Kiribati: the world’s largest marine reserve
March 13, 2008
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Brian Handwerk for National Geographic News March 29, 2006 The Republic of Kiribati in the South Pacific has designated an enormous swath of Pacific atolls, coral reefs, and deep ocean to become one of the world’s largest marine reserves. The Phoenix Islands Protected Area safeguards some of the planet’s most pristine coral reef ecosystems. The new marine park is the world’s third largest, topped only by Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The protected region spans some 73,800 square miles (184,700 square kilometers “a stretch of ocean twice the size of Portugal” and includes eight virtually uninhabited coral atolls. The reserve is home to a panoply of marine life, including over 120 coral species and more than 500 types of fish—some found nowhere else. Seabirds and turtles also frequent the region, which lies along key migration routes. The park includes deep-ocean habitat found in no other marine reserve and protection extends even to seamounts on the ocean floor. |
How Moko the dolphin gave humans a masterclass in saving stranded whales
March 13, 2008
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Moko the dolphin had already won over humans at Mahia Beach, where she plays with swimmers in the New Zealand surf and pushes kayaks along with her snout. Now the friendly bottle-nosed has shown her empathy for other species, by saving two whales from almost certain death after they became stranded. Human attempts to guide the two pygmy sperm whales through a narrow escape route from the beach had consistently failed, and all seemed lost until the dolphin intervened. Moko, a regular visitor to Mahia Beach on the east side of North Island, appeared to communicate with the whales before guiding the whales 200m along the beach and once they reached the end of the sand bar, Moko turned a right angle through a narrow channel and led the whales to safety. |
the BB-films story
March 9, 2008
Born in Scotland in 1971, Steve Hurford (founder of BB-Films.com) lived for 16 years in London but now lives and works as an internet consultant in Belgrade, Serbia. A foolhardy soul who spends all his free time and cash making amateur films both above and below water, Stephen has dived from Thailand to Mexico, from Honduras to Australia and many destinations in between. The short films and video clips on this site document an evolving journey towards realising his life-long ambition to become a professional underwater film-maker.
“I do not know more than the sea tells me, told me long ago, or I overheard Her telling distant roar upon the sands, with waves of meaning in the cradle of whose sounding & resounding power, I slept”
New Gear
March 9, 2008
Click for a 2010 update to this post on Sony EX1 and Gates housing.
Although the Panasonic AG-DVX100 is an amazing piece of kit, award-winning, reliable, feature-rich and cost-effective, naturally I am keen to upgrade my setup to HD format to take advantage of the benefits of wide screen (not to mention increasing the rate I can sell clips for on iStock….). Actually when I bought the Panasonic I was considering the HD options then but prices were significantly higher than I thought wise to spend on my first camera. Now, nearly two years later its another story and below is my current choice for putting together an underwater HD video package.
the main criteria for my existing Panasonic/Equinox setup was the choice of camera, specifically the lens manufacturer and while I am still a huge fan of Leica lenses (used by Panasonic), I am now more inclined to put the housing manufacturer at the top of the list. In this field, there is in my mind one undisputed leader…Gates Housings.
First choice – Canon XL-H1 with Gates Housing (from $17,500)
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| The Canon XL-H1 camcorder and 20x HD video zoom lens with superior Canon optics provide professional level shooters with a low-cost 1080i resolution option for ENG, documentary and reality TV production. Filmmakers will also appreciate the extensive cine’ controls and 25 frame option the XL-H1 camcorder offers.The camera offers uncompressed HD-SDI and SD-SDI output for seamless integration into broadcast studios or high quality image transfer to non-linear editing systems. The Genlock feature allows studios to easily synchronize camera settings across multiple camcorders. Real SMPTE time code input and output allow for streamlined tape and edit management. This camera is fully capable of recording in standard definition DV format as well. |
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| The Gates XL-H1 housing is the choice of professionals for serious underwater HD imaging. The 2.5in/64mm colour monitor is standard with an optional upgrade to the big 4.1in/104mm monitor. Bayonet mounted ports allow quick change between Flat, Dome and Super Wide enabling the clearest, sharpest images – a necessary requisite for any HD endeavor. Adjustable handles provide perfect grip and easy access to critical functions like white balance, iris, manual focus and ND Filter. |
Second choice – Panasonic AG-HXV200 with Gates Housing (from $12,000)
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| The Panasonic AG-HVX200 answers the demands of the professional HDTV photographer with a compact and feature packed acquisition tool. The camera is compatible with DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO25 and consumer DV recording standards. It uses 3 wide aspect CCDs for true 16:9 recordings. It has a wide angle Leica Dicomar 13x Zoom lens with advanced glass coatings. The most significant advance is that it uses the P2 memory cards for recording. This disk based recording medium makes the video immediately accessible to non-linear systems leaving behind a digitizing process that tape always required. |
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| Engineered for the working professional the HVX200 is a comprehensive inventory of features for serious underwater imaging. Adjustable handles provide perfect grip and easy access to critical functions like white balance, iris, manual focus and user presets. Bayonet mounted ports allow quick change amongst Flat, Domed and Super wide Angle enabling the clearest, sharpest images possible – a necessary requisite for HD endeavors. The HVX200 is classically Gates: durable “bulletproof”machined aluminum and 100% reliabl, mechanical controls. |
Whichever way it goes, look out for new HD footage from www.bb-films.com in 2009!
Narked In Malta
March 6, 2008
Malta is a diving destination I have returned to again and again over the years. It was in Malta that I first experienced scuba diving 10 years, 250 dives, a divemaster qualification and many, many trips ago.
Without doubt it is my Mediterranean dive destination of choice due to its accessibility, price and attitude of the locals towards us Brits, always a positive experience. When I’m there, my hosts (rather than simply dive guides) are Daryl and Chris at Aquatica, very friendly, helpful and
flexible in their approach to individual customers – 5 stars!
Narked in Malta Video:
Download from my portfolio on iStock:
