Assistance Sought For Inaugural Third Coast Mermaid Festival

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

diveheart-200Diveheart
Jim Elliott, founder/president

Not willing to take a second seat…or in this case, second set of fins to our neighbors to the east or west, Diveheart is planning Chicagoland’s first-ever Third Coast Mermaid Festival for the summer of 2015.   The event, which will be the culmination of the effort of people, corporations and organizations from throughout the Midwest, will help raise funds for and awareness about Diveheart. A not-for-profit organization based in Chicagoland, Diveheart provides scuba diving instruction and opportunities to individuals with disabilities and wounded veterans. The zero gravity environment of being under water provides dramatic physical and psychological benefits.

“Mermaids have captured the imagination of children of all ages for generations. Diveheart helps individuals with disabilities to ‘imagine’ the possibilities in their lives,” said Jim Elliott, founder/president of Diveheart.  “Planning a mermaid-themed event to support Diveheart is a perfect match.”

Coordinators of the Third Coast Mermaid Festival are determined to out-do similar efforts in New York, south Florida, and elsewhere. “There have been events celebrating the magic of mermaids around the world.  Why should everyone else have all of the fun?” said Elliott.  “As the largest city on the Great Lakes, (which by the way have more coastline than the east or west coast) Chicago is poised to hold the largest mermaid festival in the world. “

Diveheart is seeking help to build what will be a fabulous event.  Types of assistance being sought include, but are not limited to: organizing and running the event, theatrical/performing arts experiences, assistance in securing a prime Chicago venue, fundraising and promotional savvy and corporate sponsorships.  “We invite everyone to be part of the incredible and inspiring journey that will capture the hearts, minds and imagination of children of all ages and abilities,” said Elliott.

The initial planning meeting of the event will be held at Navy Pier in Chicago on May 18th, 6-9 p.m.  Please RSVP by calling 630-964-19833.

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Ben Buchan Selected to be 2015 Australasian Rolex Scholar

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

It is a great pleasure to announce that Mr. Ben Buchan, from New South Wales, Australia has been selected to be the 2015 Australasian Rolex Scholar of the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society.

BEN BUCHAN | BIOGRAPHY:

Ben-Buchan-200I grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales, and have lived within 10 minutes of a beach  since I was 11 years old. For as long as I can remember, I have had a deep fascination with the  marine environment, and have always had the desire to learn as much as possible.

I gained my open water diving certification at the age of 15 as part of my marine studies class at  high school, which is when I became addicted to diving. Upon the completion of my Higher School  Certificate in 2010, I started my Bachelor of Marine Science in 2011 at Macquarie University,  North Ryde. Through my studies, I became more passionate about the marine environment and I  was offered the opportunity to volunteer in Cambodia in the initiation of a coral reef  regeneration project with Reach Out Volunteers.

For an entire month in January of 2012, I stayed on an island called Koh Rong in Cambodia, in a  tiny village that had not had any western influence. The reef around this village was so degraded  from the use of non-sustainable fishing practices, including the use of dynamite. Over this month,  the team I was  part of removed over 100 nets from the surrounding reef, and focused on  teaching the village proper and sustainable fishing practices. It was through this time I realized  the significance that education and public awareness has on the conservation of continued  protection of the marine environment. I left Cambodia with the desire to share my knowledge  and experiences of the ocean with as many people as possible.

Back in Australia, I continued my commitment to Reach Out Volunteers, and begun recruiting  other students to volunteer in a range of environmental and community development projects  around the world. In 2013, I became a scuba instructor, and have since been able to share my  passion and knowledge of the marine environment with my students that have been from all  around the world.

As part of my university degree, I secured a volunteer position at Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary, and  was involved in many aspects of animal husbandry from feeding, cleaning, and monitoring life  support systems from rescue animals. I had the opportunity to work with animals from small fish  and invertebrates, to large sharks, turtles and stingrays. Here, I had the unique opportunity to  share the importance of marine conservation with a diverse audience.

