One of my images from our 2004
assignment at the Wakatobi Dive Resort. At the bottom of the picture you
can see the dark blue edge of Wakatobi's house reef that lies right in
front of the resort. If you could only dive one site at Wakatobi for
your entire stay, this would be the one!
Friday, May 17, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Angelina Jolie Personifies Courage.
“Life comes with many challenges. The
ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.”
– Angelina Jolie.
Ms. Jolie revealed today in the New
York Times that she had both breasts removed in February because she had an 87%
chance of getting cancer. In her own
words,
“My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and
a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case
of each woman. Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene
mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65 percent risk of getting it, on
average. Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to
minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double
mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher
than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex. On April 27, I
finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved.
During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my
work….I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do
not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope
that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high
risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.”
Love her, or hate her, there is no
denying this remarkable woman personifies courage. IMMENSE RESPECT!
BC Association Of Travel Writers Spring Gala 2013.
This past Saturday, Kathryn and I attended the BC Association of Travel Writers spring gala. A highly informative afternoon. Kathryn and I won 3 door prizes between us.
The BC Association of Travel Writers is a non profit association that provides a forum for British Columbia's travel writers to gather, learn and share information with their peers. The BCATW offers three categories to become a BCATW member: Member, Associate Member and Industry Member. For more information, follow this link to the BCATW Website.
We also have two of our photos featured on the BCATW website:
Monday, April 29, 2013
Leaving Cebu, Philippines June 2012.
I'm with the best travel companion & wife a man could ever have. Our flight from Cebu City to Manila had just taken off as we journeyed onward to Anilao.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Batfish in Anilao, Philippines.
"Swimming with
Batfish, they were really aware of us and would stay put for awhile unless I
got too close. They soon returned and could have up to a dozen standing in this
formation. Those guys are the reason I no longer like to eat fish!" ~
Kathryn Britnell
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Seeking Holy Matrimony Ten Fathoms Deep!
Nikonia
Fantastico! (aka, my brand spanking new NIKON D800 DSLR), is seeking a
single Aquatica AD800 underwater housing. Object: to travel, dive, write
and create breathtaking images in the ocean's depths together. Owner,
who is soon to be separated from his Nikon D700 has previous experience
with housed Nikon F3's, D90, D70, and D200 systems. No weirdos, please.
☺
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
"Our Numero Cinco Wedding Anniversary!!!"
"I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her
mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it." ~ From the
movie City of Angels
If I had to sum up my feelings about our marriage in one word, that word would be...
BLISS!
Thank you, Kathryn, for being such an Über amazing wife and for choosing me to be your husband! Happy 5th Anniversary, baby!!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
PhotoComment Magazine March 2013 Cover Features One Of Our Images.
PhotoComment photography magazine in South Africa has published our image of a Clownfish on the cover of their March 2013 issue. The subject has to be the most photographed clownfish at the Wakatobi Dive Resort in Indonesia. A couple of our images of a grouper and a tiger shark were published inside the magazine with some underwater photo tips we provided.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Protecting Dive Sites In British Columbia’s Emerald Sea.
The Underwater Council of BC maps 175 dive sites on Northern Vancouver Island to help protect them for future generations. You can help.
Northern Vancouver Island has the best cold water diving on the planet, some say. But who is protecting these ancient and beautiful sites for the future? The UCBC has just submitted a report to the Marine Planning Partnership which is documenting precious marine resources from Campbell River to the Haida Gwaii. The dive site report, written for the UCBC by Gary Marcuse, features the photos and videos of Paul Sim and Rob Roy. The report shows how rare and beautiful these sites are. You can watch a 2 minute video, download the report and view the dive sites, below.
tinyurl.com/Protect-BC-Dive-Sites
Going Down On The President - Diving Vanuatu's SS President Coolidge Shipwreck.
Depth Magazine, an online scuba magazine, has published a story I wrote called, "Going Down on the President" in their spring 2013 issue. This little ditty is all about diving one of the larger World War II shipwrecks in the world, Vanuatu's SS President Coolidge. Certainly a wreck dive worthy of being on a diver's bucket list. You must register for free to see the story at www.depthmagazine.net
British Columbia's Legendary Browning Pass.
Northwest Dive News Magazine ran a story Kathryn and I wrote called, "Legends of the Pass", in their January 2013 issue. Browning Pass Hideaway Lodge is the diving operation that can take you there. For more information, contact www.vancouverislanddive.com
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Our Fall 2012 Concert Roundup!
Way behind on posting
comments about some amazing shows we attended during fall 2012.
A Maelstrom Of Distortion -
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
November
11th - “No more sad songs for a little while,” smiled Neil Young
towards the end of his masterpiece of a concert at Rogers Arena. “Here’s a song
about a pretty girl with castanets.” This evening was a Tour de Force 70s Rock Show of Distorted Guitars!
“Ho Hey Ho, Ho Hey Ho” – Paul
McCartney at BC Place Vancouver!!!
