Dive the Polling and USS New Hampshire [General]

Chester Polling is probably the most dived shipwreck in Northern East. To be hornest, I don't like dive shipwreck in this cold dark water. There is not too much for you too see. But I like read the history of this shipwrecks.

This is the third time I dive the Polling. Photography of the polling is always a big challenge - it's way too dark. I have been thinking about a modeling light. But the good one would cost more than $400. This time I decided to use the modeling light from the strobes.

Once I get to the shipwreck, I realize that even the modeling light from the strobes are too weak. I have to turn the strobes a littlbe bit so the beam can aim the subject. There is great chance of backscattering but I don't have any other choice.

The camera has little trouble to fire. The backscattering is not too bad. Turned out it's not too bad. Plus I am on the Nitrox and therefore have more time to shoot.

We also spend a dive at USS New Hampshire. It's shallow water but very cold. It's a cool dive.

Weiwei posted @ 16:46:31 || Cambridge, MA || Comments (0)

Dive Halfway Rock [    ]

Halfway Rock is the very famous dive site from Cape Ann. It is named because of the fact that the rock is right on the half way from Cape Ann to Boston. I dove this site two years ago with Guss for my advanced class. This is my second dive.

On boat are the friends from Diver's Cove - Don, Lee, Mike, George. They are instructing the advanced class. Chi is also in the class. I've dove a lot with them and tt's a lot of fun.

Dive in the New England water is pretty much the same - the same harsh everywhere! Cold and dark! It's raining pretty hard. But it's okay since there's no wind. Since it's cold, you have to be very much prepared - in terms of the body and the gear. Since it's dark, navigation becomes extremely important. You will have to find the anchor line on the way back with the visibility less than 10 ft.

However,under the harsh condition there are some of the most beautiful marine life. Like the northern red anemone. I saw it on the magzines and books a lot - never thought I could see one someday. It was on my way back to the boat under 60 ft water - right there. I spent the rest of my dive with it.

There are lot of fish, sponge, sea urchines and star fish. The marine life is abundant under the cold green water - it is just like the tropical coral reef with a different color tone!

Weiwei posted @ 14:57:45 || Cambridge, MA || Comments (0)

The Best Game Ever [Sports]

I was told that it's the tradition of the group to play volleyball. We had a tournament last winter. We did not play well - we had people such as me, who never played volleyball before.

But for the tournament now we are playing - we have played very well. We won the first two games. In today's game, we won the first game and lost the second one. We did not play well from the beginning and it's getting even worse. We were 1:14 and it's the match point.

It's so dramatic thereafter. We got to 14:14 - everyone put themselves on the court. Even though we lost the game, I have to say this is the best game I ever played. It's so much fun!

Weiwei posted @ 20:09:54 || Cambridge, MA || Comments (0)

Liangfang's Wedding - Back From UIUC [General]

I just came back from UIUC for Liangfang's wedding. Every man would have chance to be a groom someday but not everyone would have a chance to be a best man.

I went to UIUC as the bestman for Linagfang and Lili's wedding. Well getting married is one of the biggest thing in one's life so you can imagine how busy they are. But there are a lot of friends in UIUC to help Liangfang and Lili. So basically everything's gone smoothly.

I have to say the ceremony is one of the most beautiful moments in my life (though it's not me to get married:). Everyone was sitting there. You can only here the sound of the wind, the trees, the birds and the holy words from the baptor and the couple. You will feel life is so amazing - you know a person many many years ago but you never imagined one day you could stand with him and witniss his marriage. I don't have pictures to show here yet because I could not have chances to take pictures as bestman.

Holding someone in hand would make the life a lot happier, easier and meaningful. Best wishes to Liangfang and Lili.

p.s. Liangfang sent me the link to the wedding photo album. Welcome to take a look!

