Losing Nemo? - Species and climate change

Climate change is set to be one of the major drivers of species extinctions in the 21st century: approximately 20 to 30 per cent of plant and animal species are likely to be at increasingly high risk as global mean temperatures rise. Clownfish are one of the species they have highlighted.

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.

If you want to learn more, download this fact sheet:  fact_sheet_red_list_clownfish_v2.pdf

Underwater Modeling 101 - My Wife Is An Ocean Goddess!

I happened to be reviewing some underwater images today from the Philippines. Here are a few pictures I made of Kathryn during her first descents after she was certified as an Open Water PADI Diver. As far as underwater modeling goes, she nailed it!  She is truly a natural and the best novice underwater model I've ever had the pleasure to work with. Of course, there are many glorious fringe benefits for an underwater photo pro when your wife happens to be so talented both above and below the ocean depths. Oh my, did I say that out loud? LMAO!

"Instant Karma's Gonna Get You. Gonna Knock You Right On The Head."

John Lennon knew.  Deepak Chopra knows it too.

For those who are not in the know, read this & weep...

Sold Out!!! - Tacoma Dive & Travel Expo Film Festival

 

 Tacoma Trade & Convention Center

It was standing room only last Saturday night at the Tacoma Dive Show’s Saturday Evening Film Festival.  Interestingly, out of five presenters, there was only one film about marine life in Puget Sound with the other presenters showing digital images of the Galapagos, Pavilion Lake’s Mars Project, British Columbia & Fiji.

ANNIE CRAWLEY, an award-winning producer, filmmaker, photographer, author, and inspirational speaker specializing in documenting the underwater realm and a Women Divers Hall of Fame member was the Master of Ceremonies for the Film Festival. Annie rocked on stage and worked tirelessly throughout the day to make the show the absolute best it can be. She also makes what is a very hard task look easy. Apart from all this, she is, above all, a truly nice person.

 

Browning Pass HideAway Dive Lodge crew.

Annie tweaking her presentation just before show time.

 Annie Crawley & Rick Stratton on stage.

Kathryn and I, as usual, had a blast during the show and it was a distinct pleasure to be presenting on the Saturday evening program in front of fellow Pacific Northwest divers! 

2011 Tacoma Dive & Travel Expo is next weekend!

 

This is the fourth year for this fabulous Pacific Northwest dive show and also the fourth year we are presenters. During the Saturday Night Dinner & Film Festival, I will be presenting a digital slide show, "Out of British Columbia - Raptures of the Emerald Sea." 

On Saturday morning at 10AM I will be presenting a seminar, "Working With Underwater Models - Tips & Tricks for Underwater Models and Photographers." So, come to the show and say hello to Kathryn and I.

Le Crocodile Restaurant - Our 3rd Wedding Anniversary Dinner!

 OMG!  Kathryn and I just returned home from out wedding anniversary dinner.  This year we wanted to dine at the best French Restaurant in Greater Vancouver we could find. We chose "Le Crocodile," a classy establishment that blends traditional French cooking with innovative West Coast style.

Having dined at many fine restaurants in Vancouver over the past 37 years, I have to say on this romantic occasion my wife and I enjoyed one of the best dining experiences I have ever enjoyed. Kathryn started the evening by ordering a French Martini while I selected the famed James Bond (circa Casino Royale) Vesper martini. The food that followed was nothing less than divine and the service was impeccable! An expensive evening, but worth every penny. 

We shall return!

French Martini

·   
2 oz Vodka

·   ½ oz Chambord

·   2 ½ oz Pineapple Juice

Back a shaker full of ice and add all ingredients. Shake or stir*. Stain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

The Vesper Martini

·   3 oz Gin

·   1 oz Vodka

·   0.5 oz Lillet Blanc

Shake with ice and strain into a wine glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

“Celebrating Our 3rd Wedding Anniversary!”

April 2, 2011:

"Love is . . . born with the pleasure of looking at each other, it is fed with the necessity of seeing each other, it is concluded with the impossibility of separation!"  - Unknown

Wow, three blissful years of holy matrimony!  Seems like it was only yesterday.  Kathryn, you have made my life rich beyond belief. You are the polar opposite of someone who would cheat, steal, defraud or tell lies to others, let alone their own family. Only one who has never felt true love can move on in life saying “There are plenty of other fish in the sea.”  Well, you are figuratively, "the catch of the day" and happen to be the only woman I have ever known with whom I could not imagine living this life without. Indeed, what would life be without you by my side? There are truly no words that can describe what you mean to me, our family and friends. I am living out my dreams with you and savoring every moment... and the moments yet to come. You are, and shall always be, my one true love!

While it has been said that a man has many flowers in his life, there is but only one rose. And you, my darling Kathryn, are a dozen white roses with an expensive bottle of pink champagne!

I Love You & Happy Anniversary!

Saturday Night's Alright For An Alaskan King Crab Feast!

Last Saturday night several friends and family dined on Alaskan King Crab at Richmond, BC's South Ocean Seafood Restaurant. We do this a few times a year and always leave feeling stuffed to the gills!