Before my final semester or university in January of 2014, I returned to Koh Rong in Cambodia to  again assist in the continuation of the coral reef regeneration project. I was inspired by the new  attitude of the village towards the marine environment, and overwhelmed by the increased  health of the surrounding reef.  Over the course of January of 2014, I certified 35 volunteers for  their open water course, and as a team, we deployed artificial reef pods to aid in the growth of  this reef system. Now, there are over 100 artificial pods surrounding this growing reef, and the  project continues today, with volunteers constantly traveling to aid in the program.

In June of 2014, I graduated with a Bachelor of Marine Science, and begun working as a Shark  Dive Coordinator at Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary, having the unique opportunity to not only  introduce people to the diving experience, but get them up close and personal with large Grey Nurse sharks, education them about the importance of shark conservation.

I have since begun my Master of Marine Science and Management at Macquarie University, and am currently focused on the social behavior of sharks. I am currently living on Heron Island as a dive instructor, again having the opportunity to share my passion for diving, and the marine  environment, with a particular focus on the importance of the Great Barrier Reef system.   I look forward to the opportunity to add to my list of experiences, and participate in a number of  important marine projects throughout the scholarship year.

 

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2015 NAUI Board of Directors Nominations Now Open

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

naui diver logo2015 Board of Directors Nominations Now Open

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Board of Directors Election. To be considered all nominations must be received by the Election Coordinator at NAUI HQ no later than 5:00 PM ET on August 17, 2015 and include as much contact information as possible for the nominee and the nominator.

For the 2015 election, NAUI is seeking individuals that have experience in the following areas: a- Department Director Level at a university with extensive experience teaching NAUI Scuba programs. b- Dive Industry leadership and participation as a member and representative at DEMA, RSTC and other dive industry organizations.

We are seeking individuals that have the time and expertise to help NAUI grow in the diving industry and take on a more influential leadership role.

Please send your nominations via email to election@naui.org or by mail to: Election Coordinator, NAUI Worldwide, 9030 Camden Field Parkway, Riverview, FL 33578 or by fax to +1 (813) 628-8253.

 

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Editorial – April 2015

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

Gene-Video-200by Gene Muchanski, Editor
The Dive Industry Professional

“Making A Difference In Your Industry”

Working in the diving industry on full-time or part-time basis makes you an Industry Professional by default. Regardless of your job in the industry, you owe it to yourself to make the most out of your profession or your hobby.  The better our industry is perceived by the general public the better it is for all of us.  In a sense, that makes us all Industry Ambassadors.  It doesn’t matter what role you play in the diving community; Instructor, Retailer, Dive Operator, Resort Owner, Sales Rep, Training Professional, Manufacturer, Travel Professional, Non-profit personnel, or one of the thousands of business support people who work in the industry, we all have a duty to make our profession better.

It’s not hard when you think about it.  Each sector has a specific function in the industry.  Instructors learn the art of teaching their skills to new and experienced divers.  They get better at what they do by staying active in their association and getting as much diving experience as possible.  When they learn of new and better ways to teach diving, they should share their opinions with their employers and their certification agencies.  An Instructor is a front-line ambassador in the industry and their experience and opinion is important.

Retail Dive Center Owners and Employees are the heart beat of our community.  Most importantly, Dive Centers are most often the first point of contact a non-diver has with our industry.  How the general public perceives scuba diving and other the other diving related activities rests on the shoulders of our Dealer Network.  Dive Retailers need to be many things; Professional Retailers, Scuba Diving Experts, Training Professionals, Equipment Repair Specialists, Dive Travel Specialists, Recreational Coaches and FUN Advocates.  On the Professional Trade side they are the Mentors to new divers attempting to make a living or a career out of scuba diving.  They are sources of information to Industry Analysts (Surveys, Trends, Best Practices).  They are dive equipment testers and evaluators (hopefully not proto-types).  And most of all Retail Dive Centers are Key Influencers.  If a Retailer likes or doesn’t like a Sales Rep, his influence can make a difference in that person’s career.  If a Retailer doesn’t like a line of equipment or a training standard, his influence added to the influence of other Retailers can change a company’s sales policy, buying terms or training standards.

