Scubashooters net e mag issue n46 oct 2019 by Scubashooters Underwater Photography

Michael Aw

Portfolio

issue nÂ°46

- oct 2019

Travels: Wreck Dive in Jordan

Review: Orcatorch D910V

Travels: Turtle Tomb Cave

Deep Visions 2019: Categories and Rules

Biology: the Crocodile Fish

Monthly Contest: July - September

Dear readers and friends, many of you will probably remember that we are going to celebrate Scubashooters’ network 7th birthday in the next months. Since the beginning our goal has always been the same: take good pictures out of hard disks and let non divers know how beautiful and fragile the Ocean is. We have always done that with good will and basically on our pockets. This is the main reason why we decided to move our magazine from free to paid even though with a small price to buy it... we thought that everyone would have be more than glad to pay a small fee in order to be able to continue enjoying good photos and nice articles. We were wrong. We underestimated the growing number of free magazines out there and we also underestimated that it’s nearly impossible to move a free commodity into a paid one without offering nothing more. So after receiving many messages, emails and voice mails , some of them complaining too, we decided to go back to free download for our magazine. We apologize with those who decided to pay for a subscription or a download of a single issue, we apologize but we also thank you for your support; please get in touch with us via your usual channels, either facebook or email and we will arrange a full refund of what you paid. Thank you. We believe this is a move that many will judge “unusual” or “weird”... we strongly believe this is the right way to go and we hope that our magazine will get stronger after coming back to free. Thanks for following us, thanks for supporting Scubashooters network and thanks for sharing this among your friends.

Marino Palla Owner and Founder Scubashooters Network

Cover image by: Michael Aw

Contents

Issue n°46

- October 2019 pag. 48

P ortfolio Michael Aw Editorial: by Marino Palla

Travels: Blue Emocean Resort Moyo Island

pag. 3

Contest: Deep Visions Rules, Prizes, Sponsors and Categories

pag. 68

pag. 8 Travels: Wreck Dive in Jordan by: Ivana Orlovic & Janez Kranic

pag. 14

Review: A Light InThe Dark - Orcatorch D910V pag. 26 by Marco Colombo Biology: The Crocodile Fish

Travels: Turtle Tomb Cave by: ifj Lçorincz Ferenc

pag. 78

Monthly contest: July and September The Winners

pag. 96

DAN Europe: How I learned To Be My Doctor

pag. 92

Chief Editor: Leonardo D’Imporzano Editor: Fabio Strazzi Assistant Editor: Isabella Maffei Scubashooters - Via Barucchi 37, 37139 Verona Graphic Design and Supervising: Silvia Bogni Layout: Elisa Furlani, Silvia Bogni, Alessandra Suppo Translations: Piera Pirini

pag. 40 4

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Travels

The best known wrecks of Jordan

by: Ivana O.K. & Janez Kranjc

Travels

t is in the northernmost part of the Red Sea, at the very tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, that Jordan reaches out to the sea. The city that dominates this 27 km long coastline is Aqaba. Once a small fishing town of only a few thousand inhabitants, today it is a tourist area offering outstanding amenities compared to other towns in Jordan.

Owing to these advantages, Aqaba has seen a great expansion and has become a modern tourist centre today. The Jordanian part of the Red Sea is characterized by a variety of terrains. We can come across walls, reefs, diving in the stream and various wrecks. What we learned from the local seafarers is that this part of the Red Sea has been spared from global warming. The corals are in very good condition and reefs are bristling with life. From a global perspective, these are the northernmost coral reefs on the planet and are in a very good state.

There are about 500 species of corals in these waters, 150 of which are hard and 350 soft corals. If we add to this number 1,200 species of fish, we can see how lavish this underwater world is. However, it is not the underwater inhabitants that are the main subject of this text, but the deliberately sunken wrecks, some of which are unique in the world. Hercules C130 This is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;most recentâ&#x20AC;? sunken wreck in the Gulf of Aqaba. Following extensive preparations, this grandiose undertaking was carried out on November

Travels

16, 2017, when Hercules â&#x20AC;&#x153;landedâ&#x20AC;&#x153; on the seabed. The plane was donated to divers by the Royal Jordanian Airforce. This model of aircraft has been in use since 1950 in over 70 countries throughout the world. Today it is the No.1 site in Aqaba attracting divers from around the world. It lies in a horizontal position at a depth of 12 to 17 meters. It is 30 metres long and with a 40-metre wingspan, it is simply breathtaking. And it is not only its external appearance, but the interior of the aircraft that inspires utter delight. Entering the wreck is safe and simple. A lot of windows and doors allow the light to penetrate the interior of the plane, making the experience complete. Even though it has been under water for less than a year, marine inhabitants have already begun to settle. We are sure that it will perfectly fit into the coral reef environment in the future. The Tank The self-propelled anti-aircraft tank T42 Duster is perhaps one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular diving sites. The Jordanian Royal Ecological-Diving Society is the one to be credited for its submersion. It was scuttled to the bottom of the sea in 1999 when its implementation into a coral reef has begun. It is fascinating how many creatures of the marine living world have found its habitat on it. Sponges, soft corals and a multitude of coral fishes give the tank a distinctive air. Being located between several diving sites, the tank is the usual place for safety stoppages. Furthermore, it is most convenient for snorkelling and free diving. The Tank T42 Duster is a spot not to be missed.

