"There is no such thing as a photo with less than 1000 fish in it”
We recently had a chance to chat to Gug, underwater photographer and owner of the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Gallery in Florida. Gug and his wife Suzanne visited Misool in October 2022 to run two back-to-back photography workshops. Here’s a bit more on why Gug came out of ‘retirement' especially for Misool.
“Misool really is the most magical place. It’s undeniably the heart of the Coral Triangle,” states Gug with his trademark enthusiasm. “I’m frequently asked where the best place is to dive. It’s a hard question, but if pressed I would say Misool and I’ve made over 10,000 dives in 60 countries.”
Part of Gug’s reasoning is the number of fish and diversity of species. “In Misool you can find the most fish per coral head. And there is no such thing as a photo with less than 1000 fish in it.” (Editor’s note: this is not verified by science…but it’s probably true.) Gug mentions the ‘Finding Nemo Effect’ that is prevalent, particularly among newer divers: that is to say that divers and snorkellers are seeking reefs like the ‘Drop Off’, a fictional location in the animated film. Pristine and often unattainable in today’s world, except, Gug says, in Misool.
If the diving is excellent, it’s the people who take the trip to the next level. “Team Misool does everything to get you as close as possible to the wildlife and nature that you want to see. Local knowledge coupled with extreme enthusiasm helps to meet the guests’ goals and visions.”
As part of their business, Gug and Suzanne have conducted workshops for between 1000-1200 students over the years. As our guests found, it wasn't just divers who were able to benefit from their extensive experience and knowledge. The nightly lectures covered a broad range of topics such as how to film coconut crabs at night and star photography on South Beach. Underpinning all of the lectures is the idea that you don't need fancy gear: the best camera for the job is the one you already have. “We aim to encourage a realisation of what is possible and, more importantly, why you are taking photos in the first place.“
Gug’s dedication to nature is rewarded by breath-taking images and stories. One of his highlights of any Misool trip is the North Lagoon and its ubiquitous Green turtles.
“Of all the Green turtles who munch on the grasses in the shallow lagoon at Misool Resort, this one is my favourite, in part because of her oblivious temperament, but mostly because of her unique coppery - almost orangeish colouration.
"Over 3+ weeks, I spent many, many hours with her, learning her daily feeding patterns, watching damselfish peck at her eyes when she grazes too close to their algae patch, timing each breath cycle, watching little spats with the other turtles, and of course taking hundreds of photos and video clips with my D850, my iPhone, and even the drone.”
Thank you, Gug and Suzanne, for sharing your passion, knowledge and experience with our guests. We hope to cook up some more magic together in the future.