Each and every sector in our community has duties, responsibilities, and a degree of influence.  Some people may not like this, but opinions are a good thing.  They should be formulated and expressed often.  When Industry Professional discuss their profession in a positive, well intended forum, it makes everyone think about what we are doing and many things can be learned because of it.  Board Directors in our diving associations need to spend more time listening to Opinion Leaders in our community and less time trying to pursue their own agenda.  Good Directors are Directors who know how to listen.  There is a lot of experience in the field and it’s easy to tap into.  You only have to ask.

So who can make a difference in our Industry?  Everyone can.  Where can you be the most influence? Start right where you are now.  When is the best time to start?  Now.

 

 

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Daniel Copeland Selected as 2015 European Rolex Scholar

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

It is a great pleasure to announce that Mr. Daniel Copeland, age 23, from North Wales has been selected to be the 2015 European Rolex Scholar of the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society.

DANIEL COPELAND | BIOGRAPHY:

Danny-Copeland-200Daniel Copeland, 23, has always enjoyed learning about, understanding and experiencing different aspects of the natural world. Despite this underlying passion, and a childhood living along the coast of North Wales, his plan throughout most of high school was to follow a path in electronic media and graphic design. It wasn’t until he took his first breathes underwater during an introductory ocean dive in a harbor in Malta, that Daniel’s love for the underwater world rapidly bubbled to the surface. During that dive, he was captivated by an unlikely encounter with a colorful and curious cuttlefish – an experience that changed the direction of his life forever.

Over the next few years, Daniel gained his PADI Open Water diving certification in Turkey, enrolled in an Open University, self-taught course in marine science, and embarked on a month-long expedition to Ecuador. Here he was fortunate enough to experience the rich marine biodiversity of the Galapagos archipelago, snorkeling with sea lions, sharks and penguins during a week tour of these famed islands. He was hooked! A career revolving around the underwater world was now the only path for him.

Daniel took a year out from education to further his diving skills and continued travelling to foreign shores. He spent three months immersed in the scuba culture of Thailand’s islands, where he was trained as a PADI Divemaster and to service Aqualung regulators. Daniel then headed to Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, to experience an unforgettable introduction to cenote diving, and to unexpectedly attend the world’s second largest underwater wedding!

Daniel completed his degree in Zoology at the University of Sheffield in 2014. Although he was distant from the sea, Daniel managed to keep the underwater world a constant during his studies. He became a member of the university’s sub-aqua club, serving on the club’s committee and participating in the organization and management of various dive trips around the UK. Through the club he was trained as a drysuit and Nitrox diver, and later began teaching fellow students as a BSAC Assistant Diving Instructor.

In 2012 Daniel interned at the Marine Discovery Centre at Landaa Giraavaru in the Maldives, where he assisted the resident biologists with their turtle rehabilitation, coral reef propagation, and fish breeding programs. It was here that Daniel also helped the Manta Trust collect photo ID data of manta rays within Baa Atoll and the world famous Hanifaru MPA. He went on to assist other scientists studying marine megafauna, including tagging whale sharks in Tanzania and supporting another manta ray researcher in Indonesia. His final year research project focused on gender differences in the skin morphology of lesser-spotted catsharks, whilst his dissertation assessed the effectiveness of ecotourism in the conservation of elasmobranchs.

Throughout his experiences, Daniel has enlisted different ways of sharing his passion for the underwater world. He has organized stands and given public presentations on manta conservation at several UK dive shows, and recently helped to manage a Scottish festival dedicated to basking sharks. Putting his existing media skills to good use, he has collaborated with marine NGOs to spearhead multiple online campaigns to garner public support of protective legislation for sharks and rays, reaching an audience of more than four million people. After developing a keen interest for underwater photography and videography, he placed 2nd in an amateur wildlife film competition ran by a popular UK natural history TV channel, with a one-minute film on blue sharks.

