With our fun POOL GAMES night getting ever so closer, I have been thinking about the scuba portrait portion of the night, and thought I would throw out some quick and easy tips and tricks to help you get a  really fantastic photo of yourself that you will love!

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This is not a race! When you are posing for your pics, it can feel like the photographer is taking a long time and going slow. That's ok. They are lining it up, making sure the right things are in focus (your eyes), and timing the shot with your breathing. The more we slow down and take our time, the more likely we get the shot that is going to make you happy!  

Rapid breathing and rushed photos will only ensure that you have bubbles in your face! Take the time to relax, slow your breathing—deep and slow. Once you are posed for your photo, exhale for 8 beats, hold for 
2 beats, inhale slowly for 5-6 beats. The longer you hold your exhale, and slower you inhale, the more opportunity there is for the photographer to get that shot!

If you are having a photo taken with your buddy, both of you should try to synchronize your breathing so a clear shot can be taken of both of your faces at the same time! Exhale. Hold. Slow inhale.

Communicating with the photographer will help you achieve the photo you desire; if there is a specific pose you would like to capture, let them know, and be prepared to hold your pose until the photographer gives you the ok sign that they got it! They will try to take multiple photos trying to get it just right, so you may be posing through a couple of breath cycles. That's ok. Be patient and you will be rewarded!

If posing with a buddy, you will need some signals to communicate both pose, and synchronizing your breathing. Chat about this before your dive!

Nobody wants to see evidence of a messy, disorganized trim profile; streamline your gear so that you have no dangling gauges! You want to look like a pro, so make sure your trim is spot on. Yes, now that's impressive!
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Defogging your mask is going to be imperative for getting a nice clean shot of your eyes—arguably the most important aspect of any beautiful portrait! Gently pre-cleaning the interior of your mask with toothpaste before your photo session followed by a defogging agent like sea drops before your dive should help you with this!

Smile! It may be hard to do with a regulator in your mouth, but any attempt to smile that reaches your eyes will make you look fantastic! If you feel comfortable taking the reg out of your mouth for a smile, go ahead, but hold your exhale, not your breath!

Ok, now go out there and strike a pose! Have fun, and happy diving everyone!

Just as we did last year, Adventure Sports Newmarket Divers will be sponsoring another family.

This year's family is a single mom with 2 young children and a grandma that has been very ill in recent months.  Mom has stated that she doesn't care about gifts for her so much, but is hoping to give the children a nice Christmas.

Hey!  A new children's book featuring ocean life is here!

If you have enjoyed "Harry Hawksbill Helps His Friends" or "Gracie Green Turtle Finds Her Beach", then you are going to enjoy Paul's latest book, "Larry Loggerhead Travels to the Sea Turtle Hospital."

Larry Loggerhead the sea turtle has suffered a severe injury to his shell due to passing boats in the area, and needs medical attention.  His friends come to his aid, helping him on his journey to the Sea Turtle Hospital, and they meet other interesting critters along the way.

(SPOILER ALERT):  Happily, Larry Loggerhead makes it to the hospital, and his stay there is documented in photos as the staff tend his injuries, help him recover, and finally, release him back into the ocean!

This sweet book is filled with interesting facts about sea turtles and other ocean animals, and demonstrates an empathy and caring for one another that is very touching.  The colourful photos inside depict the sea turtles and other ocean creatures from Paul's own photography, and will give you and your little one lots of things to talk about.  Enjoy!