Despite the recent passing of the Shark Conservation Act, sharks remain threatened. The Star Island Yacht Club Shark Tournament in Montauk, NY is currently in progress, running from June 12-14, with a prize pool of more than $1,000,000 for the catching and killing of the largest sharks.

DivePhotoGuide has issued a call to attend the event on Saturday, June 14 to “broadcast [the coverage] to the world in efforts to create more awareness and help save our sharks.” Also scheduled on Saturday from 4-5PM is a Humane Society rally protesting the killings. Visit DivePhotoGuide for more information about the event…

Continue Reading

The Shark Conservation Act of 2008 was approved yesterday by the House Natural Resources Committee. This is a step in the right direction for protecting sharks worldwide.

The Act would strengthen the U.S. finning ban by closing enforcement loopholes, encouraging other countries to adopt shark conservation programs, and establishing a process that would ultimately allow for sanctions against countries that do not. The prohibition on the removal of shark fins at sea, added through the amendment, is the most reliable means of ensuring a finning ban accomplishes the intended goal. A “fins-attached” strategy is also key to helping scientists and enforcement agents determine the species of sharks retained in fisheries, data that are essential for assessing populations and enforcing species-specific protections. - Ocean Conservancy

Continue Reading

With the International Whaling Commission meeting just around the corner, DiveFilm HD Video Podcast has released as its latest episode, Shawn Heinrichs’s “Whale Wisdom - A Mother Humpback’s View.”  This short film evokes the world of a mother and calf as whaling resumes in much of the world’s ocean.

Other great episodes of DiveFilm Podcasts recently released include Irish filmmaker Vincent Hyland’s homage to the ocean life off the South West coast of Ireland, and more of the award-winning video entries from the 2008 Our-World Underwater / Wetpixel / DivePhotoGuide Competition, including Simon Spear’s “Porbeagles in Peril” and Shawn Heinrichs’ “The Sardine Run.”  The most recent episode released of the original standard definition DiveFilm Podcast Video is Wags & Kelly’s “A Call to Action” which garnered honors in the OWU Conservation Video Competition.

Both DiveFilm Podcasts, the original and the HD version, are Featured Podcasts at iTunes, and are produced in association with Wetpixel.

Continue Reading

Amphibico is proud to announce the new Phenom Z7LE underwater video housing for the Sony HVR-Z7U HDV camcorder.  The stand-alone housing with no port will be introduced at a price of $4795CAN.  Three port options are available, including a standard dome, flat port, and 94° wide-angle port.

The Phenom Z7LE for the Sony HVR-Z7U is an electronic and mechanical combined housing which gives a complete control of your camcorder while filming your underwater scenes. Amphibico has also added a 2-year Amphibico warranty to the housing. The housing should be available in July 2008. Continue reading for full press release.

Continue Reading

I’m told often by folks who have been on the ocean for decades that that oceanic white-tip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) were once one of the most common sharks in the ocean… We pulled up close to Cat Island in the late afternoon on the 30th, and a few minutes later, the back deck erupted into frantic activity. Everyone threw on their gear and launched themselves off the back of the boat. At the stern were three oceanic white-tip sharks (all female). One of the sharks had four pilotfish around her… (continue reading for full trip report)

Continue Reading