Spiny Dogfish - Long Distance Travelers

Spiny dogfish inhabit colder waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from shallows to nearly 700 metres deep. Found in all the world’s temperate oceans, the spiny dogfish is a small schooling shark that forms groups of hundreds, or thousands, of individuals of the same sex and size.  The average length is between 75 and 105 cm (30 to 40 inches), however, individuals have been known to grow to 130 cm (50 inches) weighing 9 kg (20lbs).

Spiny dogfish sharks are long-distance travelers. One spiny dogfish tagged and released from Washington State showed up off the coast of Japan ~ a 5,000 mile journey!

Truth In Advertising ~ One Early Explorer Got It Right

This is a newspaper clip of the actual “Help Wanted” ad that famed explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton ran when assembling his Antarctica expedition crew.  Surprisingly, it generated over 5,000 responses from adventure seekers.

This legendary explorer's ill-fated 1914-1916 Endurance expedition is considered to be one of the greatest survival stories of all time where 28 men were stranded in the Antarctic for nearly two years. Well, the ad did say..."safe return doubtful".

Andy Lamb - Coastal Fishes Of The Pacific Northwest

Kathryn and I attended a talk in Vancouver by Andy Lamb tonight.  Andy along with underwater photographer, Phil Edgell, have recently released a newly revamped 2nd edition of Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest. The book costs about $30 and is a “must have” if you dive in the Pacific Northwest.

With great wit and humour, Andy entertained us with his views on marine conservation, what changes have ocuured since his first edition of Coastal Fishes was published in 1986. Very entertaining and refreshingly enlightening views from a man who has been diving in British Columbia's Emerald Sea since 1967.

Andy and his wife wife, Virginia, operate a B&B on Thetis Island, BC, called the Cedar Beach Ocean Lodge www.cedar-beach.com.

You can order his latest book from Amazon Books  Link

Depth Magzaine ~ Published My Story About Diving In Maui

Depth Magazine, an online internet scuba publication, has published my story, "Maui - Hawaii's Waterworld" in their September/October 2010 issue. The cover shot is also my image of dolphins swimming on the bow of the dive boat.

Coming Next Month... Northwest Dive News October 2010

 Editor, Rick Stratton had this to say about the next issue...

Vanuatu: Bali Ha'i in the South Pacific

Have you ever danced with a Fire gobie in the pale moon light? Jett has, and he wants to tell you about diving in one of the most beautiful places this planet has to offer. Tell anyone that you've been diving in Vanuatu and their vague response is likely to be something along the lines "Sounds fantastic! Ahhh...where in the world is Van-a-what-tu?" Even experienced travel agents are sometimes stymied when it comes to pinpointing Vanuatu's geographic whereabouts. Find out about corals, cuttlefish, and what else this mythical place of diving has to offer! (By the way, it's located east of Australia and west of Fiji - for those not near a map.)

Indonesia's Lembeh Strait or British Columbia?: Horned shrimp (paracrangon echinata)

Muck Diving in British Columbia has its rewards. For many years I referred to this critter as being a broken-back shrimp.  However, Marine Biologist extraordinaire, Andy Lamb of Cedar Beach Dive Resort, helped me to identify it as being a Horned shrimp (paracrangon echinata).

NorthWest Dive & Travel Expo 2011 in Tacoma

Apart from presenting a daytime seminar, it looks like I will  also be on stage at the fourth annual Dive and Travel Expo's Saturday night film festival. The event is sponsored by the Dive News Network and will again be held at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center on April 8, 9 & 10, 2011.  Topics to be announced at a later date.

What A Difference A Year Can Make ~ Sockeye Salmon Return To British Columbia’s Fraser River

Early predictions are this year’s Fraser River Sockeye salmon run could be the biggest run on the river since 1913! With an estimated 25-million sockeye expected, this is welcome news especially after the disastrous 2009 season when just over one million salmon returned.  Clearly, the four-year salmon life cycle is dictated by the rhythms of Mother Nature.  We can only observe and remain hopeful that future runs will remain equally strong.

