Neal Watson, dive legend and operator of Dive Bimini, a Guy Harvey Outpost Dive Center, will head the judging team for Key Largo’s first King and Queen of the Reef. A costume party and gala kicks-off …
Message from Guy Harvey to Outpost Customers
16 Apr 20209:03 AM
To all our Outpost Customers,
Never have I seen the sea as rough, or winds as strong, as we now are experiencing in our expedition together. We are a team, and together our ship will get through this storm. Many a small ship has crossed a stormy ocean, and we will as well.
We’re almost to the edge of this storm. The resolve, teamwork and positive outlook of our Outpost crew has kept our resorts and company on course as we make way to clear skies and calm waters.
As a friend of ours on this now unpleasant journey, please keep yourself safe as we push on, so once arrived we can all celebrate together our passage.
I am certain calm seas and fair winds await us. For now, please help all of those in need to stand before the winds. Thank you for everything you do, all day, every day.
Stay strong,
Pro team Member
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![](mailto:?subject=Message from Guy Harvey to Outpost Customers&body=
To all our Outpost Customers,
Never have I seen the sea as rough, or winds as strong, as we now are experiencing in our expedition together. We are a team, and together our ship will get through this storm. Many a small ship has crossed a stormy ocean, and we will as well.
We’re almost to the edge of this storm. The resolve, teamwork and positive outlook of our Outpost crew has kept our resorts and company on course as we make way to clear skies and calm waters.
As a friend of ours on this now unpleasant journey, please keep yourself safe as we push on, so once arrived we can all celebrate together our passage.
I am certain calm seas and fair winds await us. For now, please help all of those in need to stand before the winds. Thank you for everything you do, all day, every day.
Stay strong,
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gh-signature.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-5522 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gh-signature.jpg" alt="" width="148" height="167" /></a>
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/message-from-guy-harvey-to-outpost-customers/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Neal Watson to Lead Festivities Celebrating 50th Anniversary of Key Largo’s Pennekamp St Park&body=<a title="www.nealwatson.com" href="http://www.nealwatson.com" target="_blank">Neal Watson</a>, dive legend and operator of <a title="Dive Bimini's web page" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/dive-bimini.htm" target="_blank">Dive Bimini, a Guy Harvey Outpost Dive Center</a>, will head the judging team for Key Largo's first King and Queen of the Reef. A costume party and gala kicks-off celebrations at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at <a title="Buzzard's Roost web site" href="http://www.buzzardsroostkeylargo.com/" target="_blank">Buzzards Roost</a>.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/guyneal.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-308" title="Guy Harvey & Neal Watson Announcing the Dive Bimini Partnership" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/guyneal.jpg?w=226" alt="" width="226" height="300" /></a>
The event is part of the Key Largo Chamber's observance of the 50th Anniversary for <a title="PSP web site" href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/pennekamp/" target="_blank">Pennekamp State Park</a>.
Joining Watson on the judges' stand will be <a title="Capt. Slate's Atlantis Dive Center web site" href="http://www.captainslate.com/" target="_blank">Spencer Slate</a>, <a title="Amy Slate's Amoray Dive Resort" href="http://www.amoray.com/" target="_blank">Amy Slate</a> and <a title="CRF web site" href="http://www.coralrestoration.org/CRF/index.php" target="_blank">Kara Nedimyer of the Coral Restoration Foundation</a>.
Entry to the contest is free and participants will be judged in two categories for costume and a 50-word essay on 'Why they feel worthy to qualify for this exalted position,' according to event coordinator Sue Finney.
The King of the Reef will be crowned King Poseidon, God of the Seas and the Queen of the Reef, Her Highness Amphitrite Goddess of the Seas. Prize packages for the winners will include VIP tickets to join Watson aboard the Grand Marshall Boat of the <a title="Key Largo's Holiday Boat Parade web site" href="http://www.keylargoboatparade.com/" target="_blank">Holiday Boat Parade</a>, which takes place the following Saturday, Dec. 11.
