Feliz Año Nuevo 2012 From Cozumel!

Feliz Año Nuevo 2012! to all our friends and family. We'll be in downtown San Miguel, Cozumel tonight ringing in the new year. Have a safe New Year's Eve and we hope 2012 brings you much joy, success & happiness!

Christmas in Cozumel - The Gifts Are Underwater!

Palancar Reef is Cozumel’s most famous diving attraction with massive housed-sized coral buttresses. Palancar’s reef structure is comprised of a three and a half mile long stretch of patch reefs, sand channels, impressive drop-offs and towering coral ramparts, the peaks of which rise to within 60 to 100 feet of the surface.  The walls of these monolithic edifices are honeycombed with tunnels, ballroom-sized caverns and passageways.  Look over the edge of Palancar’s abyssal drop-off and you will be gazing at the Undersea Temple of the Mayan Gods, the 3,000 foot ocean trench that separates Cozumel from the Yucatan Peninsula.

 Juvenile Spotted Drum - They're a bitch to photograph!

Nassau Grouper - famed underwater photographer, Stephen Frink, kindly commented on this image: "Outstanding composition, Jett. Makes you want to be there."

 Palancar Reef

 Splendid Toadfsh - they are indigenous to Cozumel and not easy to find.

 Kathryn's photo of Jett at work.

 Kathryn diving Palancar Reef.

 Kathryn diving Palancar Reef.

Christmas Eve in Cozumel - Midnight Mass.

Cozumel, Mexico: December 24, 2011: The alter at the beautiful Cathedral of Corpus Christi in San Miguel, Cozumel. I took the family here for Midnight Mass. Though the service was entirely in Spanish, everyone enjoyed the once in a lifetime experience. The church was beautifully decorated and there were children dressed for their Christmas pageant, with little Mary, Joseph and Angels & Shepherds.

Feliz Navidad! - Christmas In Cozumel 2011

 

As I was taking this picture of my mom and Kathryn on Christmas Eve with one of the local police officers on Cozumel's main street, I was thinking, "Yup, if I had an Uzi submachine gun, I'd hang it over my chest for all the world to see too!"

One Of Our Images Used For A Puzzle!

Majestic Puzzles, in Kansas City, Missouri, used one of my images for one of their puzzles about this time last year. I only came across this photo of the puzzle while doing a random Google search. Photo was taken while diving with the Wakatobi Dive Resort, Indonesia.

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!

"Vancouver, My Name Is Prince. Are You Ready For Me?" Apparently, We're NOT!!!

While many in the audience were deliriously excited with what Prince was delivering on stage at Rogers Arena last night, I gotta say he fell well short of our expectations. And, I know, I'm not alone in that opinion given the negative reviews voiced by others during his "Welcome 2 Canada" Tour.

What a disappointing performance from someone of his caliber. I would highly recommend that Prince takes in a Taylor Swift concert as soon as possible to witness a true star who respects and appreciates their fans. Miss Swift puts on a show that WILL BLOW YOU AWAY. Regretfully, last night was my first... and LAST... Prince concert.

Absolute highlight of the evening last night was having a pre-show dinner with Kathryn at the Black & Blue Restaurant on Alberni Street. Great food, wonderful atmosphere, and the prettiest view of all, my darling wife!

Prince, here's what I'm ready for. I'm ready for you to reimburse us $123 Canadian dollars for having to witness the PRETENTIOUS train wreck you were trying to sell at Rogers Arena last night. Dinner with my wife is happily on me.

BC Association Of Travel Writers - Director At Large.

"Congratulation!" to my wife, Kathryn, who is now serving as Director at Large for the BC Association of Travel Writers.

The BC Association of Travel Writers (BCATW) is a non profit association duly constituted under the British Columbia Societies Act. Presenting a platform for BC-Based travel journalists to network together in the common cause of promoting the profession. As a group, and through travel industry contact, to support members in marketing their work.

Continuous Lighting in Underwater Still Photography.