Over the years, Daniel’s desires have developed from pursuing a career in the underwater world, to developing one where he also plays a part in conserving it. Despite the armada of anthropogenic impacts that threaten our oceans, Daniel believes that the biggest challenge is inciting the world to care about these threats in the first place. His goal is to gain a better understanding of how to reconnect people with the ocean using a variety of different strategies – after all, a world that continues to be disconnected from its marine environment will have no interest in fighting to protect it. Daniel is honored to be appointed the OWUSS European Rolex Scholar for 2015, and believes it will provide an invaluable opportunity for him to learn how he can play a role in rekindling a love for our blue planet.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING @ BUDDY DIVE RESORT BONAIRE

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

Buddy-super-spring-savings-2015Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean (April 24, 2015) A lot is happening at Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire. We have  some special guests visiting us to share their knowledge on freediving and life under water, last minute offers you cannot miss and Mission Tech Possible.

Super Spring Savings

Last change to book your travels to Bonaire! We are offering our Drive & Dive package with 6 boat dives and in addition you will get 50% off your total food bill and 3 X 1 afternoon tank extra boat dives free!

The package starts from only $953 pp for the whole week (based on 6 people in a 3-bedroom apartment) and is valid for travel until May 31st 2015.

Book directly at www.buddydive.com or with your favorite travel agent!

Freediving Event with Karol Meyer

For the 7th year Buddy Dive is organizing the “Buddy Dive Freediving Event” hosted by Brazilian freediver Karol Meyer, the leading freediving athlete with 8 world records.

Freediving can be done by everyone and often going to depths of 15 meter is already enough to experience the beauty of freediving and the underwater world. And unlike scuba diving;  freediving can be done within 12-18 before flying.

For a whole week guests can enjoy workshops, special freediving clinics, breathing exercises, yoga classes and much more!

Don’t forget that Ned & Anna Delouch are visiting Buddy Dive end of august for the Reef Fish ID Workshop week (August 22nd – August 29th 2015) and the Marine Life Education Program (August 29th – September 26th 2015).

And in October (10th until 24th 2015) Buddy Dive will team up Technical Diving International and Dive Rite again to host the annual Technical diving even at Buddy Dive.

About Buddy Dive Resort

Buddy Dive Resort, Bonaire’s leading dive hotel is known for its personable staff, spacious accommodations and a dive operation that has something for every diver. Today, the Resort is complete with eleven modern buildings housing spacious one, two and three bedroom apartments, a full service dive center, activity desk, two swimming pools, restaurants, pool bar, vehicle rentals and the famous drive-thru air and Nitrox fill station. Built with active people in mind, Buddy Dive Resort knows exactly what is needed to make guests comfortable both during their busy day of diving and exploring.

Buddy Dive Resort was recognized as one of the World’s Best Dive Resorts in Scuba Diving magazine’s 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards.

For more information visit www.buddydive.com.

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Something BIG is Going DOWN in Deerfield Beach

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

Rapa-Nui-Reef-Logo-200Something BIG is Going DOWN in Deerfield Beach, Florida

By Gene Muchanski & Dana Polites
Southeast News Correspondents
Southeast Dive News &
Dive News Network

Something very exciting is happening in Deerfield Beach, Florida on Sunday, June 7, 2015. A barge with fifteen concrete Moai Heads will be sunk ½ mile off shore in seventy feet of water.  This elaborate public art project may be one of the most interesting dive sites ever created.