Jett Britnell Lands Lead Role In TV’s Ocean Hunt

Hollywood, August 22, 2010 ~ After months of auditioning actors and scuba divers, producers of Ocean Hunt, a new adventure series on the FOX network, have decided that underwater photographer, Jett Britnell, will have the chance to play the lead character, Napoleon Nelson, an ex-Navy Seal turned diving photojournalist who juggles the trials and tribulations of working as a big time undersea adventurer with the never ending obstacles that get in the way of maintaining a solid marriage (His scuba diving wife will be played by action thespian, Angelina Jolie).

“We auditioned Jett about five times,” said executive producer and the show’s creator, Matt Damon. “We pretty much knew he was our guy but the people at the network weren’t sure, only because sometimes you don’t know if he’ll just phone it in with his laptop.  He often brandishes a Macbook Pro like a spear gun. Still, there’s a certain lovable charm to him that’s undeniable.”

Other actors that auditioned for the part were Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Pee Wee Herman, Jamie Foxx and Hilary Swank.  Joining Jett on the show will be the great comedic actors, Zach Galifianakis and Betty White. Both will play diving sidekicks helping Jett (or Napoleon) flesh out his editorial assignments so they exceed the expectations of their workaholic man’s man boss, who will be portrayed by Damon himself.

According to Damon, the premise to the show came to him in a dream, one in which he was embroiled in an underwater knife fight when all of a sudden he came up with the title for a show and Ocean Hunt popped into his head out of nowhere. When he woke up, he wrote the name of the show on a pad he keeps by the side of his bed and later that day, he pitched the idea to the network.

Damon also claims he hadn’t even thought about casting Jett in the part. Apparently, Jett’s first audition was the one that won Damon over, after showcasing his storytelling abilities he has been famous for over the years. “He’s like an old young Jacques Cousteau,” said Damon. “He can dive to any depth. It’s like he’s made of Trimix. It’s been a long time since there’s been someone like that on television. I think this show will put an end to reality television and bring the adventure series back for good.”

Jett, who was reached for comment, only had this to say about his new job: “Banana pancake anyone?”

What's The Deal With Jerry Seinfeld?

The deal with Seinfeld is he played Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre tonight, we were there, and he slayed!  What can I say?  Seinfeld is a comedic genius when it comes to telling jokes about anything seemingly mundane.  If Kenny Bania was in the house tonight, he surely would have shouted, "That's gold, Jerry! Gold!

iPad Paid For Itself In Less Than Two Weeks!

In less than two weeks, my new iPad has virtually paid for itself because I was able to quickly retrieve one my wife's emails while at a BMW dealership showroom. The dealer had to shave an additional $500 off their final price when Kathryn showed them a confirming email from one of their competitors. She's now chauffeuring me around town in her luxurious new BMW!

Urticina Piscivor ~ The Fish Eating Tealia Anemone

In British Columbia, Fish Eating Tealia Anemones can be found within kelp forests or upon rocky reefs. There are several species, each slightly different from the other as its tentacles can be either solid white or a solid red color.  Planktonic organisms and anything small enough that falls into the grasp of this anemone's tentacles are unlikely to escape.

True to its common name, this strikingly colored, dinner-plate sized  anemone employa its strong tentacles to catch small fish or shrimp. Growing to about 8" to 10" in diameter (20 - 25 cm), the Fish Eating Anemone is not a predator to all fishes.  It actually provides some protection for one small fish, the Painted Greenling.  Much like clownfish do in typical host anemones, Painted Greenlings have been observed lying unharmed in this anemone.

While I’ve yet to photograph a Painted Greenling lounging on this anemone, my undersea search shall continue.

  

I Drank The iPad Kool-Aid... And I Liked It!

 

There’s no denying that underwater photography is a gear intensive pursuit.  Along with digital DSLR cameras, underwater strobes, underwater camera housings and an arsenal of lenses, one also requires a state of the art computer system to download and process all those images.