Weiwei posted @ 19:19:32 || Cambridge, MA || Comments (0)

Dive The Folly Cove [    ]

Folly Cove is my favorite dive site in Cape Ann. The weather has been pretty crappy recently. Although the rain finally stops, it's very windy today. It's the wind from west so most of the dive sites in Cape Ann are actually very good. Folly Cove is on the edge - facing to the north and not fully protected. Bert and I still decided to check the condition first. Adam joined us in the dive shop.

Getting in and out of the water is kind of difficult in Folly Cove. When we got to the sites, we know we can dive but the condition would not be very good.

Underwater it's actually not too bad. As usual, Folly Cove is so beautiful for the gorgeous walls decorated with lots of sea urchins, star fish and sea anemones. I especially like the rock covered with piles of star fish. It's so beautiful. Check out some pictures I took today.

Weiwei posted @ 19:53:24 || Cambridge, MA || Comments (0)

Garden In the Woods [Photography]

I thought I had to get out to take some pictures even though it's been raining for the past whole week. Lin and me went to Garden In the Woods. We know the place from the New Haven Camera Club.

It's pretty heavy and constant rain. The park is located in Framingham. It's the botanical garden of the New England Wild Flower Society. It's the annual plant sale - the big event of the year. Fortunately they put up the sale on the other side of the park so it is actually not crowded at all in the park. We joined the tour given by Nancy and another lady. It's a pleasure trip. Nancy is an old lady but still volunteering the tour.

We missed the blooming peak of most of the flowers. But I am fortunate to take some pictures of the lady slipper.

p.s. Even though it's raining that hard, I felt taking pictures on topside is so much worry free compared to the work underwater.

Weiwei posted @ 17:25:23 || Cambridge, MA || Comments (0)

Stage Fort Park Diving in Gloucester - What a Day! [    ]

For diving, today is one of the harshest conditions I have ever met. I am talking about 30mph wind and 50 degree air temperature. But interestingly, the Stage Fort Park is still a diveable site. It's on the south west of the island and therefore is protected from north east wind. What even more interesting is that there are so many people on the beach to dive. Chi and I joined with Bert and started to dive.

Under the water is pretty good. Eventhough the visibility is not superb, it's good enough for three of us seeing any other easily. There is a big range of sandy bottom where a lot of moon snails and flounders nest. Further into the ocean, the bottom is getting rocky. We were prepared to catch some lobsters. There are quite a few but once they are gauged, they are too small. We eventually caught one.

I gave up the second dive simply because it's too cold. Chi and Bert made the second dive. They caught lots of flounders. Stage Fort Park will be a very good site under the better condition.

Weiwei posted @ 18:43:36 || Cambridge, MA || Comments (2)

Diving In Cape Ann [    ]

Chi and I joined with Mark and several divers from Bosont Searovers to dive Cape Ann today. The weather was very bad - it was pouring most time of the day. When we got to the dive shop, we actually had the option of cancelling the diving. Well for me if someone would drive the boat, I would definitely give up the diving.

The dive sites we went to was called Paddock Rock and Egg Rock. Diving condition was actually pretty good. Well like all the dives here no matter what time of the year you dive, it is dark and cold anyway. For Paddock Rock, it was very neat - a vertical wall with a lot of sea urchins. I saw a beautiful male lump fish. But it was too dark for my camera to focus. I missed it.

The second dive was at Egg Rock. It was boring at the beginning until I saw another female lump fish protecting her nest. It was very nice. Since the fish is trying to protect the nest, I had the chance to play with it for almost 20 minutes. The fish made my day.


When we got back from the Cape Ann, Boston was rainning even heavier. We took a shower and changed clothes. Well diving is good but a hot shower after the diving is even better. Then we head to the New England Aquarim to watch the Deep Sea 3D IMAX. It was very cool. With the 3D IMAX effect, all the marine animals are just right in front of you. It's amazing.

It's been a very long day - I have to go to bed. We will have another day to dive!

Weiwei posted @ 19:38:37 || Cambridge, MA || Comments (0)