Scuba Diving – September 2019

38 / SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 SCUBADIVING.COM

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PRIZE

JACK ISRAEL

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

BEHIND THE SHOT: Nineteen divers from Russia and I descended in a shallow cove in the Sea

of Cortez. We positioned a light to attract swarms of plankton and took our places around it.

Suddenly, a school of voracious juvenile mobulas swooped in fast, like missiles. I drifted away

from the plankton and sand-filled water and caught a glimpse of these playful bombers com-

ing at me. I took the shot , and somehow they flared up in time to avoid a collision.

CAMERA GEAR: Nikon D750 in an Ikelite housing; Sigma 15mm fisheye lens; two Inon Z-240

strobes SETTINGS: f/10, 1/160, ISO 400 PRIZE: $1 ,000 and a trip aboard Socorro Aggressor