REFLECTIONS

My photo expedition to the Perseus submarine, Greece — Meine Foto-Expedition zum Wrack des U-Bootes Persus, Griechenland — La mia spedizione fotografica al relitto del sottomarino Persus, Grecia

Nico Luzzi — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 11:15:29 +0000

The Perseus was a 79 m long Royal Navy Parthian-class submarine launched in 1929. The night of 6 December 1941 she hit a mine while she was patrolling the waters around Kefalonia, she had left Malta only a few days earlier.

The conning tower

The 120 mm L40 mark X deck gun in a 50 degree CPXV mounting

The stern of the Perseus

The conning tower of the Perseus is covered in lost nets. A big seabream was caught in the net and we managed to free her. On the left, the periscope is still retracted in the tube, an indication that the sub was on the surface when it sank.

The escape hatch placed towards the aft of the vessel. From here the night of 6 December 1941, John Cape and three comrades left the Perseus behind swimming into the darkness and ascending towards the surface. From Cape´s encounter of what happened; he had a torch in his hand and while ascending he came across another mine, just very near him. He had to use the breathing device as a reverse parachute to slow down his ascent. When he finally reached the surface was alone, his destiny was to survive.

John Capes died in 1985. For his entire life, only his family truly believed in his story. It was not until 1997 that his name was finally cleared; that year a Greek diver discovered the wreck of the HMS Perseus, inside everything was as Cape described for years, it was the moment of truth, the proof that John Cape was really in that vessel that night and he really made that escape.

Shark attacks at Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia

Nico Luzzi — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:00:28 +0000

Exactly 20 years ago (seems yesterday !) on January 2nd 1999 I took my first PADI Open Water scuba dive licence in Airlie beach in Queensland, Australia, a truly great spot overlooking the spectacular and immense Great Barrier Reef. At that time sharks attacks were as frequent as today but there was no internet to share the news.

Here is today´s news of a shark attack near Airlie Beach that left two young British men injured, one with a severed foot. I am very happy that this time things didn´t end up worse as last summer when a man lost his life in the same area. Discussions and debates continue about whether culling sharks is right or wrong. Sure is that shark attacks occur as traffic accidents or any other despicable events. It´s also true that we are only guests at see and as scuba divers, we should be prepared to take some risks and be conscious of the problem as much as we do when we ride a bike or we go trekking.

My first Open Water scuba diving license with PADI, it was January 1999

What can we do for the seas – Cosa possiamo fare per il mare – Was wir für die See tun können

Nico Luzzi — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 11:59:00 +0000

This is a list regularly updated, I prepared over a certain period of time, of practical things we can do for the seas. – Questa è una lista sempre aggiornata di cose pratiche che possiamo fare quotidianamente in favore del mare. – Dies ist eine Liste von praktischen Dingen, die wir für die Meere tun können, die ich über einen bestimmten Zeitraum regelmäßig aktualisiert habe.

Don`t use shopping bags at the supermarket but bring always your own textile bag.
Reduce the use of single-use plastic objects like straws, plates, glasses etc.
Never discharge cooking oils in the kitchen, toilet or bathroom drain.
Recycle Properly.
Buy in bulk.
Buy second hand.
Stop buying water and use your own personal water bottles.
Participate in (or organize) a beaches or rivers clean-up initiatives.
Support Bans.
Avoid Products Containing Microbeads.
Avoid washing cotton-made clothes with loose fibres without using a laundry bag in the washing machine.
Wash your clothes less.
Support organizations addressing plastic pollution.
Spread the word and get involved!

Non usare sacchetti di plastica per la spesa al supermercato, ma porta con te sempre la tua borsa in tessuto.
Riduci al minimo l’uso di oggetti di plastica monouso come cannucce, piatti, bicchieri, ecc.
Non gettare mai gli oli di frittura negli scarichi della cucina, del bagno o nel WC.
Ricicla correttamente.
Acquista prodotti più prodotti sfusi e non confezionati.
Acquista oggetti di seconda mano.
Smetti per sempre di comprare acqua in bottiglie di plastica e usa la tua bottiglia personale riutilizzabile.
Partecipa a (o organizza) iniziative di pulizia di spiagge o fiumi.
Sosteni e rispetta i divieti.
Evita prodotti contenenti microsphere, come in cosmetici, detersivi ecc..
Evita di lavare i vestiti di cotone senza usare un sacchetto per il bucato in lavatrice.
Evita sprechi lavando meno i tuoi vestiti.
Sostieni le organizzazioni che si occupano dell’inquinamento da plastica.
Spargi la voce e sostieni come puoi a iniziative ambientali!

Benutzen Sie keine Einkaufstaschen im Supermarkt, sondern Ihre eigene Textiltasche.
Reduzieren Sie die Verwendung von Einweg-Kunststoffgegenständen wie Strohhalme, Teller, Gläser etc.
Lassen Sie niemals Speiseöle in den Abfluss der Küche, der Toilette oder des Badezimmers ablaufen.
Richtig recyceln.
Kaufen Sie lose Produkte.
Kaufen Sie gebrauchte Produkte.
Hören Sie auf, Wasser zu kaufen und verwenden Sie Ihre eigenen persönlichen Wasserflaschen.
Beteiligen Sie sich an (oder organisieren Sie) eine Initiative zur Reinigung von Stränden oder Flüssen.
Respectieren Sie Verbote.
Vermeiden Sie Produkte, die Mikroperlen enthalten.
Die ins Meer freigesetzten Mikrofasern sind noch ein wenig bekanntes, aber sehr ernstes Problem. Legen Sie die in der Maschine zu waschende Wäsche immer in spezielle Wäschesäcke.
Waschen Sie Ihre Kleidung weniger.
Unterstützen Sie Organisationen, die sich mit der Verschmutzung durch Plastik beschäftigen.
Verbreiten Sie das Wort und engagieren Sie sich!