November 25th - Kathryn and I
had left side stage seats this magical, once in a lifetime, night at the Paul McCartney concert. Maybe,
we’re amazed? Hell yeah, damn right we were! What a really big nostalgic show!
Set List
1. “Magical
Mystery Tour”
2. “Junior's Farm”
3. “All My Loving”
4. “Jet”
5. “Drive My Car”
6. “Sing The Changes”
7. “The Night Before”
8. “Let Me Roll It”
9. “Paperback Writer”
10. “The Long & Winding Road”
11. “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five”
12. “My Valentine”
13. “Maybe I'm Amazed”
14. “I've Just Seen A Face”
15. “And I Love Her”
16. “Blackbird”
17. “Here Today”
18. “Dance Tonight”
19. “Mrs. Vandebilt”
20. “Eleanor Rigby”
21. “Something”
22. “Band on the Run”
23. “Ob la di ob la da”
24. “Back in the USSR”
25. “I Got A Feeling”
26. “A Day In The Life”/“Give Peace a Chance”
27. “Let It Be”
28. “Live & Let Die”
29. “Hey Jude”
2. “Junior's Farm”
3. “All My Loving”
4. “Jet”
5. “Drive My Car”
6. “Sing The Changes”
7. “The Night Before”
8. “Let Me Roll It”
9. “Paperback Writer”
10. “The Long & Winding Road”
11. “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five”
12. “My Valentine”
13. “Maybe I'm Amazed”
14. “I've Just Seen A Face”
15. “And I Love Her”
16. “Blackbird”
17. “Here Today”
18. “Dance Tonight”
19. “Mrs. Vandebilt”
20. “Eleanor Rigby”
21. “Something”
22. “Band on the Run”
23. “Ob la di ob la da”
24. “Back in the USSR”
25. “I Got A Feeling”
26. “A Day In The Life”/“Give Peace a Chance”
27. “Let It Be”
28. “Live & Let Die”
29. “Hey Jude”
Encore #1
30. “Lady
Madonna”
31. “Day Tripper”
32. “Get Back”
31. “Day Tripper”
32. “Get Back”
Encore #2
34. “Yesterday”
35. "Mull of Kintyre"
36. “Helter Skelter”
37. “Golden Slumbers”/”Carry That Weight”/”The End.”
“10th Avenue Freeze Out" - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band! 35. "Mull of Kintyre"
36. “Helter Skelter”
37. “Golden Slumbers”/”Carry That Weight”/”The End.”
November 26th - The previous night it
was Macca at BC Place, and this night it was Bruce Springsteen at Rogers Arena. Not often
do you get to see two major rock legends perform on back to back nights.
Springsteen’s performance was Over The Top, WOW!
Stuart McLean - The Vinyl Cafe 2012 Xmas Tour!
December 12th - Canada’s favourite storyteller,
Award-winning author, journalist and humorist AND host of the popular CBC radio
show, The Vinyl Café, brought his Christmas Show to Vancouver’s Orpheum
theatre. A wonderful Christmas performance with uproarious laughter throughout!
“King Of The Keyboards” - Burton
Cummings At The Red!
December 14th
– A two hour non-stop show, Burton Cummings continues to sound
as he did in the halcyon days of The Guess Who. A master showman who really appreciates his fans and the musical career he has lived. Be sure not to miss him if he comes to your town.
shot by ShayMoyer.
A Legendary Evening With Gordon Lightfoot!
Scored
some primo seats in the 7th row to see the legendary Gordon Lightfoot,
arguably Canada's greatest songwriter, at Coquitlam's Red Robinson
Theatre last night. Bob Dylan once opined, "Gordon Lightfoot, every time
I hear a song of his, it's like I wish it would last forever." Though
Lightfoot's voice at age 74 may have lost some of it's lower register, he is
still thoroughly entertaining. And to echo Dylan's platitudes, few songwriters in
history can even come close to Lightfoot's ability to write songs that
are drenched with heartfelt emotion. Give a listen to "The Last Time I
Saw Her"
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
NEW YEAR'S DAY 1981.
Came across this old image of me by the
roadside at California’s Redwood Forest National Park on New Years Day
1981. A buddy and I left Vancouver on a road trip to Carmel, CA in the
wee hours of the morning after closing down a rocking New Years
Eve party. Hey, it was the 80’s, we were young, we hadn’t slept a wink,
it was freezing cold outside and if I do say… I was something to behold
with that bed head mane of hair. Hahaha ☺

Friday, March 1, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Whoo Hoo!, Our Budweiser Hockey Red Light Arrived Today.
"With just a beer light to guide us..." Whoo Hoo!, our Budweiser Hockey Red Light arrived today. This clever replica goal light can be synced to your favourite team, or teams. It will flare and a horn will blare whenever your team puts one in the net, even if you’re not actually watching the hockey game. Fortunately, you can adjust the volume on the buzzer because at full volume it would surely wake up the neighbors. :)
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Valentine's Dinner at stately Britnell Manor tonight!
