Happy Birthday To The Love Of My Life!

June 12, 2011 - The only thing sweeter than drinking a Baileys with a 10,000 year old glacier ice cube is... sharing this life with my wife, Kathryn. She is AMAZING!!!

Happy Birthday, baby!! XOXOOXO

WTF!!!! IS WRONG WITH JAPAN???

Japan launches research whaling in the NW Pacific

AFP, TOKYO

Japan sent a whaling fleet to the northwest Pacific for what it called a research hunt yesterday, four months after cutting short a similar mission in the Antarctic due to obstruction by activists.

The three-vessel fleet, led by the Nisshin Maru, plans to catch 260 whales including 100 minkes until late August to study their stomach contents, DNA and other information, according to the Institute of Cetacean Research. The government-affiliated institute has organized such operations since 1987, citing a clause in a 1986 international moratorium on commercial whaling that allows hunts for scientific research. Anti-whaling nations and environmentalist groups condemn the activity as a cover for commercial whaling, but Japan said it is necessary to substantiate its claim that there is a robust whale population in the world. The institute said the mission would be its 18th scientific expedition to the northwest Pacific.

On Feb. 18, Japan halted a research hunt in the Antarctic Ocean for the 2010-2011 season, which had been due to run from December until March, because of obstruction by militant environmentalist group Sea Shepherd. The US-based Sea Shepherd, which says its tactics are non--violent but aggressive, hurled paint and stink bombs at whaling ships, snared their propellers with rope, and moved its own boats between the harpoon ships and their prey.

Japan’s four-ship fleet killed 172 whales in that season, only about one-fifth of its target, the fisheries agency said at that time.

Australia — which last year launched legal action against Japan’s whaling program at the International Court of Justice — and New Zealand said they hoped Japan had given up whaling for good. The institute told Japanese media that there has been no instance of obstructive activities in the northwest Pacific so far, but that “we cannot automatically consider the area safe.”

Sea Otter: What Purple Teeth You Have.

Source: eNature.com

Another mammal with unusual teeth is the Sea Otter. It’s not their size, though, that distinguishes a Sea Otter’s teeth but their color: purple. 

The color, it seems, is derived from Purple Sea Urchins, a favorite Sea Otter food. Even before they can munch and crunch sea urchins for themselves, baby Sea Otters get purple-stained teeth, presumably from their mother’s milk. Of course, Sea Otters in areas that lack Purple Sea Urchins have white teeth.

My First Dive - It Was A Gas, Gas, Gas.

This is what my infamous Gas Mask looked like.

When I was five years old I happened to watch a TV episode of a scuba diving adventure show called Sea Hunt.I was so inspired that I grabbed a war surplus gas mask that I had begged my dad to buy me at the county fair and ventured out into our backyard. We had a large iron cauldron that was filled with water and goldfish. My gas mask had goggles and a long hose attached to a canister. Surely it would work underwater, or so I thought. After putting on the gas mask I heaved myself up on the lip of the cauldron and dunked my head in the water. Not only could I clearly see the goldfish swimming, but I also could see the rust flakes on the bottom of the caldron. Soon enough, water began seeping into the mask. “No worries”, I thought, “I have a breathing hose.” Of course, the gas mask flooded with water and I had to abort. No one was there to witness my first underwater adventure, but I can remember it as if it was yesterday.

From that moment, I was hooked on the idea that one day I would become a scuba diver. While growing up I was drawn to watching scuba diving oriented documentaries such as "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" and the shark diving adventures of Australia’s Ron & Valerie Taylor. These were my boyhood heroes. During my childhood, I can’t tell you how many garden hoses I cut up to use as a breathing hose attached to large 26 ounce Coke bottles. While none of these makeshift devices ever worked, it never dampened my desire to one day breathe underwater. I eventually learned to scuba dive in British Columbia’s Emerald Sea when I was 22. My interest in underwater photography soon followed, as I wanted to bring back images of the things I saw beneath the sea to show family and friends. I actually learned photography and how to adjust a camera’s f-stops and shutter speeds 60-feet beneath the waves.

My Product Review: Light & Motion SOLA 600 Dive Light

Light & Motion's Sola 600 Focus Light is by far one of the best diving lights I have ever used in my 30 years of diving experience. Here's a link to my recent product review in the June 2011 issue of Northwest Dive News Magazine. SOLA 600 Review.

Feedback On Our Presentation - 2011 BC Association Of Travel Writers Symposium.

