1. Slow down, Relax & Stop.
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Don’t swim too fast.
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Relax.
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Stop and look – its why photographers see things others don’t.
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Buoyancy – don’t crash into the seabed.
2. Don’t Look, Don’t See.
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You need to look to see.
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Snorkelling and diving you tend to look down and forward, its normal and see the life on the sea bed.
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Look close up and you’ll see smaller things, up and ahead – that way you see the life in water and the landscape, and behind you you’ll see the fish following you to feed on the food you disturb.
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Two pairs of eyes are better than one – they see things you don’t – another reason for why buddies are useful.
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On the boat- sea surface – you’re out in some amazing places and will see some amazing marine life when you’re on the surface.
3. Observing
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You need to know what you are looking at, your brain expects to see certain things – it needs to know what to expect – scroll though the images and it will show you what you’ll see.
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The more you look – the more experienced you become – the more you will see.
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Marine life comes in different sizes – look closely and you’ll see the smallest sea slugs to animals far bigger than you.
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Shapes – marine life takes some weird shapes that you simply don’t see on land – five legged starfish or eight legged octopuses.
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Colours – are often intense and spectacular.
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Camouflage – can you see the camouflaged life?
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If you dive regularly at particular sites you’ll find yourself seeing more and more.
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Many types of marine life – species – live in particular places – caves, under boulders or with other species – knowing this will help you find them.
4. Carry a Torch
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It provides a focus – just like in CSI – especially on night dives – it takes your eye to the subject.
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It brings back the colours.
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It enables you to see in cracks and crevices and in caves.
4. Location, Location, Location
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What you see depends on where you are – obvious but important.
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If you want to see great white sharks or seals you have to choose sites where they occur.
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Geography determines the diversity of marine life you’ll see – with fish for example there are simply more species in the Red Sea and Caribbean than in the Mediterranean and more in the Med than off the UK coast.
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People who dive regularly at particular sites see more and more – diving with locals is often a complete revelation!
The Sea Stuff project is not complete and if you have any comments please send an email to seastuff@seastuff.com