The Rapa Nui Reef Project is the vision of Margaret Blume, Founder and Benefactor.  Margaret wanted to do something BIG in environmental conservation using art.  She had an idea about creating an underwater park and marine habitat using fifteen Moai figures.  Her inspiration came from Easter Island, off the coast of Chile, famous for the Rapa Nui civilization that created 887 giant stone statues (Moai) over hundreds of years.  After consulting with Arilton Pavan, owner of Dixie Divers, Margret brought the project idea to the Women’s Club of Deerfiled Beach and funded it with a $500,000 grant.  The planning committee then commissioned Artist Dennis MacDonald from Zibitz Studioz to create the Rapa Nui Reef.

Moai-200Southeast Dive News Correspondents Gene Muchanski and Dana Polites attended the “Break the Moai Mold Celebration” in Stuart, Florida on April 21st and got the rundown on the Rapa Nui Reef Project.  Each of the 15 Moai Heads were cast in concrete in place, on the barge during construction, using giant molds.  Hence the, “Break the Mold” celebration after the last figure was cast.  The event was well attended; Members of the Women’s Club of Deerfield Beach, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Deerfield Chamber of Commerce, District 1 Commissioner Joe Miller, Local Politicians, Diving Media and Local TV Stations, Jim “Chiefy” Mathie, Dixie Divers and numerous local divers and art lovers.  The support for the project is incredible.

DSC_0025-200The Rapa Nui Reef is built on a barge, 150 feet long by 45 feet wide and 9 feet deep. Dennis constructed a rubble wall around the 15 Moai Statues to serve as an underwater habitat for the fish population of Deerfield Beach.  The project is well on its way and is scheduled to be completed by late May.  On June 1st, the barge will be towed down the St. Lucie River, out to the ocean and down to Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach.  After two days of dedications and public events, the Rapa Nui Reef barge will be sunk in 70 feet of water off the coast of Deerfield Beach.  Jim “Chiefy” Mathie estimates that local Dive Boat Operators will start running charters out to the Rapa Nui Reef dive site as soon as the safety committee can establish that the project was sunk according to plan and it is safe to dive on the new man made reef.  Fish and Lobster are welcome to adopt their new home immediately.

YouTube Video:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDkc-c5da2w

The main source of information on Rapa Nui Reef can be found on their facebook page at www.facebook.com/RapaNuiReef   A web site is currently under construction.

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Break The Moai Mold Celebration

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

Rapa Nui 2Please join us for a Break The Mai Mold Celebration and to see Rapa Nui Reef while it is still above sea level !

When: Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 10:30 a.m.

Where: 3415 SW 96th Street, Stuart, Florida.
Take I-95 to Exit 101 (route 76, Indiantown).  Head West (left at light) on route 76.  Continue West for approximately 1.5 miles.  Turn right at SW 96 Street.  After about 1/2 mile (just before the bridge) turn right and continue on dirt road to Prosperity Dredging.

Hosted by: Margaret and Robert Blume

RSVP: Jim “Chiefy” Mathie
email: jim@chieft.net
Phone: 954-605-8505

 

Rapa Nui Reef 3

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SeaLife Advances Sea Dragon Lighting Line with Four New Models

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

SL670-200Including new compact 650 Lumen, 2100 Dual Beam, and incredibly bright 2500 Lumen COB LED Lights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joshua Gilmour
Phone: 856-866-9191 ext. 135
email: jgilmour@pioneer-research.com

Moorestown, NJ – SeaLife has announced their most powerful and advanced underwater lights to date. Featuring compact light heads, high power with long burn time, and unmatched versatility, the four latest Sea Dragon lights also offer superior brightness, wide beam angles, and cutting edge LED technology. The revolutionary new lighting caters to underwater adventurers of all kinds. Underwater photographers and videographers using a wide camera lens (like those on the SeaLife Micro HD or GoPro) will be able to illuminate an entire frame. Divers exploring wrecks and reefs can reveal their surroundings in stunning full color and vibrant detail, day or night.

