Travel photojournalism and other swashbuckling musings from Jett & Kathryn Britnell, two internationally published scuba divers, travel writers, photographers, shark advocates, lecturers, book reviewers, marine conservationists and devil may care adventurers. Jett also claims to be an accomplished wife whisperer. To which, Kathryn sighs with eyes turned skyward, “Where does this hedonistic bon vivant find time?”
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!”
Jett is an award-winning freelance photojournalist who specializes in underwater, travel, wildlife, editorial assignments and digital stock photography. In the past, Jett has contributed work as a Travel Editor for Northwest Dive News (USA) and a Contributing Editor for Canada’s Diver Magazine. His work appears regularly in diving publications, travel & lifestyle magazines, books, calendars, websites and commercial advertisements worldwide. DRK PHOTO and MAXX IMAGES represent his stock photo images. His editorial assignments have taken him to the Maldives, Fiji, Indonesia, Palau, Truk Lagoon, Ponape, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, The Cook Islands, Hawaii, Cozumel, Baja, Bonaire, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, The Philippines, Alaska, British Columbia, cavern diving on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, cage diving with Great White Sharks at Isla de Guadalupe, and have provided Jett with some memorable undersea encounters with Tiger Sharks, Wolf eels and Giant Pacific Octopus! Oh My!
Kathryn Britnell
Kathryn is an underwater model, writer, girly girl, reef angel, JTZ GRL, kitchen lawyer, former teen model, Queen of the Brine, “wife extraordinaire”, stiletto shoe aficionado, ocean temptress, Medicine Woman, lecturer, photographer, Chefette, siren of the sea, tea sommelier & mermaid. The beautiful and talented Kathryn is no "wannabe", she's the real deal! The first published photo of her working as an underwater model appeared December 22, 2010 in PhotographyBB Magazine. Certainly a notable achievement as she was only certified as a scuba diver three weeks earlier in the Philippines on November 30, 2010! In the past, Kathryn has published work as a Travel Editor for Northwest Dive News and her contribution to the team is that of underwater model, topside photographer and co-author. Kathryn has experienced exhilarating encounters with whale sharks, sea turtles, sea lions, and several species of venomous lionfish in the Philippines, splashing into zero degree centigrade iceberg infested waters in Alaska and has explored the ocean’s depths after dark.
Chapters Newsstand, Victoria, BC, June 2010
Publishing
Our images have been selected to grace the covers of magazines or books 56 times ~
Publishing Credits
Scuba & H2O Adventures Alert Diver Diver Magazine (Canada) Northwest Dive News Northeast Dive News Midwest Dive News The Telegraph (UK) Scuba Diving (USA) Sport Diver (USA) Sportdiver (UK) PhotoComment (South Africa) The Globe and Mail Newspaper Underwater Photography E-zine (UK) Harbors - Kenmore Air Destination Around the Pacific Northwest Pacific Northwest Diver PhotographyBB Online Canadian Diver & Watersport Equinox Ranger Rick Canadian Inflight GO Magazine Fisheye View Scuba Times Pacific Diver Dive Travel Wild Isle EZDIVE E-zine (China) Sportdiving in Australia Underwater Photographer (UK) Outside Scuba Press Underwater Geographic (Australia) General Motor’s Motion Magazine BC DiveGuide 2004 Boating Express British Columbia Magazine Diving & Resorts Depth Magazine Scuba Diver Australasia
Advertising
Advertising Clients
Wakatobi Dive Resort Browning Pass HideAway Resort Air New Zealand Nai’a Cruises Watervisions Majestic Puzzles Brooks Wetsuits Bare Wetsuits Mako Adventures Dive News Network BC Dive Adventures & Kayak MV Coriolis DRK Photo SilverFern Holidays Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia Marine Trades Association Clavella Adventures Sea & See Travel Air Vanuatu Whites Wetsuits Nautilus Explorer Travelchannel.du Vancouver Coast & Mountain Tourism Sport Diver UK BC Tel BC Hydro Pitt Meadows Golf Club Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)
Speaking Engagements
Ocean Quest Dive Centre July 2015 (Vancouver)
Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia Underwater Explorations Speaker Series May 2015 (Vancouver)
British Columbia Association of Travel Writers Symposium April 2015 (Vancouver) Professional Photographers Of Canada British Columbia February 2015 (Vancouver)
Fraser Valley Scuba Club September 2014 (Abbotsford)
