In Search Of Whale Sharks, Sogod Bay, Philippines

We have been seeing whale sharks here in the Philippines off Southern Leyte Island.  Photographing them has been a challenge due to the fact you must use a snorkel and shoot with available light only.  We try again tomorrow.  In the meantime, here are a few images from the other day...

Facebook Postings From The Philippines!

Stewart Sy, a very talented underwater photographer, snapped this picture of me diving off Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte, Philippines. Yeah, I might have made it as an underwater model ;)

 

Enjoying the diving off Southern Leyte Island, Philippines!

Here's a picture of a seahorse that I made on a night dive beneath the local town dock.  Awesome dive site!

All Aboard! Ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaa!... OZZY at Rogers Arena!

Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay... Sunday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, I took the family out to a show.  Ozzy's show was the bomb!  An impressive live performance from an original  metal rock legend.

Oowatanite! - April Wine at the Red Robinson Show Theatre

November 12, 2010: One of Canada’s legendary classic rock bands of all time played to a soldout audience  tonight at the Red Robinson Show Theatre in Port Coquitlam, BC. I first saw April Wine from in front of the stage at the Ottawa Civic Centre in 1973 when they headlined a bill with bands Mainline, King Biscuit boy and Africa.  Even after all these years , they can still rock the room!

Alert Diver Magazine ~ Browning Pass - Diving Wild in British Columbia

Alert Diver has published my story, "Browning Pass - Diving Wild in British Columbia" in their 4th Quarter 2010 issue.

Alert Diver is the quarterly magazine of Divers Alert Network (DAN). Read by more than 250,000 active divers, 1,100 dive businesses and 14,000 dive professionals, each issue is a must-read reference that is archived and shared. Alert Diver is the only magazine of its kind, educating and informing divers on a number of topics, including medical issues, research studies, incident studies and safety insights.

Lest We Forget ~ A Poppy is to Remember...

In honor of all who served. In memory of those soldiers who fell. Wherever you may be on November 11th at 11am, take a moment to pause and reflect upon the men and women, past and present, that have helped to preserve our way of life as well as freedoms of allies throughout the world.

Depth Magazine - That Beautiful Somewhere - British Columbia's Sunshine Coast

Depth Magazine, an online internet scuba publication, has published my story, "That Beautiful Somewhere - British Columbia's Sunshine Coast" in their November/December 2010 issue. The cover shot is also my image of of a diver in "the Skook", current-swept Skookumchuck Narrows.

Using Shark Imagery To Promote Shark Conservation

Renowned marine artists Wyland & Guy Harvey recently spent time in the Bahamas to document the beauty of sharks in an effort to help raise awareness about the plight these magnificent predators face, with the strong prospect of a commercial shark-finning operation being introduced there. Also involved is Jim Abernathy, a legendary shark diving tour operator. George Schellenger, of Status Productions put it all on film! Gentleman, we both applaud and support your efforts!

Here's a sneak peek of the film project they are developing:

This is Your Ocean: Sharks from George Schellenger on Vimeo.

Adams River Sockeye Salmon Run October 2010

I spent this past weekend up at Adams River, BC. with Kathryn and Alex.  This year's salmon run is the dominant year of the sockeye's four-year cycle; with an unexpected 34 million sockeye returning to the Fraser River watershed this year, the biggest run since 1913!  By comparison, an estimated 1.5 million returned to spawn in 2006 and 3.7 million in 2002. 

On Saturday, October 16, we spent about four hours in the river with fellow photographers Stewart Sy and Nick Lawlor.  The river's current gave us a bit of a workout and the underwater visibility was silty at times, yet we made the best of it. I shot some topside images on Sunday morning before heading back home. 

For more information about the Salute to the Sockeye festival, visit the Adams River Society’s web site at www.salmonsociety.com

Words of Wisdom

"You will never find the right person if you do not let go of the wrong one..."

Browning Pass HideAway Dive Resort~ Set Adrift On Diving Bliss!

I spent the past week diving at the Browning Pass HideAway Dive Resort, just north of Port Hardy, BC.  Captain John deBoeck never ceases to amaze diving guests with Browning Pass and all its diving wonders!

For more information, go to: www.vancouverislanddive.com

These are just a few images I captured...

Number 9 ~ Happy Birthday, John Lennon!

October 9th, would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday.  Today we remember the man, husband, father, musician and peace activist that was John Winston Ono Lennon. 