The Cedar Pride

rightly considered one of the most beautiful Red Sea wrecks.

It is said to be one of the most beautiful wrecks in the world. The seventy-meter long cargo ship changed its name and owner several times during its service.

With these three different wrecks, we have discovered only a small part of the beauty of the Jordanian part of the Red Sea. A large number of extremely well-preserved and living reefs round off this country as a diving destination.

When it sailed into Jordanian waters under the Lebanese flag and the Cedar Pride name in 1982, no one could foresee that this would be her final destination.

If we add on more than a dozen sites suitable for technical diving, we can say that Jordan simply has to be visited and dived in.

A great fire broke out on the ship and damaged it irretrievably. The wreck was left on the beach at the mercy of the sea. However, the Jordanian King personally interceded in favour of the scuttling of the Cedar Pride and her fitting into a coral reef.

Text by Janez Kranjc Photos by Ivana O.K. & Janez Kranjc www.aqaba.jo/ www.aqabazone.com/ www.nikon.rs

It lies on its left broadside, in one piece. It is settled on two coral reefs, just 130 meters from the shore. The maximum depth is 26 meters and is

Travels

Review

A Light In The Dark

Orcatorch D910V Review by: Marco Colombo www.calosoma.it

iving torches are often divided into diferent categories depending on power, color temperature, size, type of battery and so on. From a purely practical point of view,

the seabed up close. The new Orcatorch D910V underwater torch, of which I was able to test a prototype, is placed in the second category, but does not renounce to a power worthy of exploration torches.

I tend to divide them into two large sections: those with a narrow beam, very powerful, used for exploration, turbid water, and for lighting at a certain distance, and those with a wide beam, less powerful, used to observe

Constructively very robust, measures 129.5x45x53 mm, it can withstand falls from 1 m in height and seems optimal for rocky

The author using Orcatorch D910V in shallow sea waters (photo by P.Formis)

environments I explore, without suffering too much for scratches. It has a titanium button with a locking system, to prevent it from unintentionally turning on in the bag (which is very useful!

netically rechargeable without any need of battery removal, which greatly reduces the risk of flooding. The charging time is approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, therefore lower than for various other models on the market.

Think of arriving at the beach and finding out that it has no more charge...); it is mag-

The fact that the charger goes into the cor-

Pleurobranchus testudinarius, a perfect mollusk for wide-angle macro using Orcatorch D910V as focus light rect position even just laying it on the torch chargin port makes it more difficult to do mistakes in fitting the contacts and cause deficiencies in the charge.

can be influenced by the temperature of the water and other factors, I did some tests also obtaining a permanence of the torch turned on for 1 hour and 12 minutes.

The power button, not too hard to press but neither too sensible, allows you to get three different powers based on the use you want to do: maximum (5000 lumens), average (2000 lumens), minimum (500 lumens).

At medium power the torch will illuminate your dives for about 2 hours, while at minimum power the duration is amazing, over 8 hours. Using the torch in a non-continuous manner, it is even possible to extend the runtime.

The runtime is obviously influenced by the chosen power: the declared for the maximum is 50 minutes, but since the parameter

If it is true that for an underwater photographer 50 minutes of diving are usually the

Review

In any case, a useful LED next to the power button indicates the state of charge precisely, with different color codes: green (over 70%), orange (70-30%), red (<30%), red flashing (<10%). An interesting thing about this torch is the trim in the water: the weight of 430 g (not insignificant if added to everything else and if you have to walk for a long time in the mountains before reaching the diving point) becomes only 215 g in water , making it very comfortable and easy to handle, also thanks to a rubber ring that makes it easy to handle without slipping.

minimum (normally my night dives last for 3 hours in shallow water), it is also true that the maximum power is so high that it is absolutely not necessary during the search for subjects and the photographic activity. The medium power is already very high and even allows you to shoot with slow times to get creative blurry shots (eg. panning) even in total absence of ambient light, but it will be the almost unlimited minimum power that will be the most useful. Among other things, often going to to caves and caverns for me is a passion, and the possibility of having a torch that at least has a power to stay on for such a long time is a further security in terms of “temporal redundancy” of the equipment, in addition to the necessary redundancy in terms of number of torches.

For those who are passionate about technical diving, the maximum operational depth tested for this torch is 150 m: I will never reach that, but I can assure you that at least up to 45 m the torch has no problem whatsoever! The neutral color temperature makes possible to have a white (5700K) and diffused (120 ° angle) light, ideal for having no reddish or bluish photos in the case of a strobes / environment light mix, a common situation with wide angle lenses; this makes the D910V a perfect torch also for underwater video shooting in continuous light. As always, at the end of use especially in salt water, it is advisable to wash the torch with clean water, which in any case is built with the best anti-corrosion anodized materials, in order to increase its durability in a “hostile” environment to metals such as the ocean.