Vancouver Aquarium Diver's Weekend January 2014 (Vancouver)
BC Travel Series Mission Library November 2012 (Mission)
Ocean Quest Dive Centre May 2012 (Vancouver)
Northwest Dive & Travel Show April 2012 (Tacoma)
Our World Underwater February 2012 (Chicago)
Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia Underwater Explorations Speaker Series November 2011 (Vancouver)
British Columbia Association of Travel Writers Symposium May 2011 (Vancouver)
Northwest Dive & Travel Show May 2011 (Tacoma)
Ocean Quest Dive Centre March 2011 (Vancouver)
Our World Underwater February 2011 (Chicago)
Northwest Dive & Travel Show May 2010 (Tacoma)
Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia Underwater Explorations Speaker Series January 2010 (Vancouver)
Northwest Dive & Travel Show April 2009 (Tacoma)
Our World Underwater February 2009 (Chicago)
Northwest Dive & Travel Show May 2008 (Tacoma)
Boston Sea Rovers March 2008 (Boston)
Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia Underwater Explorations Speaker Series June 2004 (Vancouver)
Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia Underwater Explorations Speaker Series March 2002 (Vancouver)
Divescapes March 1997 (Edmonton)
Underwater Canada April 1996 (Toronto)
Underwater Canada April 1995 (Toronto)
BC Photographers 1989 Featured Underwater Photographer February 1989 (Vancouver)
Great White Shark Assignment, Guadalupe Island, Mexico, Sept 2004
Testimonials
Great story by the way. John Tapley Managing Editor Scuba & H2O Adventure Magazine
We will also take you out to Queen Charlotte Strait’s Seven Tree Island as Jett and Kathryn Britnell explore it. The Britnell’s do a great job painting a picture of the area for our readers. Rick Stratton Editor, Publisher Dive News Network What a wonderful article about Cozumel, Jett & Kathryn. You are highly talented at your profession. Keep up the great work and if you could send me your links on new articles that would be great. Take care and keep in touch. God Bless.
Deanna Campbell Owner Two D's Diving and Tour Adventures Cozumel, Mexico Over many years he has fine tuned photographic and lighting techniques, allowing him to capture stunning images of the underwater world, its' inhabitants, and their relationships. He is a very good writer, and the combination of his writing and images portray very well the essence of exploration and discovery that is scuba diving. This in turn is what attracts people to visit various locations of the underwater world.
Jett, and a very few others, have presented British Columbia underwater on the world stage, and have been responsible for the marine environment on British Columbia being ranked as one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems in the world. Without his fine work, much of British Columbia's excellent worldwide reputation as a diving destination would not have developed.
It has been my pleasure over the past 27 years to host Jett and his underwater models as we explored many previously unknown remote areas. Always waiting with great anticipation for the slide-nights, the magazine articles, and then the accolades that would inevitably come back to us as the world got to see what we had seen, and what Jett had captured on film and in words.
John DeBoeck Browning Pass HideAway Resort "the Best Diving in the Known Universe!" Over the years we have hosted many journalists and photographers onboard the various Nautilus vessels. Jett Britnell is definitely one of our favourites and we consider him a good friend. It's always a pleasure having him onboard. Not to mention that his various articles have been very useful in increasing the visibility of our business.
Mike Lever Owner and Captain Nautilus Explorer
Thank you, thank you, thank you! That (you sent me these images) pretty much made my day. You see, every Tom, Dick and Harry sends me tons of Underwater stuff (not that I can't still use your images) but topside shots are so hard to come by that I was thinking of flying down to do it myself :) It warms my heart that you got some nice ones! I’m looking forward to honoring your work in our brochure. Henrik Rosén Vice President Wakatobi Dive Resort
Wow...you can write!
Rick Stratton Publisher / Editor NORTHWEST DIVE NEWS Magazine Hi Jett! Great stuff! (as usual). Regards, Phil
Dr. Phil Nuytten Publisher / Editor DIVER Magazine (Canada) Jett has been a regular and reliable contributor to DIVER Magazine for many years. Our readers often remark on his well written articles. Our editors look forward to receiving his well prepared and easy to work with material.