Nearby divers will take notice when 2500 lumens are unleashed from the flat panel LED of the new Sea Dragon 2500. This light not only shines across an ultra-wide 120-degree beam, but uses flat panel COB LED array technology to mimic natural sunlight. With a Color Rendering Index of 90 (sunlight is 100), the light brings out true color in underwater photos and video that would be impossible to capture with a standard LED light. The Sea Dragon 2500 effectively solves the issue of blue underwater photos and video by giving divers the ability to add light at any depth with portable sunlight. While the lumen output is a true 2500, the burn time at full power is one hour at constant brightness throughout the battery life, making it efficient as well as incredibly bright. With an MSRP of $499.95 the user also receives a Flex-Connect Tray, Grip and fitted case that holds a camera.

Divers looking for a true all-in-one lighting solution can now rejoice. The most adaptable light available from SeaLife, the new Sea Dragon 2100 Dual Beam, includes a 2100 lumen, 100-degree flood beam and a concentrated 800 lumen, 15-degree spot beam – all in the same compact light head. The variable power flood beam will greatly brighten underwater surroundings, photos and videos, while the powerful spot beam is ideal for illuminating greater distances and pointing out distant sea creatures. The included 25Wh lithium ion battery delivers a one hour burn time in full power flood mode, and three hours in the 800 lumen spot mode. The one-button operation of the Sea Dragon 2100 Dual Beam allows for quick and easy cycling of desired output and beam angle with three flood beam strength settings and a full power, 800 lumen spot. Both the Sea Dragon 2500 and 2100 lights include emergency signal modes (1 flash per second and SOS).

A pair of 650 lumen, ergonomic handheld underwater lights round out the release. The Sea Dragon Mini 650 is available in two models. The wide 120-degree flood model is ideal for photos and videos, as well as wide area illumination, and the long reaching 15-degree spot model is perfect for pointing out objects to other divers, penetrating into crevices, or cutting through murky water. While both lights make excellent, high quality handheld dive lights that stand up to the field’s best competitors, the real value in these lights is their incredible versatility. Each light is packed with a lanyard, Y-S Mount, Cold Shoe Mount, GoPro Mount and SeaLife AquaPod Pole Mount. These easy-to-connect mounts allow divers to add light to any underwater adventure in any situation. Mount the sleek light to the end of an AquaPod to illuminate close up video of hidden creatures in dark caverns. Attach it directly to a GoPro camera to create the most compact lighting solution for GoPro available. The Sea Dragon Mini 650 features one-button operation and illuminated three-color battery status indicator. An incredible 100-minute, full power burn time is achieved with an optional 18650 2600mAh 3.7v battery, and the included pair of single-use CR123 batteries yield 60 minutes of burn time at full power. Once a diver places this perfectly weighted and beautifully constructed light in his or her hand, it will become a permanent fixture in their dive kit.

As with all Sea Dragon lights, the actual lumen rating meets or exceeds SeaLife’s claims. Unlike many underwater lighting brands whose lumen readings have been verified to fall short of their claim by a baffling 40% or more, SeaLife makes sure each Sea Dragon Light delivers on its promise. The same attention is given to performance throughout the battery runtime. Sea Dragon Lights provide constant brightness up to depletion of battery. In fact, a fully charged lithium ion battery for the Sea Dragon 2500 and 2100 lights provides over a full hour of uninterrupted usage at 100% power.

The ruggedness and thoughtful design that Sea Dragon Lighting users have come to expect can be seen in the new lighting as well. The Sea Dragon 2500 and 2100 keep the battery compartment completely sealed off from the electronics – meaning an accidental flooding will only damage a battery and not the light itself. The Sea Dragon Mini 650 lights feature a double O-ring seal and single button control, virtually eliminating the possibility of water damage.

