Scuba Diving – September 2019

54 / SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 SCUBADIVING.COM

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NICHOLAS

SAMARAS

STRATONI, GREECE

BEHIND THE SHOT: Stratoni,

a small gulf in the north-

ern Aegean Sea, used to

be a place rich with marine

life—including seahorses.

About three decades ago,

fishing boats destroyed the

sea bottom; a tremendous

flood swept soil into the sea

in 2010. Recently a team of

marine biologists rediscov-

ered the place, so I planned

three days of diving to pho-

tograph my favorite animal.

This portrait put me deep

in thought. It was like this

seahorse was expressing

all of its complaints and

disappointments about

human actions.

CAMERA GEAR: Canon EOS

5D Mark II in a Sea&Sea

MDX housing; Canon EF

100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

lens; two Retra strobes

SETTINGS: f/18, 1/125,

ISO 125

PRIZE: Tr ip aboar d Oman

Aggressor

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