In 2007,  I switched from using PC’s to a Macbook Pro laptop and I have never looked back.  MACs seem designed to easily handle the rigors of diving photojournalism and photo editing.  So yes, you could say that I’m a die hard Apple devotee when it comes to electronics.  

We are now several months past (released in Canada on May 28) Apple’s impressive release of their latest technology marvel, the iPad. At first, I resisted being an early adopter, but all that ended last week.  I drank the iPad Kool-Aid and sprung for the top of the line iPad 64GB, Wi-FI 3G model.  For a diving photojournalist, the opportunity to present digital media to editors and potential clients proved irresistible.  I drank the IPad Kool-Aid.

The iPad can do several cool things.  Apart from the simple art of reading emails on the fly, it is a great ebook reader that will allow taking a virtual library of book with us wherever we travel.  Toss in the ability to play the off game or watch movies makes this a worthy tool.  With its Multi-Touch user interface, large screen and high-quality graphics, the iPad will run almost all of the more than 225,000 apps on the App Store.

One feature I would like to see in the next model release is a built in hi resolution camera for adhoc image making.  This will come, I’m sure.  And when it does, my lovely wife will inherit the current iPad. Just imagine, she can then either update her blog when her Macbook Pro is in its briefcase, or perhaps even order that new pair of simply gotta have it  black stilettos from White House Black Market while we are driving in the car.   Hmmm... maybe I should rethink that one?

It Was 20 Years Ago! ~ Fisheye View Magazine

 
















August 1990 – It was early in my diving photojournalism career when I received a call from  the editors/publishers Rob & Robin Burr of FISHEYE VIEW Magazine. Back then this was an upstart new diving magazine on the block that was hell bent on giving the traditional bigger diving magazines a run for their advertising buck. FISHEYE actually gave a start to quite a few diving photojournalists whose names are now commonplace in the diving world. Anyway, Robin Burr contacted me to ask if I would consider going to Vanuatu for them on a magazine assignment? "Hell, yeah!", I said.

I felt honored, as up to this point, I only had three published articles in three diving magazines to my credit along with two magazine cover shots.  Anyway, Robin stated they recently had to pay a stock agency for some underwater images because the writer/photographer team they had just sent to Australia came back with a nice story, but their pictures were crap. She went on to say that both my writing and photography were great! Her parting words were, "Bring us back a great story!"

Well, as it turned out, I did just that. My words and images were given feature treatment in the magazine and I also snagged the magazine's cover shot; a vertical image of a chromodoris nudibranch. Another wide angle image of mine was selected to be used in an advertisement for both the charter operator and Sea & See Travel's full page ad.  My article and cover shot in FISHEYE was also printed as a handout that was circulated at the Diving Equipment & Manufacturers Association (DEMA) that year, which resulted in several other overseas assignments for me.

Bob Bowdy, the dive operator, commented, "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."

So, all in all, a truly rewarding and memorable experience.

Straight Information About Hawaii Shark Attacks and the Risk To Humans

Shark Attack Hawaii 

Thriller movies portray sharks as ferocious predators that aggressively attack and kill innocent swimmers. The truth is much less exciting--or dangerous. The chances of a Hawaii shark attack are extremely low.

Sharks are not unpredictable, deranged killers. Rather, sharks play an essential part in the ocean's balance by removing the weak and sick from marine animal populations.

Basic Facts About Hawaii Shark Attacks

Tiger sharks are responsible for most Hawaii shark attacks on humans. This large shark species regularly eats human-size prey.

When seen from below, swimmers and surfboarders are perhaps mistaken for the fat bodies of sea turtles–a favorite treat for sharks. Splashing creates irregular ripples in the water below, which entice the shark to attack an apparently injured animal.

The most common type of Hawaii shark attack is the so-called "hit and run" assault. This shark attack, a quick bite and release, whereupon the shark disappears, is usually a case of mistaken identity. Because humans not part of a shark's normal diet, we are quickly abandoned for better prey. These shark attacks usually cause leg injuries below the knee and are rarely fatal.