My 2018 photo expedition to Albania — Meine Foto-Expedition 2018 nach Albanien — La mia spedizione fotografica in Albania 2018

Nico Luzzi — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 08:27:02 +0000

ENG – In July of 2018 I embarked in a new UW photo adventure, this time the destination was Albania and specifically two WWII Italian shipwrecks laying at the bottom of two different spots in Albanian waters: the Probitas and the hospital ship Po. Their stories are quite different but they shared the same tragic destiny and I spent several months of researching and reading about them in the past year.

Probitas

Behind the ship Probitas there is a dramatic piece of the Italian contemporary history unknown to mostly, the annihilation of the Infantry Division Perugia during World War II. Following the Italian surrender on 8 September 1943 several thousand man of the Division on operations in Albania are left to their destiny by the surrendering government headed by Badoglio back to Italy. A good number of them marched from to Porto Edda today Sarande with the hope to be evacuated. The Probitas one of the last ships available but failed to accomplish her mission that day of 24 September 1944; some four different attacks of German Junkers 87 sent her at the bottom of the sea in the port of Sarande, Porto Edda those days.

DEU – Im Juli dieses Jahres startete ich ein neues UW-Fotoabenteuer, diesmal war das Ziel Albanien und zwar zwei italienische Schiffswracks aus dem Zweiten Weltkrieg, die auf dem Grund von zwei verschiedenen Stellen in albanischen Gewässern lagen: der Probitas und dem Krankenhausschiff Po. Ihre Geschichten sind ganz unterschiedlich, aber sie teilten das gleiche tragische Schicksal und ich verbrachte im vergangenen Jahr mehrere Monate damit, über sie zu recherchieren und zu lesen.

Probitas

Hinter dem Schiff Probitas verbirgt sich ein dramatisches Stück italienischer Zeitgeschichte, das den meisten unbekannt ist, die Vernichtung der Infanteriedivision Perugia im Zweiten Weltkrieg.
Nach der Kapitulation Italiens am 8. September 1943 werden mehrere tausend Mann der Division für Operationen in Albanien von der kapitulierenden Regierung unter der Leitung von Badoglio nach Italien zurückgelassen.
Viele von ihnen marschierten heute von Porto Edda nach Sarande mit der Hoffnung, evakuiert zu werden. Die Probitas, eines der letzten verfügbaren Schiffe, konnte ihre Mission an diesem Tag, dem 24. September 1944, nicht erfüllen; etwa vier verschiedene Angriffe von deutschen Junkern 87 schickten sie damals auf den Meeresgrund im Hafen von Sarande, Porto Edda. Dieses Ereignis war das Schicksal vieler unglücklicher Männer, die nicht mehr nach Hause zurückkehren konnten. Insbesondere wurden alle 120 Offiziere der Perugia-Division, einschließlich ihres Generals Ernesto Chiminello, der die Deutschen nach einigen Tagen verhaftete, nur wenige Kilometer vom Standort der Probitas entfernt, summarisch hingerichtet. i

ITA – Nel luglio di quest’anno mi sono imbarcato in una nuova avventura fotografica UW, questa volta la destinazione era l’Albania e in particolare due relitti italiani della seconda guerra mondiale che giacevano in due diversi punti sul fondo delle acque albanesi: la Probitas e la nave ospedale Po. Le loro storie sono molto diverse, ma condividono lo stesso tragico destino e ho trascorso diversi mesi di ricerche e letture su di loro nell’ultimo anno.

Probitas

Dietro la nave Probitas c’è un pezzo drammatico della storia contemporanea italiana sconosciuta ai più, l’annientamento della Divisione di Fanteria Perugia durante la seconda guerra mondiale.
In seguito alla resa italiana dell’8 settembre 1943, diverse migliaia di uomini della Divisione di stanza in Albania sono lasciati al loro destino dal governo italiano guidato da Badoglio.
La Probitas fu una delle poche e ultime navi inviate in Albania in quei concitati giorni dopo la resa, per un tentativo di recupero dei nostri valorosi soldati italiani, ma non riuscì a ultimare la sua missione, quel giorno del 24 settembre 1944 quattro diversi attacchi di tedeschi Junkers 87 la mandarono in fondo al mare nel porto di Sarande, all´epoca Porto Edda. Un buon numero degli uomini della Perugia tentò allora una disperata marcia verso Porto Palermo un altro punto di possibile attracco di altre navi che non arrivarono mai. Questo avvenimento segnò il destino di molti di questi giovani sfortunati che non poterono più fare ritorno a casa. In particolare, tutti i 120 ufficiali della divisione Perugia incluso il suo gen. Ernesto Chiminello che arresisi dopo alcuni giorni ai tedeschi furono giustiziati sommariamente e gattati con zavorre in mare proprio a qualche chilometro di distanza da dove si trova la Probitas.

The motor vessel Ansaldo San Giorgio I before changing its name and becoming Probitas.

Das Motorschiff Ansaldo San Giorgio I, bevor es seinen Namen ändert und zu Probitas wird.

La motonave Ansaldo San Giorgio I prima di divenire Probitas.