An excellent article on Continuous Lighting in Underwater Still Photography by fellow underwater photographers, Andy Sallmon and Allison Vitsky, is posted on the DIVE PHOTO GUIDE website. Their story features Light & Motion’s Sola Lights which are awesome!

Here’s the link: www.divephotoguide.com/underwater-photography-techniques/article/still-photography-continuous-lighting/

Broughton Islands Cruising Guide: A New Book By Peter Vassilopoulos.

Peter Vassilopoulos, former publisher of Canada’s DIVER Magazine, has released an updated version of “Broughton Islands Cruising Guide”, one of his popular boating guidebooks. To celebrate its arrival, Peter and his wife, Carla, held an informal book launch/social at their home in Tsawwassen today. 

Peter has long been an avid boater and has authored several Pacific Northwest boating guidebooks. I first met Peter & Carla over two decades ago when they added me to DIVER Magazine’s masthead as a contributing editor. Peter & Carla became good friends who always lent support and encouragement as I learned the craft of writing scuba diving magazine editorial. I was happy to contribute three photos to Peter’s latest book and welcomed the opportunity for Kathryn to finally meet them today.

“Broughton Islands Cruising Guide” is available at many local bookstores and Amazon at: www.amazon.com/Cruising-Broughton-Islands-Desolation-Discovery/dp/0919317464

Our World Underwater 2012: Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town!

Just learned that Kathryn and I have been selected to present three seminars at OUR WORLD UNDERWATER in Chicago in February 2012. We're thrilled as this marks the third time we will be participating in this annual consumer dive show. We're also looking forward to dining out at some Chicago's fine Italian restaurants.

The seminars we're presenting are:

Dive with A Pro Seminars:

Shoot Like an Underwater Pro.

Working with U/W Models:  Tips & Tricks for U/W Models & Photographers.

Dive The World Seminars:

Descent into the Maelstrom – British Columbia’s Nakwakto Rapids.

For more information, go to the OUR WORLD UNDERWATER website:

www.ourworldunderwater.com/Attendees/Saturday-Sunday-Seminars/ 

Northwest Dive News - Published Our Nakwakto Rapids Story in December 2011 Edition.

Dive News Network just published our story, “Life in the Fast Lane - Descent into British Columbia's Nakwakto Rapids” in their December 2011 issue of Northwest Dive News.

My Cup Runneth Over!

 

Winning! Today, I got to fondle Canada’s Grey Cup! The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious football team each year since 1909.

UASBC Vancouver Meeting "Sea Explorers": Jett & Kathryn Britnell.

Christmas At Hycroft Mansion.

 

November 20, 2011: This morning we attended the “Christmas at Hycroft” traditional holiday event (Nov 17 -20). Located in the uber upper class neighbourhood of Vancouver’s Shaughnessy district, the magnificent Edwardian Hycroft Mansion is a 20,000 square foot, 30 room manor that was built for politician and war hero General Alexander Duncan McRae in the early 1900′s. In it’s heyday, the parties held at Hycroft were legendary, especially the New Year's Eve masquerade balls. The guest book at Hycroft read like a Who's Who of the 20's and 30's; it contained names of visiting royalty, well-known business associates, politicians and the social elite of Vancouver. It was said to be an honour and a delight to be invited to Hycroft. 

Today, the mansion is owned by “University Women's Club of Vancouver” of which my lovely wife happens to be a member. The University Women’s Club holds this annual fundraiser to support its many scholarship and bursary programs and a number of charity and advocacy groups locally, nationally and internationally. The Club is also responsible for maintaining the stewardship of the grounds and buildings of Hycroft – a designated Heritage House.

Evening With the Authors & Artists - Dive Industry Association of BC.

 

Kathryn and I attended the Dive Industry Association of British Columbia’s “Evening With the Authors and Artisans” fundraiser last night. Local diving legend, Neil McDaniel, gave an entertaining presentation on his 2003 Bowie Seamount Expedition. In keeping with the evening’s theme, several authors and artists were signing and selling their crafts. We came away with a few of the silent auction items, so a great evening with friends and local dive industry folks. Congratulations to the event organizers for pulling together this exciting event!