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 photos), 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

 

Speaking Engagement: BC Association of Travel Writers Annual Symposium

We have been invited to present at the BC Association of Travel Writers Annual Symposium this Saturday. Here's the schedule:

Date:  May 28, 1- 4 pm
Location: Listel Hotel, 1300 Robson Street,Vancouver.
Fee: Members $20, Non-members $40; payable at the door.

Speakers:
Jett Britnell (one of Canada's most frequently published underwater photojournalists) & Kathryn Britnell a professional husband and wife diving photojournalist team who specialize in underwater photography, dive travel, and marine related subjects and stories. They will have a slideshow of their work and discuss getting published.

Jayne Lloyd-Jones or Liz Sperandeo of Spectacular Ink a travel industry PR specialist, whose clients include Echo Valley Ranch and Baddrutt's Palace Hotel in St. Moritz.  The focus will be on how they see the tourism industry, impact of the recession from the media / PR angle, the role of local travel writers, changes in expectations, how social media now plays a far more important role.

Carolyn Walton, member of the Travel Bloggers Exchange, will look at the role of travel blogging in our industry - tips on what to do/what not to do.

Ruth Kozak has been instructing writing classes for over 15 years. One of her specialties is travel memoirs. Learn how to truly capture the feel of a place, whether for your own personal diary or a published piece. If you fell in love with a place, if it changed your world or came at a particular time when your world was changing, learn how to draw the reader into your experience.

Scuba Diving The Island Nation Of The Philippines - by Stewart Sy.

Our good friend Stewart Sy has published a great article about diving in the Philippines over at www.Atlasomega.com.  Stu knows these exotic reefs like few others. A "must read" if you are contemplating a diving vacation to this wonderful island nation.

Scuba Diving The Island Nation Of The Philippines

Who Woulda Thunk? - Sea Urchins Can Sing!

 

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, May 10, 2011

IF WHALES are the lead singers of the ocean, sea urchins are the back-up vocalists.

While it may surprise some that these spiky marine creatures make noise, a Sydney marine biologist plans to measure the contribution they make to the soundscape of the sea. Natalie Soars, a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, said sea urchins produced a loud clicking noise as they fed or scraped up against rocks.

Read more:  Rocking urchins provide the soundwaves.

Vancouver Canucks Green Men Vs Nashville Predators

May 7th 2011 - Kathryn and I attended Game 5 of the Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators Stanley Cup Semi-Final on Saturday Night.  While the Canucks went down to defeat, the infamous "Green Men" provided a few laughs for all in attendance a few days after a complaint was filed with the NHL, asking the Vancouver Canucks' "Super Fans" to tone it down, according to a report.

From Canadian Press:

"Sully and Force, who wear full neon green bodysuits, have been asked to stop touching the glass and doing handstands. The popular paying fans usually sit close to the Canucks' opponents in downtown Rogers Arena and their act has been described as a circus sideshow."

Needless to say, Vancouver Canucks fans support the Green Men! They even have their own website: Green Men

Happy Mothers Day! ~ This Video From Annie Crawley Deserves To Be Shared.

Our friend, Annie Crawley, posted a very inspirational video she made in honor of Mothers Day.  Annie's shout out to her mom was, "Love to all of our Mothers and of course to Mother Ocean. Thank you Mom for the spirit you gave me."

Watch & enjoy...

Annie is such a talented woman who happens to be one of the nicest people you could ever meet. You can "Dive Into Your Imagination" at her website to see more of the brilliant and spirited caring work she does.

www.diveintoyourimagination.com

"Beyond Vanuatu" ~ My Story Published In ScubaDiver Australasia!

Scuba Diver Australasia magazine (Singapore) has published my story, "Beyond Vanuatu ~ Bali Ha'i in the South Pacific" in Issue 2, 2011. The story is also posted online. Place your cursor over the picture for link.

A Single Reef Shark Can Be Worth Nearly $2 Million In Tourism Revenue Over Its Lifetime.

Discovery News has posted an informative story about how a single shark can bring in millions of dollars worth of revenue over its lifetime as a tourist draw.  Follow the link below:

Million-Dollar' Sharks Boon to Tourism : Discovery News

"Who hears the fishes when they cry?" - Henry David Thoreau (1839).

Today on WET PIXEL, http://wetpixel.com, Adam Hanlon posted a link to a story that Australian Geographic has online about the state of the World's oceans.  It's a worthwhile read.