I own two newspaper clippings from the old times. The motorboat S. Giorgio built at the Ansaldo shipyard in Genoa in 1914, later changed its name to Probitas.

Zwei Zeitungsausschnitte aus dieser Zeit in meinem Besitz. Das 1914 am Ansaldo di Genova gebaute und später in Probitas umbenannte Motorboot S. Giorgio.

Due ritagli di giornale dell´epoca in mio possesso. La motonave S. Giorgio costruita presso la Ansaldo di Genova nel 1914, cambiò successivamente nome in Probitas.

Sarande, Albania, navigation equipment deep inside the Probitas. The Probitas is 115 meters long. With a tonnage of 5,084 tons. was launched in 1914 by Ansaldo of Genoa under the name of St. George I.

Sarande, Albanien, Navigationsausrüstung tief im Inneren der Probitas. Die Probitas ist 115 Meter lang und hat eine Tonnage von 5.084 Tonnen, die 1914 von Ansaldo von Genua unter dem Namen St. Georg I. gestartet wurde.

Sarande, Albania, nella Probitas, strumentazione di navigazione. La Probitas è lunga 115 metri e la sua stazza di 5.084 ton., fu varata nel 1914 dalla Ansaldo di Genova con il nome di S. Giorgio I.

Sarande, Albania, one of the two giant propellers and the helm of the Italian ship Probitas appear as ghosts of the abyss.

Sarande, Albanien, einer der beiden Riesenpropeller und das Steuer des italienischen Schiffes Probitas erscheinen als Geister des Abgrunds.

Sarande, Albania, una delle due gigantesche eliche e il timone della nave italiana Probitas appaiono come fantasmi degli abissi.

Sarande, Albania, objects belonging to our soldiers such as truck tires, water flasks and mess tin are scattered in one of the huge holds of the Probitas.

Sarande, Albanien, Gegenstände unserer Soldaten wie LKW-Reifen, Wasserflaschen und Kochgeschirr sind in einem der riesigen Laderäume der Probitas verstreut.

Sarande, Albania, alcuni oggetti appartenenti ai nostri soldati come pneumatici di camion, borracce e gavette sono sparsi in una delle enormi stive della Probitas.

Sarande, Albania on the motorboat Probitas, the convoy ships had a rudder manoeuvre on the outer decks, this meant being exposed to the elements of nature but it was necessary to act quickly in response to raids and emergencies.

Sarande, Albanien, auf dem Motorboot Probitas, hatten die Konvoischiffe ein Rudermanöver auf den Außendecks, was bedeutete, den Witterungseinflüssen ausgesetzt zu sein, aber es war notwendig, schnell auf Überfälle und Notfälle zu reagieren.

Sarande, Albania sulla motonave Probitas, le navi da convogli avevano un timone di manovra sui ponti esterni, ciò voleva dire essere esposti alle intemperie ma era necessario per agire velocemente in risposta a raid ed emergenze.

Sarande, Albania, in the Probitas, the bathtub in the officers’ toilet .

Sarande, Albanien, in den Probitas, die Badewanne in der Bordtoilette der Offiziere.

Sarande, Albania, nella Probitas, la vasca da bagno nella toilette degli ufficiali .

Vlore – The hospitalship Po

The Po was originally a luxury passenger ship called Vienna, 135 m long with a tonnage of 7.289 t. she was launched in 1911 and served as a military hospital in 1916 and 1935-1937, 1940-1941.
On the night of March 14, 1941, she was at anchor in the bay of
Vlore darkened and was waiting to load many wounded the next day. It was
sighted and sunk just before midnight by an English torpedo plane
Swordfish with a 730 kg torpedo, she went down in about 10 minutes

On board were 240 people among them doctors, auxiliaries and sailors, only 24 were miraculously killed. Among them were some red cross nurses. A “special” nurse was also on board as a volunteer, her name was Edda Ciano Mussolini, and she was among the rescued.

Vlore – Das Krankenhausschiff Po

Der Po war ursprünglich ein luxuriöses Passagierdampfschiff namens Wien, 135 m lang und mit einer Tonnage von 7.289 Tonnen. Es wurde 1911 in Betrieb genommen und diente 1916 und 1935-1937, 1940-1941 als Militärkrankenhaus.

In der Nacht des 14. März 1941 war es in der Bucht von Vlore verdeckt und wartete darauf, viele Verwundete am nächsten Tag aufzunehmen. Es wurde kurz vor Mitternacht von einem englischen Torpedoflugzeug gesichtet und versenkt. Schwertfisch mit einem 730 kg schweren Torpedo sank in 10 Minuten.

An Bord befanden sich 240 Personen aus dem Sanitäterspersonal, Hilfskräfte und Matrosen, es gab wie durch ein Wunder nur 24 Opfer. Unter ihnen befand sich auch eine Schwester vom Roten Kreuz. Eine spezielle Schwester namens Edda Ciano Mussolini wurde als Freiwillige an Bord gerettet.

Vlore – La nave ospedale Po

La Po era originarimente un piroscafo passeggeri di lusso chiamato Vienna, lunga 135 m con una stazza di 7.289 t. Fu varata nel 1911 e servì da ospedale militare nel 1916 e 1935-1937, 1940-1941.

La notte del 14 marzo 1941 era in rada nella baia di Vlore oscurata in attesa di caricare molti feriti il giorno successivo. Fu avvistata e affondata poco prima di mezzanotte da un aereo silurante inglese Swordfish con un siluro da 730 Kg, affondò in 10 minuti.