Luisella pedata, a colourful nudibranch in macrophotography, easily targeted by autofocus thanks to Orcatorch D910V

Seastar Astropecten aranciacus, another subject that allows to frame both environment and animal

Orcatorch D910V on white background

• The latest diamond grad hard anodized seawater corrosion resi stance finish • Two sides coated toughened glass with high water pressure resistance to deep water • Maximum power: 5000 lumen, runtime 50 min • Medium power: 2000 lumen, runtime 2h 10min • Low power: 500 lumen, runtime 8h 50 min • Impact resistance: 1 m • Waterproof: 150 m • Working voltage: 8.4-12.6 V • Charging time: 2.5h • Dimension: 129.5mmx45mmx53mm • Net weight: 430g • Weight in water: 215g • Accessories: home charger, ball joint, rub ber ring, O-rings

Technical features: • CREE COB LED • 120° degree wide beam angle • Temperatura colore 5700 K • CRI: RA 92 • Magnetic fast charging system with short charging time of 2.5h • Standard included battery pack • Titanium alloy switch controls 3 lighting modes • LED indicator displays battery remaining charge • Safe lock function • LED charging indicator • Intelligent over-heat protection • Over-charge and discharge protection • Water pressure reistant contruction, depth rated to 150 m • Aircraft grade high strenght aluminium ma terial

Review

Hybrid equipment I was able to look for river crabs among the boulders of the river, even under rock canopies or in shelters in the mud, without fearing for the safety of my light source.

I went with this torch to look for river crabs (Potamon fluviatile) in a Tuscan watercourse, and I must absolutely stress one thing: normally underwater torches are not usable out of the water, because they quickly overheat, being designed for environment underwater.

River crabs are large and colorful crustaceans, which live in freshwater predating invertebrates, frogs and small fish; during the night or on rainy days they can also venture out of the water, in search of their prey, taking advantage of the humidity of the air. A population is also present in the center of Rome!

The D910V, however, has an advantage: an intelligent self-protection system against overheating, so that when it reaches a temperature of 65 Â°C, the torch automatically reduces its power.

Going back to the torch, it was obviously designed for water, so although I have used it successfully for the outside, in abandoned mines, for macro photography of flowers and lightpainting in landscape photography,

This allows you to use it even out of the water, and this is a great advantage for those who, like me, look for animals in dark and humid environments, where a normal torch could be ruined, or in environments on the border between water and shore, where the continuous dives and emergences could wear down the instrumentation. In this way, therefore,

I suggest you to limit yourself to that underwater use: the temperature of the front lens is still high and can even set a green leaf on fire in a few seconds.

Orcatorch D910V has an innovative anti-heating system, so that it is possible to use it even outside of the water

Fighting the mud

seeds (Lepomis gibbosus) I verified that the use of the torch can soften or even erase that shadows.

Obviously I tested the D910V Orcatorch even in deeper waters.

A resistant torch perfect for every environment (photo by E.Canciani)

I went to a prealpine lake in the period with more turbid water, in order to verify the effective power of the torch: even if, of course, backscatter doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help, the D910V revealed

Pumpkinseed in shallow turbid water, ambient light (up: please note the shadow) and ambient light + correctly oriented Orcatorch D910V (down: please note absence of shadow and more vivid colours) Muddy waters can be very beautiful for underwater photography

Moreover, in one situation I found one of these fish under a big tree making shadow, and I did not want to go higher with ISO (sensivity).

an unspected ability to penetrate the green. With a torch is harder to not show backscatter (easier with strobes), but this could be an easy choice for beginners, as in shallow water dark shadows can be seen under the subject, and while photographing pumpkin-

In this case, from 1/30 shutter speed I passed to 1/80 using the torch, and recording sharp images without higher ISO and strobes.

Review

Pumpkinseed in shadow, ambient light, Nikon D90, Tokina 10-17 mm, 1/20 f13, ISO 800: blurry subject

Pumpkinseed in shadow, ambient light, Nikon D90, Tokina 10-17 mm, 1/80 f13, ISO 800: sharp subject

The torch is useful also for fill in during silhouettes shooting: at maximum power, on

near subjects, you can show some details in the shape even with the sun in front of you. As far as creative lighting is concerned, the possibility of detaching the torch from the camera allows to put it behind the subject: with watelilies, I tried to show ribs and give a more tridimensional effect to my images, that with the sole natural light is impossible in turbid waters. But the most important thing in my opinion is that such a powerful torch can be used, even if it has a wide beam, as a snoot on medium-sized subjects. A particularly confident pumpkinseed allowed me to put the D910V on the bottom, and take a photo of its â&#x20AC;&#x153;radiographyâ&#x20AC;? showing vertebrae and full stomach, using a fisheye lens, and mixing this back light with ambient light to show the green background. Most torches I used in the past were too weak to assure success in these experiments.

