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Inside Scuba Issue #33
Byron Conroy & Andy Deitsch
May 04, 2025
Welcome to Issue #33 of Inside Scuba
Welcome to Issue #33 of Inside Scuba! In this edition, we dive into the secret world of pygmy seahorses, explore new creative techniques for underwater photography, and put the powerful Backscatter HF-1 strobe through its paces. We also bring you the latest dive news from around the world and spotlight an inspiring underwater series you won’t want to miss. Whether you're here to sharpen your photography skills, stay informed, or simply fuel your passion for the underwater world, we’re excited to have you along for the journey.
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What’s happening in this edition?
Tiny Marvels of the Deep: The Secret Lives of Pygmy Seahorses
The ocean is vast, and the life within it is endlessly diverse—but one diminutive species has always fascinated me: the pygmy seahorse. Measuring less than an inch (2.5 cm) tall, these tiny creatures are full of character and expression, especially the Bargibanti species with its famously expressive face.
Although I’d encountered them several times over the years, I was never fully satisfied with the photos I’d captured. I wanted to build a portfolio that not only reflected their beauty but also highlighted their behavior, habitat, and lifecycle. The more I researched them, the more captivated I became—and the more I wanted to see and understand them.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of pygmy seahorses, exploring their unique adaptations, life stages, behaviors, habitats, conservation concerns, and how to ethically photograph these tiny underwater wonders.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the pygmy seahorse
In each issue of our newsletter, we will curate some top dive news from around the world. Links to each of the original articles are available.
ICRI Forum: “84% of the world’s coral reefs impacted in the most intense global coral bleaching event ever. The most intense global coral bleaching event on record is still ongoing, according to scientists. One year on from the official declaration of the fourth global coral bleaching event by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), bleaching alerts continue to develop across the world.”
Divernet: “Red Sea liveaboard abandoned after striking reef. Red Sea dive liveaboard Firebird, operated by Hurghada-based Into The Blue, has had to be evacuated after hitting a reef north of Sharm el Sheikh, though it is not thought to have sunk as yet. The boat had been heading north up the Gulf of Aqaba towards Dahab. The collision, reported by Egypt’s Chamber of Diving & Water Sports (CDWS) to have caused “significant damage” to the vessel, occurred at around 1am on 20 April. All seven guests and seven crew were reported to be safe and well.”
DIVE Magazine: “Thailand bans entry-level divers from using cameras underwater. The Thai government has issued an order banning entry-level divers from using cameras underwater, unless they have an Advanced Open Water or equivalent certification or a minimum of 40 logged dives – for which they will have to provide evidence. Dive students and instructors have also been prohibited from taking photographs during training programmes – with the exception of underwater photography courses.”
Times of Israel: “Police confirm man killed in shark attack; victim named as Barak Tzach, 45. A man was killed in a shark attack off the coast of Hadera, police confirmed Wednesday, after human remains were positively identified by forensics experts .Tzach’s wife Sarit Tzach wrote on Facebook that her husband had gone to the beach on Monday after work so that he could document the sharks, and denied reports that he had been carrying dead fish that attracted the predator.”
World Shootout: The World Shootout 2025 competition is now open for entries. Submit your best and most impressive underwater images, taken anywhere between: November 2nd, 2024 to November 1st, 2025, and win some of the most valuable prizes ever awarded to underwater photographers.
Divernet: “Search for British diver in Philippines called off. A two-day underwater search operation for a British diver who went missing in Dauin, Negros Oriental on 22 April has been called off by the Philippine Coast Guard.”
WITN: “A sad discovery at Emerald Isle this week as a live Pygmy sperm whale calf stranded itself and later died. The NC State Center for Marine Sciences and Technology says Pygmy sperm whales are rarely seen at sea because they spend little time at the surface. Unfortunately, they often strand in mother-calf pairs, and many strand alive. This animal was a female, and her mother was not seen before, during, or after the response by the NC Aquarium Stranding team and NC State CMAST personnel.”
Minnesota Reformer: “Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill creating new safety standards for workers who use scuba equipment to remove underwater weeds from lakes, following the deaths of two young and inexperienced divers.”