A bordo vi errano 240 addetti medici, ausiliari e marinai, furono miracolosamente solo 24 le vittime. Tra loro alcune infermiere crocerossine. Si salvò una crocerossina speciale di nome Edda Ciano Mussolini a bordo anche lei come volontaria.

Albania, Vlore. The upper bridge of the Po surrounded by marine life

Albanien, Vlore. Oberdeck des Krankenhausschiffes Po, umgeben von Meerestieren.

Albania, Vlore. Ponte superiore della nave ospedale Po circondato da vita marina

Albania, Vlore. The upper bridge of the Po

Albanien, Vlore. Oberdeck des Krankenhausschiffes Po

Albania, Vlore. Ponte superiore della nave ospedale Po

Albania, Vlore. The bow of the Po is completely covered in fish nets.

Albanien, Vlore. Der Bug des Po ist vollständig mit Fischernetzen bedeckt.

Albania, Vlore. La prua della Po è completamente ricoperta da reti da pesca.

Albania, Vlore. The upper bridge of the Po.

Albanien, Vlore. Oberdeck des Krankenhausschiffes Po.

Albania, Vlore. Ponte superiore della nave ospedale Po.

Albania, Vlore. One object intrigued me, it´s a small medicine glass bottle with it´s content preserved.

Albanien, Vlore. Ein Objekt hat mich fasziniert, es ist eine Glasflasche mit innenliegender, noch vorhandener Medizin.

Albania, Vlore. Un oggetto mi ha incuriosito, si tratta di una boccetta in vetro con al suo interno ancora presente della medicina.

Albania, Vlore. The command bridge of the Po. Above, the empty cranes of the lifeboats that were lowered into the sea the night of the sinking.

Albanien, Vlore. Die Kommandobrücke des Po, über den leeren Kränen der Rettungsboote, die in der Nacht des Untergangs ins Meer gesenkt wurden.

Albania, Vlore. Il ponte di comando della nave ospedale Po, in alto le gru vuote delle scialuppe di salvataggio che furono calate in mare la notte dell’affondamento.

Albania, Vlore. The main deck where some of the wooden floors are still preserved after almost eighty years at the bottom of the sea. In the photo my local guide Lace poses for me.

Albanien, Vlore. Die Spaziergänge, auf denen sich nach so vielen Jahren noch einige der Holzböden befinden, sind erhalten. Auf dem Foto mein lokaler Reiseleiter Lace.

Albania, Vlore. Le passeggiate dove sono ancora presenti preservati ancora dopo quasi ottant´anni alcuni dei pavimenti in legno. Nella foto la mia guida locale Lace posa per me.

Albania, Vlore. The command bridge of the Po.

Albanien, Vlore. Die Kommandobrücke des Po.

Albania, Vlore. Il ponte di comando della nave ospedale Po

Albania, Vlore. The impressive bow of the Po.

Albanien, Vlore. Der imposante Bug des Po.

Albania, Vlore. La suggestiva prua della Po.

Alcune curiosità dell´epoca relative alla nave ospedale Po. Un poster della società di navigazione Lloyd Triestino proprietaria della nave Pò. Prima di divenire una nave ospedale militare la Pop era un lussuoso piroscafo che trasportava facoltosi italiani in viaggi di piacere e d’affari sulle rotte del Medio Oriente e dell´Africa. Cartoline del Piroscafo Vienna in navigazione e di una delle cabine di prima classe, le stesse che durante la guerra divennero, camere d´ospedale, sale operatorie, laboratori di analisi ecc. Foto d´epoca della Po che ritrae una famiglia in navigazione, i menu di bordo dell´epoca.

Einige Kuriositäten der Zeit bezogen sich auf das Krankenhausschiff Po. Ein Poster der Reederei Lloyd Triestino, Besitzer des Schiffes Po. Bevor die Po ein militärisches Krankenhausschiff wurde, war sie ein luxuriöses Kreuzfahrtschiff, der wohlhabende Italiener auf Freizeit- und Geschäftsreisen auf den Routen des Nahen Ostens und Afrikas beförderte. Postkarten des Wiener Schiffes auf dem Weg und einer der erstklassigen Kabinen, wie sie während des Krieges entstanden sind, Krankenhausräume, Operationssäle, Analyselabore, etc…. Historisches Bild des Po mit einer Familienfahrt, den Menüs an Bord der damaligen Zeit.

Un ritaglio pubblicitario di giornale d´epoca illustra le rotte del Lloyd Triestino di cui la Vienna faceva parte.

Eine aus einer historischen Zeitung geschnittene Anzeige veranschaulicht die Routen des Lloyd Triestino, zu dem Wien gehörte.

La pubblicazione della Croce Rossa Italiana del 1941 interamente dedicata alla commemorazione delle tre Sorelle perite durante l’affondamento della Po. Edda Ciano Mussolini si salvò grazie ad una di loro e volle a tutti i costi che i corpi delle tre sorelle fossero recuperati dal relitto. Dovette arrivare un palombaro specializzato appositamente da Taranto, impiegò diversi giorni per localizzarle e recuperarle. Per loro ci furono funerali di stato. Una quarta sorella ferita morì per complicazioni da setticemia. Successivamente tutte le altre vittime furono recuperate.

