The New York Underwater Photographic Society
Turks & Caicos Aggressor - May 2009
May 9 - 23, 2009 Turks and Caicos Aggressor
Just got back from 2 fabulous weeks on the T and C Aggressor.
Photos have been posted.
The reefs have taken some damage from the hurricanes last year, particularly the sponges and sea fans on the top sections of the walls, but the marine life is still abundant. From big, (reef sharks, rays), to tiny (wire coral shrimp, cleaner shrimp), and everything in between. The only thing missing are wrecks, but we dove "Thunderdome", which is a collapsed TV set from a 1980's French TV series. Search YouTube for "Pago Pago Underwater" for some footage that will make you cringe. I can't believe no-one got killed or sent the the chamber during this series.
The T and C Aggressor is a first class operation with accommodations and diving itineraries expertly handled. We spent the first day of each week at NW Point, Providenciales, then moved to West Caicos and French Cay, working our way back to West Caicos and NW Point at the end of each week.
The second week was another addition of the Jim Church School of Underwater Photography. Mike Mesgleski and Mike Haber are teaching the course which provides an enormous amount of one-to-one time with the instructors working on your particular issues or challenges. There was one class each day between the morning dives. Throughout the day and the evening, Mike & Mike are always available to help with equipment issues, theory, technique, and post processing. For me, the big difference between this course and others I've been to, like the Digital Shootouts, is that the instructors are there to work with you at an individual level and not at all concerned about their own photography.
I give the Turks and Caicos, particularly West Caicos and French Cay, top marks for the Caribbean, and the T and C Aggressor is a great way to do it.
Just got back from 2 fabulous weeks on the T and C Aggressor.
Photos have been posted.
The reefs have taken some damage from the hurricanes last year, particularly the sponges and sea fans on the top sections of the walls, but the marine life is still abundant. From big, (reef sharks, rays), to tiny (wire coral shrimp, cleaner shrimp), and everything in between. The only thing missing are wrecks, but we dove "Thunderdome", which is a collapsed TV set from a 1980's French TV series. Search YouTube for "Pago Pago Underwater" for some footage that will make you cringe. I can't believe no-one got killed or sent the the chamber during this series.
The T and C Aggressor is a first class operation with accommodations and diving itineraries expertly handled. We spent the first day of each week at NW Point, Providenciales, then moved to West Caicos and French Cay, working our way back to West Caicos and NW Point at the end of each week.
The second week was another addition of the Jim Church School of Underwater Photography. Mike Mesgleski and Mike Haber are teaching the course which provides an enormous amount of one-to-one time with the instructors working on your particular issues or challenges. There was one class each day between the morning dives. Throughout the day and the evening, Mike & Mike are always available to help with equipment issues, theory, technique, and post processing. For me, the big difference between this course and others I've been to, like the Digital Shootouts, is that the instructors are there to work with you at an individual level and not at all concerned about their own photography.
I give the Turks and Caicos, particularly West Caicos and French Cay, top marks for the Caribbean, and the T and C Aggressor is a great way to do it.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Robin on -
Sounds like you had a good trip. Were the itineraries on your two weeks the same? When will we see some images?
Robin
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Permalink Reply by John Ciurczak on -
Photos already posted. See my Ablums, or a page or two back in the General Photo section.
Itineraries were roughly the same, but with dive sites. It all depends on the conditions. This time we dove different sites at both NW Point and West Caicos, with the exception of a few classics, ( Black Coral Forest, the Crack, the Anchor, Gullies, Rock Garden Interlude). We dove the same sites both weeks at French Cay, (Rock and Roll and G-Spot), but both those sites are so good that I'd spend the whole week there if I could. The usual drill is: leave Turtle Cove in Provo, Dive 1 Day at NW point, Move to West Caicos, Dive 1-2 days at west Caicos, move to French Key, Dive 1-2 Days at French Key, Then Back to West Caicos for a day, back to NW Point for a day, and then back to Turtle Cove Marina.
You can check the map at: "http://www.aggressor.com/_images/divemaps/turks.gif">http://www.aggressor.com/_images/divemaps/turks.gif
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