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12/28/05
In the 2004 LAUPS International Competition, Rand McMeins won a trip to Club Cantamar for his 1st place macro print. Here's his trip report. Thanks to Club Cantamar for supporting us again this year. 12/28/05
The LAUPS Awards Banquet is Saturday, January 21st at Ports of Call. Open bar cocktails are 6pm to 7pm, dinner is at 7pm.
Speaker will be from Kai Viti Divers, an experienced dive service from Fiji that offers personalized service and extensive knowledge of the local reefs.
Cost is $37.50.
RSVP with check and choice of entree (Filet, Salmon, or Vegetarian) to the Club at:
LAUPS
PO Box 2401
Culver City, CA 90231
12/28/05
Wetpixel is hosting their first photo competition, entries close February 3rd. The rules are interesting and quite different than ours, some categories are unrestricted on photoshop work. This is the link to the competition page. 12/27/05
This season, the Japanese fleet will take up to 935 minke whales and 10 fin whales, approximately double the take in 2004. BBC article. Wikinews article. Wikipedia article. 12/27/05
Divers freed a humpback whale entangled in crab trap lines near the Farallon Islands. Read the article here. 12/27/05
Study of the narwhal's tusk have revealed that it flexible and embedded with an extensive nerve system. Read the article here. 12/27/05
The 2005 International Competition Page has been updated with prizes awarded to the winners. Thanks to our generous sponsors for making the competition possible. 12/07/05
Dive shop Sea D Sea in Redondo Beach will be offering a 2 hour photoshop class for underwater photographers this Sunday, 12/11, at 1 PM. Cost is $25. Contact the shop for reservations. 12/07/05
Nikon Inc. is asking your cooperation in connection with a voluntary recall of certain lot numbers of its Nikon Model EN-EL3 rechargeable lithium ion battery packs. The battery pack can experience a short circuit causing it to overheat and possibly melt, posing a potential hazard to consumers. There have been four confirmed reports of incidents of the problem worldwide, and while no injuries have taken place, Nikon Inc. has initiated this recall of the affected lot numbers as a reflection of its commitment to safety and product quality.
Click here for full details on the battery recall. 12/05/05
The folks on the Nautilus Explorer have just announced "fly-in" trips to the great white sharks of Guadalupe Island with custom designed cages for photographers with bi-level wraparound camera ports and a maximum of 3 divers per cage. Two of the cages will trail from overside booms allowing a true 360 degree view. They tell us that it is extremely likely that you will see 5 or 6 different sharks on each of your dive days. Trips including topside pampering on the 116' long range luxury diveboat and seamless transfers from San Diego, California by chartered highway coach and modern turboprop aircraft. Partial proceeds of every charter fee will be donated to the Isla Guadalupe Conservation Fund admininstered by the International Community Foundation. Please note that charters require final sign off by the Mexican authorities. www.nautilusexplorer.com or info@nautilusexplorer.com.
And more from Mike Lever on the sharks at Guadalupe:
"FYI, I strongly believe that the white sharks at Guadalupe are at great risk of being wiped out. There is a resident fall population of 50 animals and it would be easy to fish most of them out -- especially when a jawbone is worth USD5 - 10K. Tim Means from Baja Expeditions and I have started a independently admininstered conservation fund with the express purpose of saving the sharks. We are trying to raise $150,000 and have directed that the funds be spent on both hiring staff for the park (Guadalupe is now a protected biosphere but there are no funds available to hire a park director, etc.) and projects designed to create a linkage between the fishermen on the island and the sharks ie. we want to build a school for their kids with the result that shark tourism has provided them with a direct benefit. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you know anybody who might be interested in helping us out."
Thanks to the Nautilus Explorer for sponsoring our International Competition, and for protecting these sharks. Be sure and let them know that you appreciate their support of sharks and LAUPS if you contact them.