Die Veröffentlichung des Italienischen Roten Kreuzes von 1941 widmet sich ganz dem Gedenken an die drei Schwestern, die beim Untergang des Po starben. Edda Ciano Mussolini wurde dank eines von ihnen gerettet und wollte um jeden Preis, dass die Leichen der drei Schwestern aus dem Wrack geborgen werden. Ein speziell ausgebildeter Taucher aus Tarent musste ankommen und es dauerte mehrere Tage, um sie zu finden und abzuholen. Für sie gab es staatliche Beerdigungen. Eine vierte verwundete Schwester starb an Komplikationen. Anschließend wurden alle anderen Opfer geborgen.

Hinweis: Die Informationen und historischen Details, die ich in einem bestimmten Zeitraum gesammelt habe, sind öffentlich zugänglich. Alle hier gezeigten Fotos mit Ausnahme des Fotos, das sich auf den Ansaldo San Giorgio I bezieht, sind urheberrechtlich geschützt.

Nota: le informazioni e i dati storici che ho raccolto in un certo periodo di tempo sono di publico dominio e disponibili per la divulgazione. Tutte le foto qui riportate, ad eccezione di quella relativa all’Ansaldo San Giorgio I, sono protette da copyright.

Cashless payments the way to go soon also in Europe and the rest of the world?

Nico Luzzi — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 12:05:13 +0000

A reflection I have made in one of my frequent business trips to China, here I come to realize how China is moving towards a cashless life so quickly with all the contradictory aspects associated to this thing. One for all the data protection issue associated with paying everything by banks or third parties platforms..but hey it’s China who “cares” really about data protection at the end of the day here.. or not?

Paying without money for 10 days on the row, I come from a part of Europe, Germany, where around 80% of transactions are made in cash (in Italy 86%, in Holland 45%) for reasons of course associated to delays in embracing new cashless technologies but also a more conservative approach when it comes to saying goodby to “evil” cash.

I never imagined it was so easy to survive for so long without cash in my pocket, I mean not even a Mao Yuan! Now imagine a busy Saturday full of things to do, Post Office, laundry, taxi to the city centre to have an haircut, a stop to the small vendor to buy a coffee on the go, then to the favorite downtown restaurant for a quick bite, taxi back home but not before I buy some bread and some groceries at the supermarket, and for every transaction no need to dig in your pockets for cash or use a bank card just the mobile phone and one app like WeChat or AliPay and off you go. But that’s not all, obvious things like finding a menu on some restaurants tables can be a thing of the past, I stepped in a few of them and all I had to do was sit at the table scan they QR code and that’s all it was necessary to check the menu, order and then pay directly the bill… In need of an invoice? I did the same, scan the QR code available at the cashier and they printed an invoice with company heading for me or I could do at home or office by simply using the QR code on the receipt, simple and hassle free. After this experience I will have a strange feeling putting my hands in the pocket and counting cash in front of a clerk again.

Is this the real future of payments? Or it’s a peculiar development only in this part of the world where don’t forget credit cards are unknown? No doubt it’s a really practical and handy way to make transactions of all kind but how about other important aspects related to the use of cash in transactions? More to come on this issue.. stay tuned.

Nico

Another great photo safari escape – Tioman Island East coast Juara Bay

Nico Luzzi — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 01:39:43 +0000

Last week I treated myself for my 30th+ birthday ; ) and headed for a long weekend down to Tioman Island Malaysia to attend the first Malaysia based INON workshop organised by Tim Ho/Oceanic PhtoLab, special guest from Japan of course Torii-san I like to call “INON Maiden”. My objective was practicing with light and during the two full days of shooting I left my strobes on dry land. I am thankful to mentor friend shifu Tim Ho for the great advises.

Reaching the place was easier to say than to do; besides the 5,5 hours flight from Hangzhou to KL and the 5 hours car ride to reach the East cost of Malaysia (special thanks to the fab couple Fahrana and Rajia Oceanic PhotoLab.com for the long driving), it took another 2 hours boat trip to reach finally Tekek pier on the island, then a short 4×4 ride in a thick rain forest to finally reach the tranquil Juara Beach on the East secluded coast of Tioman Island. The place and the event highlights along with some of my shots are depicted below. Hope you enjoy!

Morning glory, sunrise through the jetty in low tide

Juara Bay looking South early morning

Amigo dive resort where Kanji and An were best guides and spotters

Juara Beach, near the jetty

Our bungalows right “on” Juara Beach

Torii-san “INON Maiden” best bungalow’s mate (photo courtesy of Tim Ho’s FB page)

One of the highlights of the stay was when we almost sunk our boat due to overloading, we all had a good laugh

There was even a cake for me to celebrate my B-day (photo courtesy of Tim Ho, FB page, human-light torch courtesy of INON Maiden Torii-san)

Ready to rock n’ roll

(courtesy TimHo/Oceanic PhotoLab https://www.facebook.com/oceanicphotolab/?fref=nf)

Until next time happy shooting everybody! (courtesy TimHo/Oceanic PhotoLab on FB)

The last day we visited the Juara Turtle Project, a great initiative; every year a number of turtles mainly green turtle and only a few hawksbill female turtles return to Juara Beach to deposit their eggs here, this is one of the very few remaining nesting spots on Tioman Island. The project act as a protective measure to avoid eggs to be looted by ignorant people; beaches are patrolled, the nests are spotted and the eggs are removed and placed into a hatchery where the baby turtles can hatch in peace before being released into the ocean. It’s another journey full of dangers the one beginning that day; only 1 out of 10.000 baby turtles will make it back to Juara Beach some 20+ years later to deposit their eggs! What a great place, please visit www.juaraturtleproject.com

The hatchery, it takes about 8 to 10 weeks for the turtle babies to hatch

There is a lot to learn from the project’s team

And last but not least here are my highlight photos from this great new UW photo shooting safari. Unless differently indicated the photos are slightly computer edited not to cheat the viewer but to enhance their appearance and make them what to my eyes looks more attractive. I have used Olympus E-PL5 and INON torch without strobes.