The support allows to attach Orcatorch D910V to underwater housings (photo by E.Canciani)

Waterlilies in ambient light + Orcatorch D910V from behind: please note tridimensionality

Waterlilies in ambient light

Backlit pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) with Orcatorch D910V and ambient light, fisheye lens

Review

A torch for professionals and amateurs In the sea I tested Orcatorch D910v with two configurations: on Olympus PEN E-PL1 (mirrorless) as main light, and on Nikon D90 (reflex) as focus light.

With big schools of salema porgies (Sarpa salpa), instead, the use of the torch allowed me to give light to their silver reflections and yellow patterns.

In the first case I could not attach the prototype directly on the housing, which sounds a bit unconfortable, but at maximum power the light revealed exceptional features.

The Orcatorch D910v revealed itself a perfect partner even for amateurs underwater photographers and videomakers, not only professionals.

Seastar (Hacelia attenuata) photographed with mirrorless camera at 27 m of depth, in ambient light

Seastar (Hacelia attenuata) photographed with mirrorless camera at 27 m of depth, with Orcatorch D910V: please note warm colours and absence of dark areas on the borders of image

Warm and wide, it allowed me to use a 18 mm lens on medium-big sized animals at close distance, giving a soft light to the scene and making colours alive even under 30 metres of depth. The beam is so wide that you do not see dark areas on the borders of the frame, and at a distance of about 1 meter, sea stars and groupers waiting on the bottom have their majestic colours back, and not the usual blue hues.

Even if it does not have any ring to attach it on jacket or wrist, Orcatorch D910V can be useful to non-photographer scubadivers (photo by E. Canciani)

School of salema porgies (Sarpa salpa) at 8 m of depth, photographed with mirrorless camera and Orcatorch D910V: please note reflections and colours on the sides of fish Follow the light In the sea, I also went to sandy bottoms in western Liguria, to test the torch at 35 m of depth and photograph orange gorgonians (Leptogorgia sarmentosa) growing on little rocks in the middle of the mud. At those depths ambient light begins to get low and it is important to trust on a valuable artificial light that allows autofocus to work properly and â&#x20AC;&#x153;catchâ&#x20AC;? the subject easily.

Orcatorch D910V allows to look for subjects and light them, here on sandy bottom at 35 m of depth (photo by P.Formis)

was working well on the big fans without the need of deep control. I also did another test: shooting the same subject in ambient light vs ambient light + strobes vs ambient light + Orcatorch D910V.

In those situations, using a fisheye lens, I could shoot some photos even without looking in the viewfinder, because the autofocus

Review

Gorgonian (Leptogorgia sarmentosa) at 33 m of depth, ambient light, Nikon D90, Tokina 10-17 mm, 1/60 f22, ISO 1000: please note total absence of colours

Gorgonian (Leptogorgia sarmentosa) at 33 m of depth, ambient light + Orcatorch D910V, Nikon D90, Tokina 1017 mm, 1/60 f22, ISO 1000: please note wide and warm beam, shadows on the bottom are due to use of only one frontal torch

Gorgonian (Leptogorgia sarmentosa) at 33 m of depth, ambient light + 2 strobes, Nikon D90, Tokina 10-17 mm, 1/60 f22, ISO 1000: absence of shadows is due to use of two side strobes, but colours and lighting are similar to previous situation

I verified that with slow shutter speeds on still subjects, the final result is completely comparable, apart from shadows that of course behave according to orientation of illuminators (I am quite sure that with two torches on lateral arms, and not only one on the housing, I would have had nearly indistinguishable images).

Conclusions Orcatorch D910V revealed during tests a great quality, with a wide warm beam, useful as focus light and as main light source. The robust structure and long-lasting charge make this torch reliable even in harder conditions, as muddy turbid waters, night and caves.

The only missing thing, easily solvable with filters, is a red light option, that would allow to photograph from nearby some fish species that instead escape from white light.

Let yourself be guided in the beauty of the depths by Orcatorch D910V, the key to open darknesss doors.

Orcatorch D910V can be also useful as focus light in macro photography, as in the case of this nudibranch (Felimare tricolor) in shadow, focused with the light and lit with two strobes

Review by Marco Colombo www.calosoma.it www.orcatorch.com

Orcatorch D910V kit

Biology

The Crocodile Fish Ugly, But Fascinating

by: Massimo Bicciato and Emilio Mancuso

Curiosity

iological introduction

The most peculiar and fascinating adaptation of the crocodile fish is in the eye: to increase the level of mimicry, the eye is partially covered by a thin layer of irregularly shaped tissue, a pseudo-eyelid that camouflages the eye’s outline, i.e. that part of the body notoriously able to highlight the presence of the fish.

Although the unusual shape, the crocodile fish is a Scorpaeniform. Shape and color make it particularly mimetic, but when it is more visible, the shape and color themselves easily evoke the memory of a crocodile. It reaches about 70-100 cm in length, with a flattened body and a very wide mouth and squashed, staining on the shades of brown with lighter and darker streaks (sometimes tending to greenish) that allow it to completely fade into the surrounding environment.