SeaLife’s full line of Sea Dragon Lights are available now at SeaLife dealers at the following suggested retail prices:

SL670 Sea Dragon 2100 Dual Beam (with grip/tray) MSRP $499.95
SL6702 Sea Dragon 2100 Dual Beam (light head only) MSRP $429.95

SL671 Sea Dragon 2500 (with grip/tray) MSRP $499.95
SL6712 Sea Dragon 2500 (light head only) MSRP $429.95
SL989 Sea Dragon Duo 5000 Set (incl. 2x 2500 lights) MSRP $899.95

SL650 Sea Dragon Mini 650 Flood MSRP $159.95
SL651 Sea Dragon Mini 650 Spot MSRP $159.95

About SeaLife: SeaLife underwater cameras, lights and accessories are made and distributed by Pioneer Research in Moorestown, NJ.   SeaLife cameras were first introduced in 1993. In 2000 SeaLife made the first digital underwater camera. In 2007 SeaLife developed the first non-housed digital underwater camera, and in 2013 SeaLife introduced the powerful Sea Dragon Lighting system and its innovative Flex-Connect tray, grip, arm and accessory system. SeaLife Cameras, Lighting and Flex-Connect Accessories are sold and serviced in 64 countries around the world.

For more information visit www.SeaLife-Cameras.com

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Trade Summit Launches on World Oceans Day – June 8, 2015

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Gene Muchanski

BlueOcean-200“Online Event Helps Dive and Travel Industry Stakeholders Adapt to a Fast- Changing Environment”

CHICAGO, Il., March 26, 2015 –  The second annual Blue Ocean Business Summit will launch on World Oceans Day – Monday June 8 2015. The week-long online event, sponsored by Blue Ocean Network.com, will be free of charge to dive, travel and marine tourism industry professionals.

“If you use the ocean as a backdrop to your business, you need to join us,” says Summit host Laurie Wilson.

The Summit is designed specifically for all dive industry stakeholders including: manufacturers, certification agencies, dive stores, media and consulting, trade and consumer shows, resorts, live-aboards, dive operators, marine parks managers, scientists, divers, instructors, group leaders, travel wholesalers, photographers, marine nonprofits, water sports and hotel associations, and travel and tourism professionals.

The upcoming online event will feature an inspiring group of thought leaders and trailblazers who will share insights, lessons learned and action steps that have helped them to successfully ride the waves of change already happening in the marine tourism and dive recreation industries.

This year’s online participants will be guided through the new “Blue” business model that is already proving to help other business owners to thrive in an uncertain world. Also known as the “sustainable business model” this new way of doing business is being embraced from Harvard to Hong Kong.

Wilson comments, “The Dive Industry is based on a business model that was created during the heydays of the 1980’s. But times have changed and the oceans have changed dramatically. The tried and true business strategies no longer work the way they used to. Yet there are people in our industry who have not stuck their heads in the sand – they are smart, purpose-driven people who love the underwater world, and they are making a difference while making a good living. For them, to thrive it can no longer be business as usual.”

According to Wilson, “these are the kind of people who have what it takes to stay the course in the new business environment: they are inspired and energized by the positive impacts they can bring to the world by running a financially profitable, socially responsible and environmentally-friendly business. These are the foundational elements of the new blue business model. Ignore these components at your peril.”

A dive industry veteran, Platinum Pro 5000 diver and Women Divers Hall of Fame honoree, Laurie Wilson has worked in many aspects of the industry, including dive stores, resorts, liveaboards, marine non-profits, marine sanctuaries, shows and events, dive publications, and her latest media endeavour as the Founder of the Blue Ocean Network. As host of the inaugural week-long Blue Ocean Business Summit in 2014, Wilson interviewed 21 experts from 7 countries who introduced 1425 business participants to the sustainability imperative.  Featured Speakers (and divers) were NY Times best-selling author of Blue Mind, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols and PBS host and best-selling author of Song for a Blue Ocean, Dr. Carl Safina.

To attend the Blue Ocean Business Summit 2015, sign up for free at BlueOceanBusinessSummit.com. Media Contact: Elise DuFour,  BlueOceanBusinessSummit@gmail.com

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