Peter Vassilopoulos Publisher / Editor DIVER Magazine (Canada) I just wanted to let you know that the latest issue of UwP is now available. It’s another bumper issue thanks to your contribution and I’m very pleased with the way it has turned out.
Peter Rowlands Publisher / Editor UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY Magazine (UK)
I have uploaded the low res images to the designer for your Browning Pass article, and the final copy edits are done. So, we are just waiting for first draft from art director. I fully expect it to be stunning. Thank you.
Stephen Frink Publisher ALERT DIVER Magazine
Hi Jett and Kathryn,
HARBORS summer issue is at the printer, the diving article looks great! Katherine S. McKelvey Senior Partner/VP Marketing and Publishing HARBORS - The Kenmore Air Destination Magazine
Anyway you cut it, your stories are all first rate, and anything you send would be awesome! Doug Smith President / Editor DEPTH Magazine
Your work is outstanding! Dan Clements Publisher / Editor PACIFIC NORTHWEST DIVER Magazine
We will be using your most awesome photo from Vanuatu titled “Diver and Soft Coral” for the cover of NORTHWEST DIVE NEWS. We love it!! It is incredible and the colors are amazing. Many thanks and most appreciated!!! Selene Peterson Executive Assistant to the Publisher Production Manager/Expo Coordinator DIVE NEWS NETWORK
I just wanted to let you know that I read through your interview replies and I am absolutely blown away by your amazing photography! Your interview was among the most interesting I've done to date, and I really enjoyed the amount of history/stories that you included about yourself and experiences. Thank you for doing such a well thought out job; your writing is top notch.
Dave Seeram Editor/Publisher PHOTOGRAPHYBB Online Magazine
I have had the pleasure of working with Jett Britnell over the last several months, as he has been submitting editorial to Depth Magazine. His editorial is very informative, and the photo's that he sends to illustrate his editorials are some of the best in the business. I consider myself very lucky to be working with Jett, and I look forward to utilizing more of his stuff in the near future. I would highly recommend Jett's work to be used in any dive magazine you may be considering. Doug Smith President / Editor DEPTH Magazine Seeing your images laid out like this and re-reading the piece made me long for both Canadian waters and good ol’ Fuji Velvia film saturation! Gorgeous. Diego Garcia Editor SCUBA DIVER AUSTRALASIA Magazine Hi Jett, I have the story and images. Looks great! I appreciate you getting them to me quickly, along with the word count, you just make it that much nicer for us. Thanks! Sarah Wilson Editor / Production Manager Northwest Dive News I'm really excited to be working with you again. Your photos are amazing, and your writing is incredibly engaging!
I.J. James Production Manager Dive News Network
Congratulations, you can be proud of all you have done!
Love, Mom
I am just putting the finishing touches to the July issue and then it is all hands on deck for the August issue, which will be the redesigned magazine. Your Nakwakto Rapids piece is going into the relaunch issue, as it is definitely something out of the ordinary.
Mark Evans Editor Sport Diver Magazine (UK)
Many thanks to Jett Britnell who not only supplied the incredible photograph featured on this issue’s cover but also the excellent feature article about diving around Vancouver Island that accompanies it.
Philip Stone Publisher, Managing Editor WILD ISLE Magazine Wow! just received a copy of the December issue of DIVER Magazine. We are all very impressed down here. It was two years ago that you were here and we all pretty much forgot about your plans for a “side bar” on caverns to be included in the Cozumel article. Well it looks like we got even better! Aquatech would have taken out advertising had we known.
I am surprised to say the least on the cavern shot that you got of me. Hell, I think you only took two or three images of me and to get a result like that. Wow! Steve Gerrard is also impressed as he has not been able to get a shot like that in the caverns after many tries. Also, the copy you wrote is right on line. A nice informative read that really says it all.