Fishes revenge

Nudi picaboo (slight crop only).

Cushion sea star shrimp (only slight cropping). She is so tiny that even through my +20 dioptre focal lens I could not see her clearly enough, only a magnifier saved me here.

Waking talking blenny. Blennies are actually my n. 1 favorite macro subjects!! (only edited in B&W)

A funny encounter between blenny and goby (only edited in B&W). After many attempts I had to position myself diagonally to finally get them both in focus

Reef blenny (25% cropped). My 60mm (120 equivalent) is fixed but the good focus distance allows me to stay at safe distance so not to scare off the timid blenny.

A curious rock blenny reaches out of his home on a vertical wall. Blennies love surge zones and yes it was a surge exposed area! This is only slightly cropped so without zooming look how close I was

Tiger goby (tweaked the temperature)

A colorful nudibranch right below Juara jetty, unfortunately she was avidly feeding on the hydroid and would not allow me to see her face but rather her bum, yet her colors are still vivid and beautiful to me

That’s all for now, thanks for visiting and hit like it if you enjoyed reading. Cheers

Nico

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Dhaka reflections

Nico Luzzi — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 20:04:34 +0000

This month’s barbarian assassination of nine Italians (among a total of 20 victims) in the diplomatic highly guarded district of Gulshan Dhaka the capital of Bangladesh was a really sad event for me. They were people I had a lot in common with; the passion for experiencing other cultures from close distance, the courage of overcoming cultural differences and language barriers even while doing business. I want to share some reflections dedicated to those poor souls who lost their lives in that restaurant.

It was only two months ago at the end of April 2016 when I visited Dhaka for a few days business trip and I was in Gulshan area for a business lunch but in a different restaurant. The security check points at the entrance of the restaurant or the hotels and other public places where foreigners use to hang out might work as a deterrent for improvised criminals but not for an organised terrorist attack like the one at the Holey Artisan bakery.

Looking back at my last visit to this country thirteen years ago I found that things haven’t changed too much, except one thing; at that time there were no terrorism threats like today. Stepping out from the plane the smell of humidity in the air and the sudden heat immediately brought my memories back to many years earlier, it was like rewinding a movie tape backwards. The street crowded with cars and tricycles with beggars approaching at the traffic lights, the loud intermittent sound of klaxons and the dust covering everything in a grey thick layer are still there where I left them. But then there are the contrasting beautiful vivid colors of rickshaws and pass-by women dressed in their sarees. Still embedded in my mind are the strong smells of spices engulfing my nose again.

And one more thing hasn’t changed; the warm hospitality of Bangla people and their genuine desire to show you the best part of their culture. This time I have visited one of the most important denim factories in Asia, a model factory with some 4000 workers. First stop, the headquarter in the city, then to reach the factory just outside Dhaka there was a chopper departing straight from the roof of the building, the traffic in Dhaka is so thick that it would take half day to reach the location. Unfortunately I had little time to use my camera, and I left Dhaka and flew back to China only a few hours after the meetings. I hope there will be a chance next time I visit.

Street vendor

Murales

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My 2015 photo trips’ highlight – The history of the WWII wrecks of Truk Lagoon

Nico Luzzi — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 14:30:44 +0000

2015 was a prolific year for my photography adventures, I have been always interested in WWII history especially in the Pacific area and in February of last year a long time dream trip, one of the top five in my list came true, dive and photograph the WWII Japanese ghost fleet at the bottom of Truk atoll (today Chuuk) in the Federated States of Micronesia. Before and after this trip I did my due research and my homework and following are some of my interesting findings.

1 – The location of Chuuk Atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia (Caroline Islands)

2 – My dive permit

I arrived in Truk on 16 February 2015, exactly 71 years before my trip, on 16-18 February 1944 the American Task Force 58 struck a massive attack on this formidable stronghold and strategic base of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific. It was a crucial moment of the WWII.

During my trip while stopping over in Guam on the way to Micronesia I met Dr. Dianne Strong a long time visitor of Truk, researcher and author of the book “Witness to War” about the Japanese domination time and the event that changed the destiny of the atoll. We boarded the same flight to Truk, she was heading there to lead the celebrations for the 71^st anniversary ceremony and we had an interesting conversation about the existing literature on Truk and the wrecks.

The fleet resting underwater remained forgotten for 25 years until 1969 when the oceanographer and explorer Cap. Jacques Cousteau visited the lagoon and documented his findings in a documentary “Lagoon of lost ships” in 1970. At that time, only a few of the wrecks were discovered.

3 – The rising sun, the flag of the Imperial Japanese forces

The Japanese domination time was very long, during WWII Truk had over 27000 soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army and over 16000 men of the Imperial Japanese Navy stationed in or around the atoll. There were 5 airports, a submarine base, a seaplane base, a base of supply in torpedoes and a radar tracking station.

I own this small original banner measuring 15x25cm that was used by Japanese military families to celebrate their son’s departure for the war.

Possiedo questo piccolo stendardo originale di formato 15x25cm che veniva usato dalle famiglie dei militari giapponesi per celebrare la partenza del figlio per la guerra.