Approach, observation and photography techniques First, we must be able to identify it, but once done, if the animal is not disturbed, it will lend itself to a meticulous observation. This is because until the disturbance does not becomes excessive, the animal tends to remain motionless to go unnoticed to the hypothetical aggressor till, feeling too threatened, it decides to run away quickly. Hence, remember to keep the right observation distance so as not to turn yourself, even if unintentionally, into the “on duty predator” from which to escape.

“How deep…” Shy visitor of sandy bottoms and sand mixed with gravel or reef debris, on average we may find the crocodile fish up to about 4050 meters deep. The juvenile forms, more difficult to observe, are found in the middle of prairies of algae and seagrass with a finer sandy bottom.

Biology

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Portfolio

Michael Aw

“Pictures For The Environment” Website: www.michaelaw.com

Portfolio

He is recipient of four awards from the Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Competition in 2000, 2010 and in 2006 and 2015 he was the Winner award for the underwater category. In 2013 he was awarded the NOGI AWARD for Arts and inducted into the American Academy of Underwater Arts and Science.

ichael AW is a wildlife photographer, explorer and a conservationist. He has authored of 36 books of the ocean. His accolades include winning more than 66 international photographic awards and were named as one of the world’s most influential nature photographers by Outdoor Photography. Michael AW’s essays and pictures have been published in BBC Wildlife, GEO, National Geographic, the Smithsonian, Nature, Ocean Geographic, Asian Geographic, Nature Focus, Times, and Discovery to name but a few.

In 2012, Michael’s ‘Indonesia’s Global Treasures’ won the International Prize for Best Book of the Year at the World Underwater Pictures Festival (Festival Mondial de l’Image Sous Marine). This artistic book category yielded entries from a host of international authors and photographers including books published by media powerhouses from UK, Germany, Singapore, USA and France. “Global Treasures” received the Palme d’Or (Gold) award. Michael is the first to have won this prestigious award twice; the first was for “Heart of the Ocean” in 2009.

From 2010 to 2016 Michael was the project director for the Elysium Epic expedition to the Antarctic and Arctic with 66 team members comprise the world’s best image makers and scientists, to document the flora and fauna for a movie and climate change index of the Arctic from Svalbard, Greenland to Iceland. His most recent work was in September of 2018; he led a team of 50, using three vessels for an expedition across the heart of the Coral Triangle for a first ever baseline survey of the biomass of corals and fishes in the region.

In 2010 he won the the prestigious Gold Diver award for the highly contested Portfolio category at the World Festival of Un-

Portfolio

strong, Buzz Aldrin, David Doubilet, Emory Kristof, Stan Waterman and Sylvia Earle.

derwater Pictures in France. This is the first time an Asian has won this category. In 2008 Stan Waterman conferred Michael with the Peter Benchley Shark Conservation Award from Sharks Research Institute in recognition of his highly-effective and unrelenting campaign against shark fin soup consumption in the Asia Pacific region. Michael is also a recipient of the prestigious WYLAND ICON award for Conservation in 2011 and in 2012 he was presented the Diver of the Year Award at the Beneath the Sea Festival in New Jersey. In 1999, he led a team of 44 for the world’s first 24 hour documentation of a submerged reef, Maaya Thila in the Maldives. The documentary “24Hours Beneath the Rainbow Sea” was produced for the National Geographic channel and the book of the same title was published in 2000.

Michael AW is the founder of OceanNEnvironment, a charity organization registered with Environment Australia, Asian Geographic and Ocean Geographic. “Beneath Bunaken”(1993) was his first book and Elysium – Artists for the Arctic is 36th MILESTONES 2018 – Michael worked with local partner for ban of shark fins and shark product and single used plastic in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. At the closing ceremony of Celebrate the Sea Festival in Manado, 4 April the Honourable Daniel Mewengkang, Head of Tourism and Mrs Marly Gumalag, Head of Environment by decree of the Governor of North Sulawesi, declared the ban of shark fins and shark products. Then Mrs Marly Gumalag, Head of Environment made a second declaration on the ban of single-use plastics in North Sulawesi! North Sulawesi and Manado City became the first province and city in Indonesia

Michael remains today, an active member of the Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and a Fellow International of The Explorer Club NY. Some of the most prominent Fellows are Sir Edmund Hillary, Roald Amundsen, Neil Arm-

Portfolio

to make this historic declaration. This also makes Indonesia the first country in Asia to declare a ban on single-use plastics.

board his dream journal Ocean Geographic. The current editorial board now comprised of Dr Gerry Allen, Dr Carden Wallace, Emory Kristof, Stan Waterman, David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes, Cabel Davis, Laurent Ballesta, Doug Perrine, Howard and Michelle Hall, Alex Mustard and Wyland. Today, Ocean Geographic is the one of the world’s most inspiring journal of the sea.