Ocean Quest Dive Centre Evening Presentation: A good time was had by all!

And May The Best Underwater Photos Win!

 

Once again, I have been asked to be one of the judges for the Tacoma Dive & Travel Expo 2011.  Always interesting to see the work of new underwater photographers.

Hey, I just know that someday all this experience judging underwater photo contests will surely lead to a gig judging Bathing Beauty Contests!

Overture, Curtain, Lights. This Is It, The Night of Nights!

We are presenting a digital slide show, “Where The Wild Things Are - Queen Charlotte Strait's Ocean Frontier”, at Ocean Quest Dive Centre on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 6:30 pm.

Register online at:
www.diveoceanquest.com/index.php/events-calendar/view/174

Ocean Quest Dive Centre 

#107 - 3790 Canada Way

Burnaby, British Columbia

Canada, V5G 1G4

Blackberry to Heaven

Kathryn appearing very Saint-like.

"And when she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed, with a Blackberry she can get what she came for..."

I Bless The Day I Found You!

 

"Happy Valentines Day!"

To my gorgeous wife, Kathryn, "Te quiero mucho!"

Our World Underwater Hosts Diving Photojournalism Workshop!

A World Famous Underwater Photographer?

While surfing the web I came across the following post on the CoolDives website.  It was referring to one of my stories about BC diving that was published in the prestigious divie magazine, Alert Diver.

 Alert Diver Article Link

CoolDives can help you with your British Columbia dive vacation planning and introduce you to some of the best scuba dive operators here in Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. CoolDives is designed to tell you all about the fantastic cool-water scuba diving in British Columbia, Canada, and to provide you with quality information and useful tips for planning your next scuba diving trip or adventure vacation in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

EZDIVE Online Magazine - The World's First Bilingual Diving Magazine

In late December I was asked if I would contribute to a Valentine's Special section for a Chinese diving magazine.  All they needed was for me to answer a few questions and offer a well-selected photo of Kathryn and I.

While a few things were not translated correctly, it was a nice surprise for Kathryn as she had no idea I had submitted this piece  Surprising for me too that our love story graces the same page as the love story of famed National Geographic underwater photographer, David Doubilet and his wife, Jennifer Hayes. 

Sweet!

www.ezdivemag.com - The World's Largest Chinese Diving Portal

Our World Underwater Consumer Dive Show – Chicago, Feb 20th.

 

On Sunday, Feb 20th, in Convention Center #54 between 8AM – 12PM, I will be conducting a 4 hour workshop, “Diving Photojournalism - How to Get Published in Scuba Diving Magazines. " Cost is $50.

Don’t you dare miss it!

Tacoma Dive and Travel Show Film Festival 2011

We'll be in good company sharing the evening stage with several friends at the Tacoma Dive and Travel Show's Saturday Night Film Festival held on April 9th, 2011 at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, This will be all new and much bigger than previous years. This year’s event, will be held in the main ballroom and will include a sit down dinner, award presentation and presentations by world-class diver photographers/videographers.

The event begins at 6 p.m. with a no-host cocktail reception and premiere of Drop Zone Fiji, a film combining surfing and diving in the incredibly beautiful surroundings of Fiji.

At 7 p.m. dinner will be served to guests and speakers. EmCee Annie Crawley,  award winning youth and motivational speaker, will kick off the event with her own captivating video presentation. She will introduce speakers including:

Florian Graner PHD, a marine biologist and cinematographer who will premier his newest film, "Beneath the Salish Sea; An Underwater Odyssey through Puget Sound." The film, shot in stunning HD,  profiles the incredible sea life in Puget Sound and discover the  wonders living around Whidbey Island, Hood Canal, and in the greater Salish Sea.

Brandon Cole, PNW native and wildlife photographer and writer 
specializing in the marine environment will offer beautiful photography about the Galapagos islands, above and below the water.

Donnie Reid,  Logistics & Operations Manager at Pavilion Lake 
Research Project for NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, will present “The Pavilion Lake Research Project (PLRP)” an international, multi-disciplinary, science and exploration effort to explain the origin of freshwater microbialites in Pavilion Lake in nearby British Columbia.

Jett Britnell, renowned underwater photographer  presents, "Raptures of the Emerald Sea", an undersea pictorial of British Columbia’s magical and mysterious ocean realm.

Stuart Westmoreland, recognized as one of the leading nature,  lifestyle, marine, underwater, travel, concept and general stock photographers in the United States will 
present incredible images from below and above the water.

The winners of this year’s photo and video contest will be honored and the presentation of Diver of the Year and the new Local Legends awards will be honored.

Divers are invited to come be fed, entertained and inspired at the 2011 Film Festival. 
Purchase a group table and individual tickets:

Group Table, Seats 8 - $200 ($25 ea.)




Individual Tickets - $30


Entertainment Only - $10 (No Dinner, Advanced Purchase)

Group Reservations - Call Us Today at (360) 240-1874.

Individual Reservations - Call (360) 240-1874 or Sign Up at link below

www.divenewsnetwork.com/saturday-night-film-festival-2011