Ein kleines Originalbanner von 15x25cm, das von japanischen Militärfamilien verwendet wurde, um die Abreise ihres Sohnes in den Krieg zu feiern.

Original newspaper

The US task force 58 that launched the attack name coded Operation Hailstone was composed of 9 aircraft carriers, 7 battleship, over 500 dive bombers were used in the two days attack.

5 – Task Force 58 sailing to Truk

Due to the strategic importance of Truk as a military base, for the American forces and the public opinion this operation was equivalent by significance to the Japanese attack to Pearl Harbor. Moreover, some of the Japanese Imperial ships, aircrafts and submarines sunk during Operation Hailstone were directly or indirectly involved in the Japanese attack to Pearl Harbor of four years and two months earlier. Famous the phrase of the Admiral Chester Nimitz “The Pacific Fleet has returned at Truk the visit made by the Japanese Fleet at Pearl Harbor…”

7 – USS Intrepid on her way to launch strikes against Truk Atoll. Note the forward flight deck filled SBD Dauntless and TBF Avenger aircraft and one F4U Corsair on the outrigger sponson.

The massive scale attack with 30 air strikes in two days of at least 150 aircraft each was performed without any land invasion and resulted in heavy damages over the land base, and the Japanese fleet decimated. A total of 12 warships and 32 merchant vessels sent to the bottom of the lagoon, 2 submarines, over 275 planes destroyed and thousands of Japanese sailors perished.

8 – Avengers TBF rolling off the USS Monteray

9 – Daylight raids on Truk 16 Feb 1944

10 – Daylight raids on Truk 16 Feb 1944

11 – F6F-3 Hellcat fighters landing on USS Enterprise after raid on Truk

Compared to the Japanese side the US task force lost “only” 25 planes, 40 man and received damages on the US Intrepid aircraft-carrier and US Iowa cruiser as a result of the Japanese weak air borne defensive reaction.

12 – Strike photo taken from USS Intrepid aircraft showing burning targets and bomb splashes between the islands of Dublon and Fefan inside Truk Lagoon, Caroline Islands, 16 Feb 1944.

It is interesting to know that during Operation Hailstone for the first time ever dive-bombers used only radar guidance to strike night air attacks.

13 – After the raids on Truk 16 Feb 1944

14 – A Japanese Zero grounded on one of Truk’s islands

In the following weeks and months attacks from US Navy B-29 flying fortress brought Truk to his knees, on 2 September 1945 after almost two years of isolation and starvation Truk Atoll surrendered.

15 – Japanese surrender soldiers inspected by US officials on Truk

The surrendering documents were signed on the USS Portland.

16 Japanese delegation to surrender Truk 1945

Today only the location of around forty shipwrecks and eight aircrafts is known; at least fourteen more ships are still to be found.

17 – Map of the known wrecks’ locations

Below are some of the photos I took during my stay in Truk.

Some parts of Truk lagoon’s islands like Fefan or Weno Islands are today secluded and beautiful tropical spots, during WWII the Japanese used forced labor to flatten the ground and build airfields and other military installations, today they are for the most part fully covered by the jungle.

18 – The southern tip of Weno island an airfield during the Japanese time, still visible bunkers and other military installations

19 – Weno island

20 – The southern tip of Weno island

21 – Fefan island now covered in jungle where once was an airfield of the Japanese force

22 – View of Doblon island. The weather in this part of Micronesia is very unpredictable (the equator hey) and it was often suddenly cloudy and rainy out of a sunny blue sky.

23 – The cameras’ deck
24 – My camera gear ready for the next shooting

25 – Our days started always very early with first dive at 7.00 am and last night dive at 6.00 pm

26 – Moving the Siren early morning

27 – A fellow photographer in front of one of the two giant propellers of the Heian Maru

28 – Cannon and fellow divers, on the left the air bar of the Siren

29 – Posing in front of the propellers of the Heian Maru

30 – The Heian Maru and characters marks clearly visible

31 – The maneuver telegraph frozen in time at the bow of the Fujikawa Maru

31a – Mikronesien, Chuck. Der gleiche Telegraf von oben während des Fotos gesehen, benötigen Sie eine gute Technik, um die Kamera stabil zu halten, und Sie müssen sehr vorsichtig sein, um nicht auf irgendeine Form von Meereslebewesen zu gelangen, die sogar gefährlich sind, und um die Korallen nicht zu beschädigen.

32 – Me in front of the Rio de Janeiro Maru modelling for UW photographer Joanna O’Shea our group leader

33 – Me next to the Rio de Janeiro Maru’s propeller (photo courtesy of Joanna O’Shea, Bluewater)

34 – Me and soft fan on the Shinkoku Maru (photos courtesy of Joanna O’Shea, Bluewater)

35 – On top of the command bridge of a wreck (photo courtesy of a fellow photographer)

36 – A ghost in the deep blue. The bow of a wreck

37 – Diver and a bow cannon still pointing up towards the attacking planes

38 – The mast of a wreck

39 – Close-up of the helm inside the command bridge of the Nippo Maru

Some of the ships were so big that two or three dives could not cover the entire ship, it was necessary to plan different penetrations to see the most interesting parts of the wreck. Just to get an idea, the biggest wreck the Heian Maru has a total length of 163,3 m and a tonnage of almost 12.000 tons.

40 – Inside the hold of a wreck

41 – Stairs lead deeper in the belly of a wreck

42 – Signs of what once was daily life on the ship

Penetrating the wrecks is a back-chilling experience and needs planning and mental preparation, some areas like the ship infirmary of the Shinkoku Maru have still so much to tell; an operating table is still well visible (photo below) with some once daily sailors objects gathered on it. She served as cargo ship and was present during Pearl Harbour’s attack.