2015 – project director for the Elysium Artists for the Arctic project; an initiative to produce a film, book and a series of exhibition to inspire greater appreciation and preservation of the Arctic environment. ElysiumEpic.org

In 2004, Michael AW collaborated with good friend Mathieu Meur to produce the “Essential Guide to Digital Underwater Photography”. The Advanced edition was launched in 2007. The 4th edition has now been published; since the first edition the title is a best seller, adopted by many photographic instructors as their ‘Bible’ for underwater photography instructions. In 2007, Michael & Mathieu conducted the first Essential Digital Underwater Photography workshop in Bali; in December 2013 they conducted their 10th workshop and the many international awards won by past graduates attest to the success of their program.

2014 August – after one year of persistent lobby with over 100,000 signatures, Michael AW successfully persuaded Singapore Airlines to stop the freight of shark fins on flights. 2013 June Michael successfully lobbied to the Ministry of Fisheries and Trade of Brunei to ban the import and trade of shark products; on 8 June, at the 12th Celebrate the Sea Festival 2013 the festival celebrated the most momentous biggest milestone since the inception of the festival in 2002. Minister Pehin Dato Yahya in his opening speech declared: “His Majesty, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, through the Department of Fisheries, will enforce the ban on the catch and landings of all shark species from the waters of Brunei Darussalam and thus their sales in the domestic market. Furthermore, the government will also now officially enforce the ban on the importation and trade of all shark products.” Brunei was the first country in the world to declare a ban on shark fins and all shark products.

In 2002, with the launch of his book, he founded the first Celebrate the Sea Festival in Singapore. His vision was to inspire nations and countries to take a day each year to celebrate the sea. In September 2007, he lobbied to Usec Cynthia Carrion and in March 2008, he wrote officially to Her Excellency Gloria Arroyo, President of the Republic of Philippines. On 13 May 2008, President Arroyo made an official proclamation declaring June as Celebrate the Sea month and every 2nd Saturday of June as Celebrate the Sea day. This was his personal milestone and he wished to make Celebrate the Sea a global event. In 2013, Celebrate the Sea celebrated its 12th Anniversary in Brunei with over 3,000 entries in the children’s art competition and nearly 1,000 entries for the international underwater imaging competitions.

2011 July – Michael AW initiated the 1000KidsOneMessage campaign in Hong Kong. With the support of his associate Dr Elizabeth Quat, 1000 children convened at Cyber Port on 9 July, to make the “I am the Future, I won’t eat Shark fins” pledge. Dr Sylvia Earle, David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes were on site to support the initiative. In 2012, Michael AW successfully staged the same event in Singapore on the foreshore of Resorts World Sentosa.

In 1999 Michael AW and his team of 44 was the first in the world to document a coral reef over a non-stop 24 hours dive on a submerged reef at Maaya Thila, Ari Atoll, Mal-

In 2007, Michael garnered some of the world’s most celebrated underwater photographers, film makers, scientists to be on

In 1998 Michael co-founded Asian Geographic with good friend Christopher Lee; he managed the title as publisher till 2005.

dives. 12 noon 10 April to 12 noon 11 April. (24 Hours Beneath a Rainbow Sea. Pictures from the site were uploaded to the internet every 15 mins.

In 2001, he acquired Scuba Diver Australasia for Asian Geographic and successfully revamped the title to become the PADI Diving Society magazine in 2004. Today Asian Geographic and Scuba Diver SDAA are the most acclaimed periodicals in the Asia Pacific.

A documentary of the project was produced for National Geographic distributed worldwide and a coffee table book published of the same title.

Portfolio

Travels

Blue emOcean Resort Moyo Island

info@bluemoceanresort.com

Travels

lue emOcean Resort is set on a 1 hectare beachfront land on Moyo Island, Indonesia. It is surrounded by a dense jungle and faces out onto the Flores Sea.

Rooms also come with plenty of power sockets to charge comfortably any appliance. The Blue emOceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; s restaurant is located a few meters from the beach and offers the best sunset view of the island.

The resort boasts the only swimming pool of the island, a private jetty and a private beach.

Indonesian and international food and some Italian specialties are available along with beer, wines and a selection of spirits.

Every room at Blue emOcean features a 2 meters long desk, giving a large space for photographers to work on laptops and set up cameras, housings, lights and flashes.

Our Dive Center is located inside the property and offers scuba diving trips, snorkeling

Travels

trips and scuba diving courses for beginners up to the Instructor level.

store dive equipment as well as for equipment maintenance.

Our resident Course Director and Instructor Trainer has been training instructors in multiple countries since many years.

Moyo island is a Marine Protected area since 1990 and it is home to reef sharks, healthy soft and hard corals, seahorses, moray eels, rays, frog fish, octopus and even whale sharks and manta rays occasionally visit the island Aside of diving and snorkeling, Moyo offers plenty of activities.

The dive team speaks English, Italian, French and Indonesian. The dive center offers facilities to wash and

The island is covered for its 95% by a dense jungle that hosts monkeys, deers, wild buffalos, parrots and other birds, various species of butterflies, flying foxes, wild pigs and many more species. The jungle of Moyo island has been declared National Park in 1980, to protect its flora and fauna as well as its world class waterfall.world.

Travels

From 1992 Diving & S.P.A

Nature

Archeology.

