Hello again from vacation central aka Grand Cayman! Today I would like to share with you a fun new toy I have tried out for the first time on this trip, a snorkeling mask with a built in camera. I actually bought it at the Oakland boat show last spring; it was on sale ("Boat Show Special!") at the West Marine booth, and I couldn't resist. Around $100 as I recall. It has been sitting in my closet ever since gathering dust, so I was delighted to finally put it to the test.
The camera is pretty simple to operate: throw in a couple of triple A batteries, adjust the mask, and you are in business. It only has two buttons, an on-off switch, which shuts off automatically after three minutes of inactivity, and a shutter release. It makes a little beep when you do anything, which is helpful when you are trying to swim and take pictures at the same time. Unfortunately, it also has a video mode whic
h toggles with the single photo mode as you push the on-off button. You have to hold it down for several seconds to actively turn the camera off. I have several accidental videos where I thought I was turning the camera on but in fact was advancing the mode. There is a faint light that changes color between modes, but I'm not good at seeing it yet. Hopefully all this will sort itself out with practice!
The camera is way better than any of the underwater cameras I have tried in the past (mostly cheap disposable ones, lol). Sporting 5 megapixels, it takes pictures that aren't half bad. Don't be dismayed by my initial attempts; so far I have just paddled out off the beach behind my sister's 
place where the water was fairly cloudy because of wind and current (plus a trip to Stingray City). Also I had no fins, so couldn't get down where the fish were long enough to shoot. I just couldn't wait for a good spot and the right equipment to have at it. I am pretty excited to try it out on a serious snorkeling outing. Maybe by the end of the week I can wow you with some spectacular fish photos!
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