Bil Philips Cave Diving Expert New York Explorers Society Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico We received our copy of DIVER Magazine this morning, and I wanted to let you know how pleased we were with your article. I feel you really captured the spirit of our business and of Hornby in a delightful and positive manner. The pictures turned out very well! The shot of the diver with the octopus is especially good. Amanda Heath & Rob Zielinski Hornby Island Diving
When you called last week, I had not yet received my current issue of DIVER Magazine. It was waiting for me when I got home last night. I opened it up and saw myself looking out at me! Thank you very much for an excellent article and referral. It is already paying dividends. I have had three people in four days that have come out with us after reading your article. Kevin VanCleemput Shallon Diving Charters
Thank you! Your photos are so important to my book 99 DIVES, starting with the magic of Browning Wall on the front cover, and then the photos on pages 87, 157, 167, 183, 209, 221, 234 (top), 253, 279 (bottom right), 289 and the sea lions on the back cover. I am so thrilled with what all of your photos have added throughout the book from cover to cover. Thank you, Jett. I hope you are happy with it too.
Betty Pratt-Johnson Dive Book Author, 99 DIVES
We met Jett Britnell when he came to Vanuatu to do a story for FISHEYE VIEW Magazine on the MV Coriolis. We found Jett to be very professional in his approach to the story. It was obvious that what he did was important to him, as of course it was to us. Jett spent his time in search of some photos that would make the story special.
We feel that he did indeed succeed in photographing and writing a story that was special. The response from Jett’s article in FISHEYE VIEW was much greater than we had hoped for. We feel this is entirely due to the quality of the article. If as they say a picture is worth a thousand words, this was an eloquent article to say the least.
Jett’s article was largely responsible for bookings by Stephen Frink, Dr. Eugenie Clark, and Chris Newbert. We feel that the article was largely responsible for our success at DEMA. We used a photo taken by Jett for the centerpiece of our booth and a reprint of his article as our main handout. We feel that Jett and FISHEYE VIEW Magazine have contributed a great deal to our present success.
Judy Beaty & Bob Bowdy MV Coriolis, Vanuatu
We have known Jett for many years and have enjoyed seeing his spectacular slide shows. Jett's underwater photographic skills and his unique composition and attention to details all combine to produce a visual treat for divers and non-divers. Dave & Renate Christie Rendezvous Dive Ventures
It was a well-written and respectful article, “Sacred Burial Sites of British Columbia’s First Nations.” I couldn’t have said it better myself - and that’s my business! I’m going to have my employees read it as well. Maybe I can convince one of them to take up diving with me.
Garth L. Baldwin, M.A., RPA Principal, Drayton Archaeology
I've gone through your online galleries and your photographs are truly amazing. But, I'm sure you've heard that before. Donna Vieira Editor Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Thank you Jett!!!! Wow! We all had a great time last night! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to both you and Kathryn! Deirdre Forbes McCracken Owner Ocean Quest Dive Centre
Great presentation. Great feedback from attendees. Thanks Jett and Kathryn! Greg McCracken Owner Ocean Quest Dive Centre May 28, 2011 - The BCATW Symposium provided great tips and a wonderful networking opportunity not to mention some fabulous prizes. Jett Britnell inspired the crowd with his slide show on underwater photography and dive travel writing. He addressed issues of composition (such as how to shoot potential cover photo), using models in your shots, what editors expect of him and the usefulness of using online social media to create a presence for yourself on the web. Of particular interest was his explanation of how he packages his material in order to be the most useful for magazines.
Baila Lazurus President British Columbia Association of Travel Writers
Bailey's & Glacier Ice Cube at Le Conte Glacier, Alaska
Favourite Quotations
"The essential thing ‘in heaven and earth’ is. . . that there should be a long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living." - Friedrich Nietzsche
"..throw roses into the abyss and say: "here is my thanks to the monster who didn't succeed in swallowing me alive" - Friedrich Nietzsche
“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You've got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense." - The Alchemist
“Yes, life is full of harsh realities, but sometimes it's just paradise.”
- Unknown
“For what we are about to see next, we must enter quietly into the realm of genius.” - Dr. Frederick Frankenstein
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein
"The quiet mutual gaze of a trusting husband and wife is like the first moment of rest or refuge from a great weariness, or a great danger." - George Eliot "What a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow." - Nathaniel Hawthorne
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein
"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." - John Muir
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"There's nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self." - Ernest Hemingway
"Death ends a life, not a relationship." - Peter Benchley
"We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship." - General Omar Bradley
"Almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." - Steve Jobs
“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He (She) to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand in rapt awe, is as good as dead: his (her) eyes are closed.” - AlbertEinstein
Memories... pressed between the pages of our minds
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