The magic of

’

men s art and

’

nature s art

in a wonderful place to be discovered

Via Miliscola, 163 80078 Pozzuoli (NA) - Italia Cell.: +39 3292155239 - tel./fax: +39 081 853 1563 from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 a.m to 8.00 p.m.- (monday we’re close) Email: info@centrosubcampiflegrei.it Web site: www.centrosubcampiflegrei.it

Travels

Turtle Tomb Cave In Sipadan, Malaysia

by: ifj Lorincz Ferenc

ipadan is located just a few kilometers away from Borneo and is one of the most beautiful dive sites of the World (it is actually listed in the World’s top 10 diving sites). The small island is surrounded by 600-800 meters deep water with more than 400 different species of fish and coral. This overall beautiful environment provides 13 diving sites around the island and hides a special cave underwater. As and old tale tells it, the turtles born on Spiadan island come back at the end of their lives to die at the same place they were born. In reality, the cave system is complicated to get around in, has no air and most turtles wondering in can never find their way out and drown. Sadly, I photographed around 22-24 tutle and one dolphin sceleton during my dives here. the few places where pirate attacks are still a threat to this day.

The most heartbreaking sceleton, for me, was a turtle with her unlayed eggs still inside her.

To prevent furter attacks, the military of Malaysia ordered that no one would stay on the island overnight.

In 2000, the Abu Sayyaf Filipino Moro pirate group took 11 locals and 10 foreign divers hostage here with motorboats and guns.

This meant „closing the island” in a way, and it didn’t only prevent pirate attacks, but also helped the island’s environment grow with the absent of tourism.

Everyone made it out alive, thankfully, but the Sulu-sea, surrounding Spiadan is one of

Travels

The diving limit is 120 persons per day (shared between 10 diving bases).

The old luxury bungalos now serve as shade for the malaysian soldiers guarding the island, who also protect the housing of tourists every night on the two close islands Spiadan is approachable from (RIG, Mabul and Kapala).

Our base, the Sea Adventures Dive Rig is allowed 11 divers per day, which is controlled very seriously.

Back in 1989 Jacques Cousteau said this reef was one of the last untouched reefs, and that he hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen anything like this in 45 years. But today, the underwater situation isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much better than wharâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on above water, even though closing the island was partly in hope of helping the wildlife grow, fishermen appeared in the area.

The underwater cave is 200 meters long under the island, with only one exit other than the entrance, which only smaller fish can swim through because of its size. Divers need a special education for diving in inclosed areas such as this one, and our well prepared guide used a rope as well, making sure we would find our way out easily and safe, despite the lack of light.

Their fishing methods are dangerously disturbing the underwater nature, almost irreversibly.

Just a little bit away from Spiadan begings the deep ocean, making this a great spot for seeing greater species as well, but the see turtles and barracuda schools are definitely the biggest amusements of the place.

Such methods as dinamite explosion and the use of cyan in fishing causes wounds to the slow growing corals.

tween the 5th and 7th of January, 2019. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to thank Peter B. Hamerton, Gabriella Benz and the diver modell/guide seen on the pictures, Kelly Ku to have had a chance diving with them, it was an experience for a lifetime!

Hammerhead sharks can also bee seen from time to time, but theâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been rare here for a good while. The photos seen here were taken by me be-

Travels

About the author: “I was born into an architect family in Kaposvár Hungary, on the 23rd of February. 1970.

I use NIKON DSLR cameras. Coming from my work, I started with architectural photography, which is the imaging of three dimensional spaces into two dimensions.

My parents’ love for architecture made me realize that I wanted the same path for myself, so I decided to be an architect as well. I attended high school in Kaposvár, and graduated from Budapest University of Technology (Faculty of architecture) in 1994.

I photographed with MINOLTA SLR FILM CAMERAS between 1984 and 2007. I switched to digital technology in 2004 and started using NIKON DSLR cameras.

I moved back to Kaposvár in 1997 and have been working as an architect in my own office ever since then, with my wife L. Balogh Krisztina, whom I have three daughters with. I am an amateur photographer.

After being a hobby photographer, I got a photographer diploma in 2016 in Pécs. I have been scuba diving since 2007, I cur-

rently have an NAUI AND CMAS DIVEMASTER license, more than 800 dives.

IKELITE DS160 flashes. I was upgrade for fullframe camera in 2018 NIKON D800 camera in SUBAL ND7800 case.

Ever since the beginnings, my camera was an indispensable part of my underwater equipment.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m experiencing with slave photography, diving wrecks (which I have visited more than 100 wreck so far) has always been fascinating to me.

I used compact cameras between 2008 and 2012 (PANASONIC TZ5, later with external flash, NIKON P7000.)

Recently, I have been sending my work into both national and international photography competitions, where they usually place.

I was able to switch to DSLR in 2014 and used a NIKON D300 camera with a SUBAL ND30 case.

I have a website (which earns more and more views from year to year) where I post photos of dive sites and wrecks I have visited.