Source: Hawaii Shark Encounters

Introducing the H1 Handy Zoom Studio Recorder

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Definitely gotta get myself one of these babies.  The uses are many. From musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals to seminars, conferences, journalism or capturing audio for video, the H1 gives you clean, clear stereo sound effortlessly. In Stores August 20th.   

H1 Handy Zoom Recorder Website

Ocean Artists Society - Jett Britnell Profile

My profile is now up at the Ocean Artist Society's new website! 

Here's the link:    Ocean Artists Society ~ Jett Britnell

Who are we?

Artists united for the oceans.
The Ocean Artist Society is a unique alliance of the world's top marine life artists, sculptors, painters, photographers and film-makers to foster a continued interest in the ocean arts and marine life issues.

Background

The society was conceived by the founding members in an effort to organize a dedicated group of ocean artists that could, be together, be a voice and platform to further the reach of artists and communicate our mission. "Each of us had already dedicated much of our time toward ocean conservation," marine life artist Wyland says. "This is intended as a way to give us a larger voice to reach new audiences about the marine art experience."

Spain Nailed it! - Vancouver's Celebration of Light - July 24, 2010

Kathryn and I caught the fireworks display last night in Vancouver's English Bay.  We were on a luxurious dinner cruise, so I was unable to take pictures, but downloaded the attached You Tube video that highlights the show's finale as shot from the beach. The videographer in this case happens to be a friend of mine, BC Federal Conservative candidate, Ryan Warawa.

We have seen many fine fireworks displays throughout our life, but Kathryn and I both agreed Spain's show last night was one of the best we had ever seen.  The choreography of light & sound provided a spectacular 25 minutes of jaw-gaping wonder.  "Felicidades, Spain!"

I’m So Excited, I Just Can’t Hide It, I’m About To Use A Light & Motion Sola 600 Underwater Light And I Think I’ll Like It!

 

This past spring Light & Motion released their new Sola 600 compact imaging light. From compact cameras to DSLRs to video housings, the Sola 600 is the perfect companion for all of these underwater imaging platforms. The Sola packs a blinding 679 lumens of light for 75 minutes with a clean even beam pattern and also delivers 225 lumens of red light for close-up work at night.

I got my first glimpse of this remarkable feather weight light at the Tacoma Dive & Travel Show last May and was immediately impressed.  Though tiny in size,  the Sola 600 compact imaging light has already set a new standard for a powerful, easy-to-use light for both underwater photographers and videographers.  As a video light, the custom reflectors provide a remarkably even 75 degree beam. The magnetic bump switch takes a light tap to adjust white light levels or to switch to red light (the only compact imaging light that offers red light allowing you to focus without scaring your marine subjects). Pressure tested and factory sealed, the Sola never needs to be opened and recharges in 2.5 hours with exposed gold-plated plugs in the rear of the body. The light also features a charge status indicator to help the owner to manage the battery life across multiple dives.

I will be doing several product reviews on this amazing light once Light & Motion delivers one to me.  I can’t wait!

For more information on Light & Motion’s Sola 600, visit www.uwimaging.com or call (831) 645-1525.

R.I.P. ~ Wes Skiles

Some tragic news came over the internet today stating that professional  underwater photographer, Wes Skiles, 52, died yesterday during an ocean dive while working on assignment for the famed National Geographic Society.

The facts are sketchy at this point other than it has been reported that Skiles had signaled other divers near the end of the dive that he was surfacing after his camera ran out of film while filming underwater.  He was later found motionless on the the seafloor by team members around 3 p.m. ET, near West Palm Beach, Fla. Wes was later pronounced dead by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

A statement released by the National Geographic Society said:

"National Geographic has learned of the tragic death of Wes Skiles, the highly accomplished underwater photographer, cinematographer and explorer with whom we've worked frequently. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident, which occurred following the conclusion of a scientific research expedition related to marine life off the east coast of Florida. Our thoughts are with Wes' family."

I had the opportunity to meet Wes many years ago at a dive show and he was friendly, exuberant and very gracious.  The diving community will miss his artistry as Skiles was one of those diving pioneers who always seemed to be pushing the boundaries in both undersea and cave diving exploration. 

