Indeed they are. The color is amazing.

Wow this is interesting. More about Kawika's death here.

I see nudibranches!.

Upon further reading, I can't believe this guy was diving alone.

On a lighter note, I *just* bought my first underwater housing for our little digital, and we're going diving in Thailand next month. Can't wait to use it — those pictures have inspired me!

Brittanie, you must promise to post the photos here or we will all come to you and tickle you until you submit.

Yes, beautiful photos.

Upon further reading, I can't believe this guy was diving alone.

Standard practice is the buddy system. You really aren't supposed to dive alone.

But some people argue that the established buddy system is hollow, that an instructor with a first-time diver, or a much more experienced diver paired up with a stranger on a dive boat, to cite two examples, are effectively engaging in solo dives because their buddies are so inexperienced as to be unable to help them if something should go wrong.

I appreciate their arguments but if and when I ever get back into diving, I don't think I'd ever dive without a buddy; too many things can go pear-shaped, even at shallow depths.

when I ever get back into diving, I don't think I'd ever dive without a buddy; too many things can go pear-shaped, even at shallow depths.

Agreed. When I was doing my dive training, I did my Open Water dives at Stoney Cove in Leicestershire. I went up there with my dive club - 6 instructors and about 20 students.

The first day we spent doing the drills and exercises we'd learned in the pool, getting used to wearing full-length wet suits (in the pool we didn't need wetsuits, so that was a whole new thing, and hell, it was cold in that water) and not doing anything too ambitious. After that we did one dive out of three that we were required to complete. Everything done in a group AND with a buddy.

Next day we were due to finish our dives, but when we got to the site at 9am, the rescue services were pulling two young men out of the water, one already dead, and one who died right in front of us.

They'd completed their Open Water training only the day before and, ignoring warnings, and thinking 'well, it's only a flooded quarry, there's loads of people around, how dangerous can it be?' they'd gone into an area where only experienced divers are meant to go.

Although I went in the water that day, I was too shaken to complete my dives. I wasn't the only one.