Hospital Hole – Manatees, originally uploaded by mccrystalimage.

I have been diving for 12 years now. I really do love it. It is amazing and relaxing and challenging at the same time. One of the primary reasons I learned to dive was I grew up looking at National Geographic’s under water images and being completely fascinated by them.

This is one of my favorite dives, Hospital Hole on the Weeki Wachee River. It is a deep and dark cavern that opens up under the river. I have been watching it grow and change for many years now.

I love this time of year. The Gulf of Mexico is cold and the manatees come into the warmer waters of the springs. Hospital Hole is not a hot spot for party barges of divers, so there is a peaceful air about the experience. I’ve also noticed the manatees that come there are more likely to approach you than on other springs.

For this dive I chose to photograph in black and white with Tri-x. It was like old times. I learned a lot about photography shooting Tri-x in High School and College.

This scene is a manatee sleeping, resting her chin on a ledge.