We extend our sincere condolences to his family, and his very many friends & close associates around the world. 

www.wesskiles.com 

Going Viral - "The Great White Shark Song"

I wonder if this will be available for download on iTunes any time soon? Enjoy!

Ten Great White Shark Facts

1. Great white sharks inhabit temperate waters worldwide, primarily along coastlines. Though not abundant, they are most frequently sighted off the coasts of the United States, Australia, and South Africa

2. Great white sharks grow about 10 inches per year and can grow to mature lengths of 12 to 20 feet

3. The razor sharp jaws of a great white shark can exert bite pressures of up to 2,000 lbs. per sq. inch.

4. Scientists estimate that great white sharks can go as long as three months without eating.

5. A great white shark loses and replaces thousands of its teeth during its lifetime. Its upper jaw is lined with 26 front-row teeth; its lower jaw has 24.  Behind these razor-sharp points are many rows of replacement teeth.  These “spare teeth” move to the front whenever the shark loses a tooth.   At any one time about one-third of a shark’s teeth are in the replacement stage.

6. Unlike most other sharks, white sharks actually maintain parts of their body (swimming muscles and stomach) at temperatures well above that of the surrounding water, which classifies them as endothermic or warm-blooded, like mammals.

7. Great white sharks have a white belly and a grey back.  This coloration makes it difficult for prey to spot the shark because it breaks up the shark's outline when seen from a lateral perspective.  When viewed from above, the darker shade blends in with the sea.  This obliterative counter shading is a form of camouflage that makes them hard to see when they are in mid-water.

8. Great white sharks are ambush predators whose modis operandi it to attack prey from below.  Marine scientists believe that white shark attacks on humans are probably a case of mistaken identity by young, inexperienced sharks targeting what they think are seals or sea lions.

9. The white sharks diet consists primarily of tuna, squid, seals, elephant seals, sea lions, dolphins, whale carcasses, sea turtles, sharks and carrion, they are nonetheless labeled as man-eaters.

10. Between 1999 and 2000, shark researchers attached "pop-up" satellite tags to the backs of six adult white sharks near seal rookeries in California.  The electronic tags recorded data every two minutes on water depth, temperature and light.  Satellite data revealed that one of these tagged white sharks migrated from California’s coastal waters to the Hawaiian island of Kahoolawe, a journey of over 3,800 kilometers (2,280 miles).   Traveling at a minimum velocity of 71 kilometers (43 miles) per day, the animal remained in Hawaiian waters the entire winter and spring.

Strange Realization Today...

Strange realization today.  After seeing Johnny Rivers perform last weekend, I gave his best-selling 1968 Gold album, “Realization”, a good listen.  It was hauntingly familiar.  The album featured several chart hits such as "Summer Rain" (No. 2) and an amazing version of "Whiter Shade Of Pale" and one of the best covers of Bob Dylan’s, “Positively 4th Street” I’ve ever heard.

Of course, I remember.  I can vividly recall my dad having this album in his record collection and playing it often during the evening hours when I was, I’m guessing, between 11 or 12 years old.  It was the gift of music that my dad always brought into my life.

So what does all this have to do with a scuba diving / underwater photography focused site?  Well, simply this. The connection between music and creativity is undeniable.  Artists have long understood that music influences creativity.  So why not consciously influence your own creativity by listening to some great music while you’re plotting your next adventure or artistic endeavor?  It works!

Thanks, Dad, for sowing the seeds of love throughout my lifetime. You live on forever in our hearts...

Happy 70th Birthday, Ringo Starr... Peace & Love!

 

And a very special birthday surprise from a Beatle!

Depth Magazine - Published My Story On Diving With Bahamian Tiger Sharks

Depth Magazine, an online internet scuba publication, has published my story, "Ocean Tiger, Angry Dragon ~ Shark & Awe Encounters With Bahamian Tiger Sharks" in their July/August 2010 issue. The cover shot is also my image of a Caribbean Reef Shark.

