturally fan out and sway with the water current.
Painted Frogfish (Antennarius pictus), at a depth of 20 meters with a water temperature of 23°C. This species can grow up to 30 cm in adulthood and propels itself using its fins. Its coloration is highly variable, adapting to its surroundings. With soft skin adorned with tiny spines and colored spots, these solitary creatures are often found near coral reefs and rocky formations at depths up to 75 meters. Notice the small flashlight in the picture for scale comparison with this fascinating Painted Frogfish.Looking forward to meeting you again in future shares.