Divernet: “CMAS penalises spearfishing divemaster. After being caught spearfishing while using scuba gear on 21 April, a Filipino freelance divemaster has had his CMAS Divemaster status revoked, meaning that he is no longer able to work as a dive professional under the organisation’s banner.“
Adding Creativity to Your Underwater Photography: Using Artistic Filters
In underwater photography, finding ways to stand out creatively is an ongoing pursuit. One increasingly popular method is the use of creative filters—specialized attachments that mount in front of your camera lens. These filters can add unique effects like halos, vortex patterns, and reflections to your images, offering a fresh, artistic perspective.
As with many creative tools, reactions to filtered images can be polarizing (pun intended). Some viewers are drawn to their dreamlike quality; others prefer the purity of a traditional macro or wide-angle shot. And it’s easy, when first experimenting with these filters, to become a little too enthusiastic—snapping dozens of frames through the new effect. A few strong filtered images can add valuable diversity to your portfolio, but it's wise not to overwhelm it. Like any technique, creative filters are most effective when used thoughtfully and sparingly.
There are many filters on the market, most originally developed for topside photography. However, a few have been adapted or specifically designed for underwater use. One such example is the Magic Tube by Saga Dive, a 6-inch (15 cm) aluminum cylinder with a reflective interior surface.
Before a recent trip to Lembeh Strait—widely regarded as one of the world's premier muck diving destinations—I invested in a Halo/Vortex filter. Coincidentally, Byron had also acquired one, along with a few other experimental filters. I also borrowed a friend's Magic Tube for comparison. Conveniently, all of these filters feature a 67mm thread, allowing them to screw directly onto the front of most macro ports commonly used in underwater housings.
Halo filter attached to a Nauticam bayonet adapter
Backscatter HF-1 Strobe Review
Last year, retailer Backscatter released their latest strobe, the HF-1. It arrived with quite a loud bang, as the spec list read like someone had gathered all the most desirable features you could want in a single strobe and simply released it. The guide number was a staggering 40, and the "HF" stood for Hybrid Flash—the strobe includes a built-in 5,000-lumen video light, allowing users to switch between video and stills seamlessly in seconds. The strobe also offers unparalleled recycle time, thanks to the lithium battery and straight-tube design.
Recently, I was on a trip to Cuba and managed to get my hands on a pair of these strobes to test out. They are aimed squarely at serious wide-angle shooters, and Cuba was the perfect destination to put them through their paces—shooting reefs and big sharks in bright, sunny conditions where strobe power and fast recycle time are imperative.
Technical specifications
As I said, the technical specifications of these strobes are quite something. They offer TTL shooting, which is great for beginner photographers and for those who simply don’t want the hassle of manually adjusting strobes for every shot. I personally only used the strobes in manual mode, as I have no need for TTL, but I think it’s nice that it’s available for those who wish to use it. It also makes the product appealing to a wider range of people.
The standout specifications for me, however, were the guide number (GN) rating of 40—putting it higher than almost any other strobe on the market—and the ability to shoot at high frame rates of up to 10 frames per second when using intermediate power settings. The strobe beam angle is 120 degrees out of the box, extends to 140 degrees with a diffuser, and reaches 160 degrees when adding a dome diffuser. This is very important, as high power is of little use if the beam is narrow and harsh. We are always aiming for soft, even light when shooting wide-angle subjects. The HF-1 uses a straight flash tube, not the circular flash tube I’ve become used to over recent years, but it’s the straight flash tube that allows for the increased power and faster recycle time.
The new HF-1 is compact given its heavy specification list
Channel Spotlight: Jonathan Bird’s Blue World
Jonathan Bird’s Blue World is an Emmy Award-winning underwater series that brings the ocean’s wonders to life. Hosted by underwater cinematographer and marine biologist Jonathan Bird, the show explores marine life, shipwrecks, caves, and aquatic environments with an adventurous, hands-on approach. Originally produced for public television in the U.S., Blue World has found a huge audience on YouTube (BlueWorldTV), where hundreds of episodes showcase stunning footage, accessible science, and a passion for the underwater world. Whether you’re a diver or just love the ocean, Jonathan Bird’s Blue World is a great source of inspiration, exploration, and learning beneath the surface.
Summary
That wraps up Issue #33 of Inside Scuba. We hope you found inspiration in the tiny marvels of the ocean, new creative ideas to try on your next dive, and insights into the latest gear shaping underwater photography. As always, we encourage you to share this issue with fellow divers and photographers who share a love for the underwater world. Until next time, dive safe and stay curious.
Andy & Byron
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