Welcome Back Johnny Rivers To The Poco Side Of Town

Back in the mid-'60s, Johnny Rivers popularized the discotheque scene through his live recordings at Los Angeles' famous Whiskey a GoGo nightclub. In 1967, Rivers performed at the legendary Monterey International Pop Festival. During his career, he has charted seventeen songs in the top forty between 1964 to 1977.

Last night, we saw Johnny Rivers perform at the Red Robinson Show Theatre in Port Coquitlam, BC. And what a performance it was. Tearing through his former hits as well as several blues-influenced numbers, Rivers had the house on its feet. There is always something rewarding in seeing a music legend on stage performing the tunes that made them famous. Johnny Rivers literally just lays it out there and let's the music stand on its own merits. We dont see shows like this much anymore. We're glad we saw this one!

Fun Times!

While in Chapters this past weekend we found several copies of the December 2009 issue of Scuba Diver Australasia Magazine, which is published in Singapore. This issue featured one of my stories, "Tropical Splendour in A Cold Sea." It is June 26, 2010. Fun times!

Tea For Two ~ Victoria’s White Heather Tea Room

Victoria, BC - June 26, 2010: While my wife and I were visiting Victoria this weekend we were hell bent on discovering a new tea house...something a little different than the notable High Tea service that the Empress Hotel routinely provides. Our internet search uncovered a quaint establishment called the White Heather Tea Room. The reviews from patrons were highly complimentary so we decided to give it a whirl.

We ordered the tea house’s best-selling “Big Muckle Giant Tea for Two.” Offering a delicious assortment of tea sandwiches, scones and other tasty treats accompanied by a selection of mouth-watering sweets, the tea service was excellent and at a cost that was less than half of what the Empress Hotel’s Tea Service costs. Taste-wise, our tea for two experience was exceptional. Kathryn sampled the exotic Balmoral tea, a blend of black tea with soft hints of Earl Grey and jasmine. while I selected the House Blend, a classic orange pekoe with a breath of Earl Grey.

Victoria’s White Heather Tea Room proved to be a hidden gem just a 10 minute drive from downtown Victoria. We will certainly make a return visit. Reservations recommended. For more information, www.whiteheather-tearoom.com

BEWARE!: "NAUI’s Unethical Underwater Photo Contest Rights Grab"

A warning to underwater photographers around the world to steer clear of an annual underwater photo contest that is sponsored by NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors). The rules of this photo competition contain a clause that is designed to acquire “perpetual, non-exclusive rights to use the photo in any way, including but not limited to advertising and promotional use.” This single clause, from a respected dive training agency no less, is nothing more than an attempt to dupe unsuspecting underwater photographers into surrendering all rights to their image.

Well, the proverbial shit hit the fan when Jason Heller of www.DivePhotoGuide.com, fired off a formal complaint to NAUI about the unethical image rights clause in their photo contest rules. A seemingly unrepentant Jed Livingstone of NAUI responded to Jason with some rather disparaging remarks stating “They don’t have to enter if they don’t want to.” You can read the written exchange between Heller & Livingstone at Scubaboard: www.scubaboard.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-340537.html

Bravo Jason Heller for spearheading this matter and a big “shame on you!” to Jed Livingstone and NAUI. All underwater photographers should “BOYCOTT NAUI's PHOTO CONTEST” until they rescind their photo contest's “copyright rights grab” clause.

"Raptures OF The Emerald Deep- British Columbia's Diving Wonders"

Underwater Photography Magazine, a bi-monthly web based magazine published in the United Kingdom has published my story, "Raptures of the Emerald Deep - British Columbia's Diving Wonders" in their July-August 2010 issue which has just been released to the world.

Editor & Publisher, Peter Rowlands commented, "It's another bumper issue thanks to your contributions and I'm very pleased with the way it has turned out."

UwP is a FREE web magazine aiming to give a platform for existing and new talent in underwater photography. In order to establish an accurate number of downloads, you must subscribe with a valid e mail address to download. The issue my story appears in can be downloaded at: www.uwpmag.com/download