A diabolical Yeeehahaha for a plan that comes together :) Two dozen white and pink roses and spa therapy foam bath for the lovely Mrs. Britnell not to be outdone by Iron Chef Jett's amazeballs menu for Valentine's Dinner at stately Britnell Manor tonight!
Happy Valentine's Day - "I Just Love The Wife I've Got!"
"Happy Valentine's Day!", to my Über sexy, utterly amazing wife, Kathryn! Paul Anka may have penned the following lyrics, but I'm living them with you. Every night, and every day! XOXO
"About as sacred as a hymn.
And a Bible full of prayers.
From a whisper to a roar.
Very much, and even more.
And I shall show it with my eyes.
And I will share it with the night.
If in death, the good Lord is kind.
You'll be the last thing on my mind."
And a Bible full of prayers.
From a whisper to a roar.
Very much, and even more.
And I shall show it with my eyes.
And I will share it with the night.
If in death, the good Lord is kind.
You'll be the last thing on my mind."
~ Do I Love You - by Paul Anka
Friday, February 8, 2013
Row B - An Evening With Martin Short!
Comedic brilliance! Martin
Short killed it as the host for the The Vancouver Comedy
& Arts Festival's opening gala. Here’s the comedic genius at work in
the “Royal Family Doctor” skit when he hosted Saturday Night Live in
December 2012. Martin kicks the skit into high gear at the 1.04 minute
mark.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Happy New Year 2013!
"In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want." - Irish Toast.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
We Are Featured In The November Issue of Pacific Northwest Diver e-Magazine.
Pacific Northwest Diver e-Magazine has a feature on Kathryn and I in their November 2012 issue. It is available for download at http://pnwups.com/. Pacific Northwest Diver is published by the Pacific Northwest Underwater Photographic Society (PNWUPS), an organization formed to encourage interest and participation in underwater photography.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Show Time! - Mission Library, November 14th!
Kathryn and I are presenting a digital slide
show, “Tropical Splendor in A Cold Sea”, at the Mission Library in
Mission, BC on Wednesday, Nov 14th, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Discover one of sport
diving's best kept secrets - British Columbia's ocean realm!
Mission Library
33247 - 2 Avenue
Mission, B.C.
V2V 1J9
Mission Library
33247 - 2 Avenue
Mission, B.C.
V2V 1J9
Monday, October 29, 2012
Ghostly Depths: Around The Pacific Northwest Magazine.
The current issue of Around The Pacific
Northwest Magazine has published our shipwreck story and images about
the tragic sinking of Princess Sophia on October 24, 1918. This incident
still ranks as being the worst maritime disaster in Alaska’s history.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Apparently, Dolphins Maintain Awareness For 15 Days.
Some very interesting news. Recent research suggests that dolphins can maintain vigilant behavior
through echolocation for 15 days without interruption or cognitive impairment. It is believed that dolphins may continuously echo-locate and
accurately report the presence of targets for at least 15 days without
interruption.
For more information, go to: www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0047478
Sunday, October 14, 2012
British Columbia Association Of Travel Writers Fall Gala 2012.
Kathryn and I attended the BC Association of Travel Writers Fall Gala yesterday afternoon. During this event, there was a brainteaser contest wherein we were all separated into random teams in order to quiz this illustrious roomful of travel writers on their collective knowledge about some rather obscure geographical and historical facts. As evidenced by this picture you can see, "The Aardvarks" triumphed!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
FRONT ROW! - Bob Dylan at Vancouver's Rogers Arena.
Bob Dylan's performance last night at Rogers Arena far exceeded my expectations. Kathryn really enjoyed the show too. Surprisingly, despite releasing his 35th studio album, Tempest, in September to critical acclaim and seemingly endless positive reviews, Mr Zimmerman did not play one new song.
Mark Knopfler also played a killer set from his solo catalog to an approving audience.
Thanks baby for scoring FRONT ROW seats. What a fun night!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
"Nature Might Stand Up And Say To All This World, THIS WAS A MAN."
"The other blokes spent their money on girls and cars and beer. I spent my money on cameras and lenses.” - Ron Taylor
We learned the sad news this morning that the great diving legend, Ron Taylor, has passed away. Sad news, indeed. Ron was my boyhood hero and his work an inspiration. A class act when I one day had the occasion to meet him and briefly chat about our local six gill sharks. Our deepest sympathy to his lovely wife, Valerie, and all those who knew and loved "the Shark Man."
Douglas David Seifert, World Editor, DIVE Magazine has posted an eloquent eulogy for Ron Taylor at the WETPIXEL website. Here is a link to this fine piece:
The Luckiest Guy On Earth? I'll Own It!
I read the news today on Facebook, oh boy! Turns out I won a draw sponsored by Cool Dives, an interactive website operated by Paul Kennell that promotes British Columbia dive vacation planning. If you’re seeking quality information and useful tips for planning a scuba diving vacation in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada, check out Cool Dives website at:
Saturday, September 1, 2012
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