Monday, February 25th, 2008

Bahamas shark bite statement from Shark Angels

The Shark Angels, a team of engaging, young conservationists, were recently out on a shark expedition with Jim Abernethy aboard the Shear Water, and have issued a statement about yesterday’s tragic shark bite in the Bahamas.

The Angels include Kim McCoy, Executive Director of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Julie Andersen, Director of Shark Savers, and Alison Kock, Marine Biologist with Save Our Seas Foundation. Also on the Shear Water was Rob Stewart, director of the award-winning documentary, Sharkwater. Continue reading to see their full statement.

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

Film Review: Island of the Great White Sharks

When it comes to Great White sharks, there are few ambivalent opinions. Whether its the diver next to you or the guy from Oklahoma who has never seen the ocean, we are either repulsed or drawn magnetically towards these enigmatic predators. Since a minor percentage of people, even divers, ever encounter a shark in the wild; the media plays a pivotal role in our perception of the ocean’s apex predators.

As a documentarian who loves to swim with sharks, I have to admit my bias towards Carcharodon carcharias, and after watching the premiere of RTSEA Productions’ film Island of the Great White Sharks at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach CA, I am also guilty of another emotion: absolute envy…

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

Light & Motion expands Stingray HD and Bluefin HC7 compatibility

Light & Motion has announced two housing options for the new Sony HDR-HC9 HDV camcorder - the Stingray HD and Bluefin HC7. Both feature a 3.5” high-resolution monitor back and electronic controls, and the Stingray HD can adapt to multiple Sony HD video cameras using modular camera trays. Continue reading for the full press release and images of the housings…

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

Sign petitions to protect reefs in Hawaii, protest slaughter of whales

On Monday, February 25, 2008, the Hawaiian Legislature will hear testimony on Senate Bill 3225 which intends to regulate aquarium trade harvesting in Hawaii for the first time. Previously, the Hawaiian harvesting fisheries have self-reported “$820,000 [in sales] while the trade group Hawai’i Tropical Fish Association publicly estimated it’s total sales at around $4.9 million for the same year”, or nearly six times more than reported harvested.

If you’ve had the experience to snorkel or dive in the Hawaiian Islands (you do not have to be a resident of Hawaii), take a minute to submit your testimony before Monday about the importance of limiting harvesting of reef fish life.

In addition, a new online whaling protest petition intended for the International Whaling Commission has garnered over a million signatures - visit Whales Revenge to add your support.

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

Fantasea announces Nano “Spotter” LED dive light

Fantasea Line has introduced the Nano “Spotter” LED dive light, featuring five LED bulbs that last up to 60 hours on four AAA batteries. The dive light, depth rated to 100ft, can be fitted with one of five different color disks (white, blue, yellow, green and red) for easy identification during night, wreck, or cave diving (no more colored Cyalume light sticks).

Continue to the Fantasea Line website for the full press release and pricing details…

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

OWU 2008 photo/video contest winners announced

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s 3rd Annual Wetpixel and DivePhotoGuide International Underwater Photography & Video Competition, which is held each year in association with Our-World Underwater! Numerous Wetpixel members grace the esteemed list, which is available at the contest website. Stay tuned—winning images and videos will be posted later on this week.

Monday, February 18th, 2008

Steven Lindfield chosen as 2008/2009 Australasian Rolex Scholar

On February 10, 2008, Steven Lindfield was selected as the 2008/2009 Our World Underwater Scholarship Society’s Australasian Rolex Scholar. An Australian citizen, Lindfield graduated with a B.S. in Marine Science from the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, and hopes to dedicate his work to the marine environment.

Continue reading for the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society announcement and a full biography of Lindfield, or visit the OWU-SS website for more information about the organization…

Monday, February 18th, 2008

Seatool PMW-EX1 underwater housing for Sony PMW-EX1

Reef Photo & Video has announced that Seatool is developing a hybrid housing for the Sony PMW-EX1. The housing will feature electronic controls for Record, Zoom, and Focus, and mechanical controls for other camera functions.

Intended to ship in March, Seatool’s PMW-EX1 housing positions the cameras electronic viewfinder at a 45 degree upward angle and is compatible with accessory lens ports, including a 170mm optically coated glass dome port supporting fisheye and superwide adapters.

Sunday, February 17th, 2008

Yeang Chng is PDN World in Focus 2008 winner

A photograph taken by Wetpixel member Yeang Chng (Ychng) placed as Best of Category in the Wilderness Photography category of the 2008 PDN World in Focus competition. The image of two scalloped hammerheads previously was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Wetpixel/Our World Underwater competition.

Chng was also awarded the Grand Prize in Outdoor Photographer and PADI’s Aquatic Inspiration contest with a photograph of a cuttlefish in Raja Ampat - a full-page version of the shot is featured in this month’s Outdoor Photographer magazine.

Sunday, February 17th, 2008

California Beach Dive Photo Competition 2008

Celebrating its 27th year, the annual California Beach Dive Photo Competition (CBDPC) is held every spring in Monterey, California by the Northern California Underwater Photographic Society (NCUPS). This is a one-day competition where all photos must be taken from beach dives along the Monterey coastline.

Entries are accepted in both film and digital formats, and underwater photographers have the chance to win up to $20,000 in prizes, including trips to foreign destinations and scuba and photography gear. This year’s competition is being held on May 31 and June 1, 2008.

Continue reading for the full press release and more information on participating…

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