Here's the link to the Australian Geographic story: Australian Geographic State of our Oceans

"Ice Ice Baby" - It's Totally On!

For our upcoming diving editorial assignment Kathryn will be putting her brand spanking new “Whites Fusion Drysuit” through its paces diving in ... ALASKA! “Nautilus Swell”... it won’t be long till we’re there! www.nautilusswell.com  Hmmm, I wonder if we can see Russia from there?

 

Words To Live By.

"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self."

~ Ernest Hemingway

Afternoon Tea At Chicago’s Famed Drake Hotel.

Ahhhh… one of life’s guilty pleasures is savoring traditional English afternoon tea with scrumptious finger sandwiches, fruit breads, scones, and French pastries with my beautiful wife & Tea Sommelier-in-waiting, Kathryn.  Hence, during our recent trip to Chicago, the Drake Hotel’s high tea service was on our hit list. Kathryn enjoyed the service so much she proclaimed The Drake was "one of the finest places I have ever dined."

A Chicago landmark, the Italian Renaissance-styled Drake hotel was founded in 1920. If only these hotel walls could speak as Queen Elizabeth enjoyed high tea at The Drake in 1958 and other notable hotel guests include Winston Churchill, Prince Charles, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Hugh Hefner, Frank Sinatra, and the Empress of Japan. Diana, Princess of Wales was a guest here during her only visit to Chicago in 1996, one year before her untimely death.  Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and Hollywood screen legend, Marilyn Monroe, carved their initials into the wooden bar of the Drake’s Cape Cod Room.

Afternoon Tea takes place daily in The Drake’s traditional “Palm Court” Tea Lobby, and features live harp music performed 365 days a year. There are several seatings per day from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Each seating lasts approximately an hour and a half and reservations are recommended.

The Queen Of Gems And The Gem Of Queens - Philippines Pearl Market.

"Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow; he who would search for pearls must dive below."

  John Dryden (1631–1700) All for Love. Prologue. 

Well, there's truly no need to dive to great depths anymore because you can shop till ya drop and find pearls galore at the famed Philippines Pearl Market located at the Greenhills Mall in Manila. Definitely a "must see" when in the Philippines.  If you dare to take your spouse or significant other, be sure to bring a pocketful of pesos.

Seeing Underwater - Custom Prescription Scuba Masks.

 

For the past six years whenever I have needed a prescription dive mask, I have ordered mine from Rob Hamilton at “Ozbob Custom Face Masks”.

Located in Sydney Australia, with an office in Kuala Lumpur, they have been making custom made Prescription Scuba Masks for over 30 years. Manufacturing time is approximately 2 to 3 weeks Their lenses are made to the highest quality standards and  custom made to suit your Optical Prescription, With over 30 years experience you can have confidence in dealing with people who know what they are doing! If off the shelf lenses are not suitable then custom made is right for you. Best of all, Ozbob will ship anywhere in the world!

I recently ordered my third prescription dive mask from Ozbob and Rob has always provided me with exactly what I needed. No fuss & no bother. I highly recommend Ozbob's products and services.

For more information: www.ozbobscuba.com

Nothing Says “I Really Don’t Care How I Look Anymore” Like A Pair Of Crocs On Your Feet.

Arguably the ugliest shoes on Earth, Crocs serve as an excellent idiot barometer as you can tell a lot about people who actually are so brazen as to wear them in public. For example, Amazon.com suggest products that other customers have purchased based on the item you're shopping for. Here are the suggestions for Crocs:

 

A picture is worth a thousand words. Fortunately for me, my gorgeous wife always looks Über sexy wearing her black stiletto pumps!

The Red Balloon Florist In Oshawa Ontario Is Amazing!

 

For those in Ontario who may be in need of the services of a first class florist , Kathryn & I would highly recommend "The Red Balloon Florist!"  Fresh flowers and balloon bouquets delivered daily. Easy online orders and payment methods 24/7! Daily flower and balloon specials.  Satisfaction guaranteed! We're very impressed with the quality of their arrangements and customer service.

www.theredballoonflorist.com

SLS Photography Knows All About Diving In The Philippines!

After many, many, years of successfully organizing and guiding scuba diving photo tours to the Philippines, SLS Photography (Stewart Sy) is now officially endorsed by the Philippine Department of Tourism!

SLS Photography is also an authorized dealer for Aquatica, TLC, ULCS and Ultramax. You can find SLS Photography on Facebook at:

SLS Photography Facebook Link

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.