I changed DSLR frame in 2016 for my NIKON D7200 camera in SUBAL ND7100 case with

Travels

We are located exactly 74 km far from Trieste, near the small town of Kantrida, which is about 5 to 6 km before downtown Rijeka. Our Diving Centre is right under the swimming pools area, directly in front of the open beach. On one side, we are overlooked by Mount Major (Ucka) and on the other, we face the beautiful islands of Krk and Cherso: in brief, we are right inside the Kvarnaro Gulf. Our flagship is wreck diving by boat: three wrecks situated at different depths, each one no farther than maximum 20 minutes boat ride. And thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more! Our shore dives directly from our Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beach offer an easy and colorful training ground for any kind of diving courses. Finally yet importantly, our diamond tip dedicated to macro photography lovers: a wide variety of critters to increase the pleasure of diving.

From our beach, with our boat... ...come with us and enjoy your dive!

www.diving-marcopolo.com

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DAN Europe

How I Learned To Be My Own Doctor

Website: www.daneurope.org

In situations like these, you have to react straightaway. Although John, my buddy, was older and more experienced, I felt responsible for him. I was lucky I had remained calm and decided to take the lead.

ETTING LOST AT SEA: NIGHT DIVE IN THE GALAPAGOS So we surfaced. And it was pitch black. My buddy and I were 3 miles out at sea, at night, in the Galapagos - an unfamiliar territory to us, subject to rough currents, sharks...

I immediately asked him to switch off his torch to conserve our lights and to be prepared to ditch all his equipment so we could swim as fast as we could. But even that was a no-no if you have a 5 knot current taking you out.

What happened was, I relied too much on our boat diver even though my instincts told me otherwise. We went out to dive in this reef without a dive buoy and before jumping into the sea, I asked: “How is the boat going to follow us?”

“I think the choices you make before a dive are fundamental to the consequences that might arise.”

The Ecuadorian boat driver reassured me he’ll see our lights underwater and I trusted him. Even though I knew this was a crazy idea, I didn’t question. “Over the years you sort of learn to never take anything for granted.”

Eventually I got my photography strobe light and lifting it over my head, I drew a circle — hoping it would grab someone’s attention and the guys on the boat would see us. Luckily, they picked it up.

So we went for the dive. We did about 35 minutes underwater, which is quite a decent period. And during that entire time, the boat had lost us straight away.

We had been lost in the water for 15 minutes, but it felt as if it were forever. In the end it was a happy ending, but living it was scary. Over the years you sort of learn to never take anything for granted. I think the choices you make before a dive are fundamental to the consequences that might arise.

You know, the boat was driving around in circles, speeding, seeing a light here, there... So surely enough, by the time we surfaced, we didn’t see anything except darkness.

Ultimately, we weren’t designed to live underwater — so we need to make sure we have all the right equipment, done all the checks, respect the elements, know what our abilities are and when

We were lost. In the distance we could make out the lights of the Galapagos but next stop would have been Antarctica with all the currents pushing and pulling beneath us.

to say “no, this is too much for me” and also ask the right questions.

Different people do things differently, so being your own doctor is crucial to understanding how your body will react in different situations. Personally, I’m very active — I do a lot of sports, including open-water swimming, so I am very comfortable being in water and I’m in tune with my body. However, I still do a full medical check-up once a year.

DON’T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED Basically, the more you know before your dive, the easier it is to factor in the possibility of what could go wrong. I always do the standard checklist as part of my preparation. I start by making sure I have the basic things: my own mask, regulator, fins and that all my dive gear is in order. Using equipment you’re already comfortable with makes your underwater experience and safety so much easier!

Being your own doctor means understanding your physical ability and knowing your physical restrictions. It is crucial to be in tune with your body. This makes it easier for you to react if something doesn’t feel right underwater.

As a precaution, I always like to make sure I’m using equipment I’m comfortable with. If you’re going on a dive and trying something new, there will always be that element of surprise. So it is crucial to be wearing something you have been trying on and practicing with. Knowing what works for you also comes with experience.

That way, you can be conscious of your limits. For instance, if you’re out diving, taking pictures, and you’re carrying lots of equipment you need to be sure you can react quickly in case something goes wrong. Ultimately, it’s important to feel comfortable underwater, to be aware of your limits and to dive in territory you know and are familiar with.

Physically, it’s also important to be selfaware and acknowledge when something doesn’t feel right. It pays to listen to your body. Whether it’s an earache, sinuses or bad stomach you need to gauge to what extent this would impact your dive and ultimately your health.

Avoid getting lost and increase your chances of getting found. As part of its mission to promote diving safety, DAN Europe is currently running an awareness campaign to help divers reduce the risk of getting lost at sea.

It’s one thing having an injured finger, but a bad leg means you probably won’t be able to fin properly.

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Indonesia MOYO ISLAND

See it, Dive it, Love it A top natural wonderland A place where the beauty of nature exceeds expectation. An exotic and luxuriant island paradise. An extremely peaceful place where you can relax in tranquility. A world-class diving destination.

info@bluemoceanresort.com www.bluemoceanresort.com +62 813.3794.6294