43 – The operating table in the infirmary of the ship Shinkoku Maru

The wrecks are war graves and still scattered with human remains, a sad reminder of what happened at the time of the attack, a high sense of respect is due while penetrating the wrecks.

44 – Human remains and artifact are gathered on the table

45 – Never again! Some artifacts deep inside a wreck

46 – A skull in the engine room of a wreck blown by a torpedo hit

Because of the depth and the repetitive deep dives it’s easy to surpass the limits of recreational diving and face the problems of decompression dives; proper planning, focus and concentration are crucial here. A great deal of attention is also necessary because of the presence of abundant war weapons like mines, explosives, torpedoes, munitions, and even war heads all still “active”.

47 – A massive m long submarine torpedo in the hold of a wreck

48 – In the Sankisan Maru. Ammunitions ammunitions and more ammunitions

49 – Above are some giant 45-cal shells 46 cm (18.1 in) still active I photographed into the belly of the Yamagiri Maru. The debate is if these massive 1400kg war-heads, the largest calibre shells ever fitted to a ship, were to be used on the two gigantic 73.000 tons battleships Musashi and Yamato, honor and pride of the Imperial Japanese Imperial Navy, the biggest battleships ever constructed in naval history.

50 – Me aiming at one of the Nippo Maru air vents, below is the shot I took here (photo Joanna O’Shea, Bluewater)

51 – A close look inside one of the air vents of the Nippo Maru

52 – An encrusted lamp

53 – A wooden box full of medicine bottles

54 – Water kettle

55 – Oxygen tank

56 – Artifacts collected in the past by fellow divers

57 – Passage-way fully engulfed by beautiful corals

58 – The command bridge of a wreck

59 – A truck in the hold of a wreck still quite well conserved

Underwater like on the surface, life ultimately wins over death; abundant hard and soft corals formations cover the wrecks, especially at depth within 15-18 mt, some of them were so beautiful they inspired many wide angle photos.

67 – Preparing the next shot

69 – Looking up to the blue from inside a wreck’s hold

70 – A coral wrasse getting very curious

71 – Hard coral formations are very spectacular

73 – Encounter with a lion fish

Aircraft wrecks – Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero “Zeke”

74 – The Japanese “Zero” a long time unbeatable fighting machine

75 – The 20mm wing cannon of the Zero fighter

76 – Face to face with the cannon. Beautiful soft and hard corals grows on the wreck.

Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bomber

81 – Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bombers and Zeros in formation

82 – Inside the Betty bomber, in the forward section the cockpit area

83 – After careful search I found this exit bullet hole on the fuselage of the Betty, it could be a 18mm

84 – The pilot’s seat is on the sandy bottom floor

85 – Close-up of the top turret

86 – Through the top turret hatch

87 – The toilet bowl lies on the sandy sea bottom

Note: the information and historical details I have collected over a long period are publicly available for divulgation. Most of the historical photos shown here are from the US National Archives and Records Administration.

References:

Witness to War: Truk Lagoon’s Master Diver Kimiuo AisekHardcover– 2013 by Dianne M. Strong (Author), David Jay Morris (Editor), Francis X. Hezel(Foreword)

World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon 1st Edition – 2001 by Dan E. Balley

http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/USNavyOperationHailStone.html

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Dedicated to you father

Nico Luzzi — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 08:48:15 +0000

Last long weekend was Chinese Dragon boat festival and I flew back to the Philippines for a new photo safari, Jason Mendoza of APH was my spot guide. Exactly last year at this time on 12/06/2015 I had to say goodbye for the last time to my dearest dad Rocco Giuseppe Luzzi, therefore this weekend was particularly full of deep memories and very emotional for me. I miss you father and my photos below are dedicated to you.

Contemplating the sunset while departing for a night dive

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Love vibes

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Fang blenny and eggs

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Cleaning station open

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Long weekend photo retreat in Anilao Philippines

Nico Luzzi — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 16:47:41 +0000

My Qingmingjie long weekend break in China I have spent in Anilao for a photo shooting trip marks my second visit to this underwater life macro photography pearl in the Philippines.

I had exactly in mind what I was after in this photo adventure, sea life behavior with eggs, eggs and eggs, clean stations action and hopefully some deep pygmy seahorses and decent photos of blue ringed octopus etc. It turned out better than I expected with my highlight being a beautiful leaf scorpion-fish that reminds me of a Roman gladiator and lots of breading action. Below is a small abstract of a few shots I have taken in these waters in the two days shooting.

But the real highlight of this trip was the wonderful time I have spent with celebrated UW photographer, coach and visionary entrepreneur Tim Ho and his crew at the Photo Hotel (or The Fugly Hotel named after the mascot of the hotel, omnipresent pug dog Fugly). Tim is a source of inspiration and a great entertainer; I arrived there expecting to be just a customer and end-up spending a great time with good friends who share the same passion. Thanks guys see you next time !

From left: Tim Ho, Me, Ivan G. Manzanares, Edison So

Caring parent (mantis shrimp)

Knock knock, who is it? A couple of yellow gobis come out of their home, an old piece of plastic pipe, to check out who is the intruder

Leaf scorpionfish

Blue-ringed octopus

Tesselated algherda nudibranch

A caring cardinal fish dad breeding the eggs in his mouth, he will spend about 7 days without eating until babies are born