The Buzzards Roost gala begins at 6 p.m. with a champagne reception followed by a four-course dinner. Tickets cost $55 per person.
For reservations, call 453-3746. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/neal-watson-to-lead-festivities-celebrating-50th-anniversary-of-key-largos-pennekamp-st-park/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Galapagos: Islands of Eye-Popping Photo Ops&body=Sea lions sprawled on park benches barking at human passersby. Hundreds of marine iguanas standing around spitting salt. Tiny baby booby birds only inches from a walking trail.
Just a few of the images from the highlight reels of a handful of avid wildlife photographers who joined Guy Harvey Outpost's inaugural May photo safari to the Galapagos Islands.
"I'm gonna go again for sure," said country music star Ronnie Dunn of the Brooks & Dunn duo. "It was super fun. Full of surprises."
The expedition was led by veteran Sports Illustrated photographer Ron Modra who served as both guide and mentor to the group. But Modra said he didn't have to do too much mentoring.
"Everybody we had on the trip was fairly well accomplished," Modra said. "I think they got some really great stuff. I didn't let them leave a location until everybody had what they wanted."
Unlike guided cruise ship expeditions to the Pacific islands about 600 miles off Ecuador, this itinerary was land-based and covered five islands in eight days. The photographers stayed in hotels at night, traveled by boat to the islands, and hiked and snorkeled at their own pace to obtain the images they wanted.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Booby-babies.jpg"><img class="wp-image-4801 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Booby-babies.jpg" alt="" width="2100" height="1400" /></a>Photo: Diana Calleja
Naples, FL photographer Diana Calleja got many great shots of boobies, frigate birds, iguanas, and sea lions, but one image she coveted eluded her: the tropicbird, noted for its bright red bill and long, white-feathered tail.
"It's just magnificent. They are so fast. I'd like to go back maybe next year and get that shot," Calleja said.
Calleja's trip got off to an unfortunate start; on the second day, a broken strap plunged her camera into the ocean. Only the memory card was spared.
"I was just devastated," she said. "But everyone said, 'no, no' -- we have equipment for you."
And for the remainder of the trip, using borrowed gear from her fellow shooters, Calleja scored nearly everything she wanted--lying flat on a path between lava rocks to get photos of baby boobies; swimming with sea lions "just doing this ballet around you"; tripping over her own feet when a mama sea lion scolded her for getting to close to a baby.
"I was well clear," she said. "We all had a good laugh."
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/steve2.jpg"><img class="wp-image-4802 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/steve2.jpg" alt="" width="1680" height="1120" /></a>Photo: Steve Martine
The Galapagos revealed itself in different ways to all the photographers. Dunn was flipping through some images one night and nearly deleted one he had shot from a cliff while trying to capture birds in flight. But upon closer examination, he discovered he had captured a superb image of a large rock covered with marine iguanas, including one he said looked like Godzilla.
"There's stuff hidden in the rocks all over the place," Dunn marveled. "You almost need a spotter when you're looking through the lens: 'Hey! Coming in at 2 o'clock!'"
Dunn was enchanted by the rich diversity of wildlife -- from the colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs perched on the rocks to the sea lions reclining on park benches.
"I thought I'd sneak over by one and he jumps up and barks at me," Dunn said. "The big males are doing that alpha thing all the time. They look like they're trying to kill each other, but they're not."
Dunn owns a warehouse in Nashville, Tennessee's arts district where he's putting together the Lensmen Project-- a gallery of nature photography by travelling shooters. He said the Galapagos trip spurred him to get serious about it.
Improving his skills with Modra, he said, is "like getting to paint with Picasso. And Ron is great fun."
*******
Guy Harvey Outpost will mount a second land-based Galapagos photo safari led by Ron Modra October 29-Nov. 5. For complete details, pricing and reservations, visit <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com">www.guyharveyoutpost.com</a> or call the travel desk at 800-513-5257. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/galapagos-islands-of-eye-popping-photo-ops/){kind=link}
TRAVEL DESK : 800.513.5257
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