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Scott “Gutsy” Tuason: Blackwater Diving

We just sat down with Scott “Gutsy” Tuason to talk to him about his underwater photography and blackwater diving. Gutsy recently published a book on this unique form of underwater photography titled Blackwater and Ocean Blue.

Gutsy was introduced to the world of blackwater underwater photography in Hawaii in 2012 and then brought this unique form of underwater photography to the Philippines. This book is Gutsy’s sixth book dedicated to underwater photography.

This week’s Full Frame gallery features the work of Gutsy and some of the highlights from Blackwater and Ocean Blue.

Just one of the many sub-adult Snake blennies seen on one dive, sometimes during blackwater dive, one runs into pockets of one species that dominates the dive.
Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines
#1

Just one of the many sub-adult Snake blennies seen on one dive, sometimes during blackwater dive, one runs into pockets of one species that dominates the dive. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines

The intricately textured Thimble Jellyfish. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines
#2

The intricately textured Thimble Jellyfish. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines

A larval Polycate worm drifting in mid-water , probably mimicking a predator such as an octopus to insure its survival. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines
#3

A larval Polycate worm drifting in mid-water , probably mimicking a predator such as an octopus to insure its survival. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines

Jellyfish, the interesting thing about this image is the Jellyfish experts are still debating weather the yellow-orange mass are its gonads or something it has digested. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines
#4

Jellyfish, the interesting thing about this image is the Jellyfish experts are still debating weather the yellow-orange mass are its gonads or something it has digested. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines

Larval Blenny, lurking near the surface waiting to feed off zooplankton that are gathering near to dive lights. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines
#5

Larval Blenny, lurking near the surface waiting to feed off zooplankton that are gathering near to dive lights. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines

A sub-adult flying fish with a Pygmy squid under its pectoral, a vey usual behaviour still unexplained by science, and most likely the first time to be observed. 
Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines
#6

A sub-adult flying fish with a Pygmy squid under its pectoral, a vey usual behaviour still unexplained by science, and most likely the first time to be observed. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines

A sub-adult Gurnard with two parasitic copepods near the anal fin. Tanon Strait, Cebu, Philippines
#7

A sub-adult Gurnard with two parasitic copepods near the anal fin. Tanon Strait, Cebu, Philippines

A larval anemone, probably mimicking a predator, quietly drifts in the water column. Visayan Sea, Bohol, Philippines
#8

A larval anemone, probably mimicking a predator, quietly drifts in the water column. Visayan Sea, Bohol, Philippines

A pair of mating Sea Butterflies (Pteropods), probably one of the few ever recorder sightings of this behavior. Maricaban Strait, Anilao, Philippines
#9

A pair of mating Sea Butterflies (Pteropods), probably one of the few ever recorder sightings of this behavior. Maricaban Strait, Anilao, Philippines

Planktonic salp with Jellyfish parasites, this could very well be evolution happening right in front of our eyes as these jellyfish change from being nomadic drifters to clingy parasites.
Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines
#10

Planktonic salp with Jellyfish parasites, this could very well be evolution happening right in front of our eyes as these jellyfish change from being nomadic drifters to clingy parasites. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines

A box jellyfish snatches a larval Rabbitfish, one of those right place, right time moments, the jellyfish continued to search for more prey once the fish was immobile, which didn’t take very long. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines
#11

A box jellyfish snatches a larval Rabbitfish, one of those right place, right time moments, the jellyfish continued to search for more prey once the fish was immobile, which didn’t take very long. Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines

A larval Flounder with a cluster of white parasites. Balayan Bay, Anilao, Philippines
#12

A larval Flounder with a cluster of white parasites. Balayan Bay, Anilao, Philippines