The Civil Wars at The Vogue: Two Voices And One Guitar.

November 13, 2011 - Nashville-based country-folk duo “The Civil Wars” (Joy Williams and John Paul White) owned the stage at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver last night. The fact that it was my birthday didn’t matter, Kathryn and I wanted to see this dynamic duo who are on the rising curve to stardom. Touring in support of their latest release "Barton Hollow", the Vogue Theatre provided an intimate setting for Joy & John Paul’s exceptionally haunting vocals, sweet harmonies and exceptional songwriting.

The opening act, “Milo Greene” was a real surprise too! Delightfully entertaining, there was not a bad song in their set. Anyway, if The Civil Wars are performing on any stage in your town, go see them!  They are quite simply, AMAZING!

 

"With their playful banter and exquisite harmonies,

they create music that is as haunting as a nocturne,

soothing as a lullaby."
-USA Today- 

"The Civil Wars" - The Best Of What's Next!

WOW, going to see “The Civil Wars” perform on Sunday night! I only discovered their music when they appeared on Letterman two weeks ago. Downloaded their CD and have been listening to it in the car. The buzz is they are “The Best of What’s Next”. Purely by accident while searching for a guitar tab of their mesmerizing hit, “Poison & Wine”, I stumbled across their website. Low & behold, it said they’re playing Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre on November 13th, which coincidentally happens to be my birthday. I said to Katie, ”We’re, going!”

Check them out. http://thecivilwars.com/

Eat, Drink And Be Scary!

Kathryn Britnell: British Columbia Association Of Travel Writers Newest Member!

Kathryn's published travel writing has earned her a membership in the BC Association of Travel Writers. I'm sooooo proud of her!

Congratulations, Kathryn Britnell - You're A Nitrox Diver Now!

Kathryn passed her PADI Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN) Speciality Course this week which will now allow her to dive for a longer time at a given depth without an increased risk of decompression sickness.

Nitrox specifically denotes a gas mixture that has a higher percentage of oxygen than normal air (more than 21% oxygen); it is essentially air that has been "enriched" with additional oxygen. While EANx may contain any percentage of oxygen greater than 21%, the most common mixtures for scuba diving are EANx 32 (NOAA Nitrox 1) and EANx 36 (NOAA Nitrox II) which have 32% and 36% oxygen respectively. Special training and certification and required to dive with EANx.

Way to go, baby!

What's Your Name?, Whose Your Daddy? - The Zombies & Strawbs at the River Rock!

October 13, 2011. Went to see The ZOMBIES & STRAWBS tonight at the River Rock Casino Showroom. The ZOMBIES were a British pop group in the 1960s. Following The Beatles in 1964 as part of "The British Invasion" of the USA, they were the second UK group to score an American #1 hit. Their performance was  impressive and their hits, "She’s Not There”, Tell Her No and Time Of The Season” brought everyone to their feet. Tonight's band featured original members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent. Jim Rodford(founding member of Argent and longtime member of the Kinks on bass). Guitar: Tom Toomey. Drums: Steve Rodford.

The STRAWBS, formerly a 60s folk and medieval band, became one of the better British progressive music groups during the 70s largely with the influence of Dave Cousins (the heart and soul of this group). I saw STRAWBS perform at the Ottawa Civic Centre during their “Bursting at the Seams Tour” when I was a teenager. Ever since then, I've listened to the Bursting at the Seams album regularly. 

We actually got to meet and speak with Dave Cousins, along with the other band members. Very nice blokes! Mr. Cousins is without any doubt one of the most distinctive, brilliant and enduring talents to emerge out of the mid to late 1960s British folk-progressive rock era. He is a rock icon and true poet. I was "absolutely thrilled" to meet him as I have been a fan of his work since I first saw the STRAWBS perform in Ottawa during the early seventies. What an honor! And I'm sure happy my wife was there with a camera.

Here I am after the show with Dave Cousins (leader, singer and most active songwriter of the STRAWBS since 1967).