I can recall when Double Fantasy was released in 1980, Lennon stated the album cover would feature Yoko & him kissing.  At the time, they intended that any pictures of them in the media would only show them kissing.  A protest of sorts against war and I suspect negative vibrations in general.  After all, what image could be more disarming than two people who are in love, kissing?

I came across a quote today by none other than Dr, Seuss, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."  I think, Mr. Lennon would have liked that...

"Think peace. Act Peace. Spread peace and Imagine peace."

Decorator Crab ~ Master Of Disguise

A master of disguise, this bizarre-looking "decorator crab" demonstrates the fine art of undersea camouflage by attaching various detritus to to its exoskeleton.  These crabs use their sticky saliva to attach items they find to their body making them sometimes difficult to spot on an invertebrate encrusted reef or wall.  Photo taken in Browning Passage, British Columbia.

Northwest Dive News Published My Vanuatu Story

Apart from publishing my story, "Vanuatu: Bali Hai in the South Pacific", I also scored the magazine's cover shot!

Selene Peterson, Executive Assistant to the Publisher, said "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!!!"

The Shark-Free Marina Initiative

A very worthy cause whose goal is to reduce worldwide shark mortality.

Registered 'Shark-Free' marinas participate in a voluntary program under which they agree to prohibit sharks from being harvested at their facility. Working in tandem with businesses and fishermen we develop sensible protocols under which threatened species of shark are permitted to recover and replenish their stocks. We also work with policy makers at Local, State and Federal levels to create and enforce community conscious policy and increase the awareness of the need to protect our sharks and our ocean.

Currently between 60 and 100 million sharks are slaughtered worldwide each year. This massive cull of apex predators is unsustainable and poses a serious threat to the oceans health. Over the last 5 years the recreational fishery in the United States has harvested an average of ½ a Million sharks per year, removing them from an already struggling breeding population. Shark-Free Marinas will reduce the mortal take of sharks and encourage responsible use of our ocean.

 (source: www.sharkfreemarinas.com)

Aquatica's newest dealer in British Columbia!

...though he says he will ship anywhere. 

My good friend, Stewart Sy, is not only a talented underwater photographer, but is also now one of AQAUTICA's newest dealers in British Columbia.  

AQUATICA manufactures an extensive line of underwater housings for today’s finest digital cameras. The company also manufactures the world renowned Technical Lighting Control (TLC) strobe arms, trays and accessories. AQUATICA and TLC are the brands preferred by some of the top professional underwater photographers and are well known for their optical quality and superior level of craftsmanship. David Doubilet, of National Geographic fame, used their products as far back as 1982.

I purchased my first AQUATICA underwater housing in 1985 and took it around the world on diving assignments. Today, I am housing my NIKON D700 in an AQUATICA AD700.

As honest as the day is long, Stu knows underwater camera gear, how to use it. and provides "exemplary customer service!"  For more information, contact:

SLS Photography Ltd
11-8291 General Currie Road
Richmond, BC V6Y 1L9 CANADA
(604) 618-3421
cameras@stewartsy.com

Candy Stripe Shrimp

Usually found hiding near the base of crimson anemones, the candy stripe shrimp (aka Clown Shrimp) are one of the most striking marine invertebrates in British Columbia's Emerald Sea.  With their neon veins and translucent bodies, these tiny shrimp are a much sought after macro subject for underwater photographers.

“When angels visit us..."

“When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, nor feel the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts...”

On numerous occasions I have been speaking to my wife on the phone while she's in her car when she says, “Just a second, hon.” I can hear her roll down her window to give her bag lunch, piece of fruit, or bottled water to a homeless person. While she has many virtues, words can't express how blessed I feel to be married to one who does such charitable acts for those less fortunate without any fanfare or expectation...

"JTZ GRL" ~ When I say I'm in love, you best believe I'm in love L-U-V!

My amazing wife, Kathryn, just received customized license plates for her new BMW.  While she shows me every day in so many ways how much she truly loves me... she clearly is taking no prisoners in proclaiming to the world she's "Jett's Girl!"

Decorated Warbonnet ~ (Chirolophis decoratus)

Skittish by nature, Decorated Warbonnets are an eel-like fish named after the prominent cirri crowning their skull, which resembles the feathers of a Plains Indian chief's warbonnet.  Measuring about one foot in length, many believe these bizarre-looking fish from the Pacific Northwest rival any to be found at many of the World's tropical diving hot spots.