SCUBA Travel News

Filmmakers and environmentalists Francois and Jean-Jacques Mantello and ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau are pleased to announce they have joined forces on the new 3D documentary film DOLPHINS AND WHALES 3D: Tribes of the Ocean, which will be released at IMAX (R) Theatres beginning on February 15th, 2008. This latest installment in 3D Entertainment’s unique ocean themed film series will deliver a strong and compelling conservation message while bringing audiences on a close encounter, for the very first time in 3D, with small and giant cetaceans such as humpback and sperm whales, orcas and dolphins.

"I am delighted to be associated with this new, unforgettable underwater voyage where viewers will don their 3D glasses much in the same way we put on our diving masks and will be immersed in the rarely seen world of these fascinating but vulnerable creatures," says Jean-Michel Cousteau. "DOLPHINS AND WHALES 3D: Tribes of the Ocean is an ideal means of reaching a vast audience and helping individuals around the world to understand that we need to act responsibly in order to ensure the preservation of the world’s oceans and its inhabitants because, in the end, the most crucial partners whales and dolphins have are YOU and me."

"DOLPHINS AND WHALES 3D: Tribes of the Ocean will show a large variety of cetacean species, filmed exclusively in the wild, as they really are in their daily lives: interacting socially, playing, communicating through their highly complex system of sound, feeding, breeding, migrating and perpetually fighting for their survival," explains the film’s director, Jean-Jacques Mantello.

"Although each encounter with these wild creatures was truly magical and highly emotional, this marks one of the most challenging and epic productions I have ever taken on."

Principal photography began in June 2004 in Polynesia. An extensive three years were required to capture the footage during the course of 12 international expeditions and over 600 hours underwater at some of the remotest locations on Earth, including off the Pacific Ocean atolls of Moorea and Rurutu, Vava’u island of the Kingdom of Tonga, Pico Island in the Azores archipelago, the Valdez Peninsula in Argentina, Sapphire Coast of Australia, Bay of Islands in New Zealand and Canada's Hudson Bay. Unlike other IMAX-type documentaries, the film consists solely of underwater footage, with none of the usual “dive preparation” sequences.

The film trailer can been seen at http://www.DOLPHINSandWHALES3D.com
High-resolution photos from the film are available at http://www.3DEpublicity.com.


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Labels: sealife, whale and dolphins

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have recalled Oceanic and AERIS SCUBA Regulator First Stages. Divers should immediately stop using these items and take them to any authorised Oceanic or AERIS dealer for a free replacement part

An internal component that seals air between the high pressure first-stage and the intermediate pressure second-stage can fail. This can result in uncontrolled flow of air to the diver and pose a risk of serious injury or death.

The manufacturer, ROMI, has received two reports of units malfunctioning during diving and six reports of units malfunctioning while being tested by dealers prior to delivery to consumers. No injuries have been reported.

Regulators purchased from May 2006 to October 2007 are affected.

For further information, Oceanic customers can send an e-mail to service@oceanicusa.com or visit the firm’s Web site at www.oceanicworldwide.com. AERIS customers can send an e-mail to info@diveaeris.com or visit the firm’s Web site at www.diveaeris.com

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Labels: equipment

Following an intense operation, conservation work to preserve the wreck of the Thistlegorm has been successful and finished on schedule.

Diving boats and operators can now make use of the new mooring system.

More details of the newly installed moorings can be found on the HEPCA website.

In addition to the moorings, a quantity of holes have been drilled in the wreck as air-escape outlets. Further holes will be drilled at a later date but will not require further closure of the site.

The conservation work on the SS Thistlegorm will now be followed by a similar project on the Rosalie Moller and other wrecks under threat as part of the HEPCA ‘Saving the Red Sea Wrecks’ Campaign.

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Labels: dive destination, Red Sea, wrecks

Conservation work has now started on the SS Thistlegorm off the Red Sea coast of Egypt. The intense operation to install moorings and air-escape outlets on this legendary wreck is being undertaken by Red Sea NGO Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA). Members of the HEPCA diving and mooring team are currently working alongside volunteer divers from the Red Sea community to preserve the SS Thistlegorm for the future.

The conservation operation on the SS Thistlegorm is expected to last 10-15 days. HEPCA is ensuring that the work causes minimal inconvenience and will be completed as timely as possible subject to the prevailing weather conditions. During this time no diving activity is permissible on the wreck for safety reasons.

The temporary closure of the SS Thistlegorm is part of the ‘Saving the Red Sea Wrecks’ Campaign, which was launched by HEPCA at the UK Dive Show in October. The Campaign will later target the Rosalie Moller and other Red Sea wrecks under threat. The aim is to stop further damage to our wrecks and also encourage all Red Sea diving operators and divers to adopt a more environmentally aware operational and diving code.

The SS Thistlegorm has been voted one of the Top Ten Dives in the World.


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Labels: dive destination, Red Sea, wrecks