Mention the term “muck diving” and most scuba divers in the know will immediately begin waxing about far off destinations with exotic names – places like Lembeh Straits, Anilao Philippines, …

Animal encounters can happen at anytime during a dive, and can leave life-long impressions. The encounter can occur in a flash or last an entire dive. As profound as the …

One of my favorite things about diving California is the opportunity to interact with sea lions and harbor seals. Inquisitive, playful and sometimes mischievous, these aquatic mammals are tons of fun. The …

I shot this photo while on a trip in the Northern Channel Islands in mid-November 2013. The Dendronotus iris has a veracious appetite for tube-dwelling anemones. They range widely in …

The Channel Islands National Park resides off the Southern California coast, ranging from the western tip of San Miguel Island to the east end of Anacapa. The park encompasses nearly …

Long Beach to Palau, in less than a few hours? I didn’t know the Concord was flying again! Actually, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach offers a great …

Words and Photos by Mike Bartick. For me, photography has been a never-ending learning curve. It’s a sometimes frustrating and always challenging craft that hooked me when I picked up …

Ambon is geographically positioned at the center of Indonesia’s “ring of fire,” between the Ceram and Banda Sea, in what is often called the gateway to Raja Ampat. Many dive …

Do you like the challenge of shooting wide angle photos in California? I love a challenge, and often times everyday life doesn’t throw enough of them at us. Real challenges, …

California’s resources have brought both boom and bust in many locations throughout our golden state, and in the wake, there has always been something to be found. In the case …