News
The International Ocean Film Festival is Coming to the UK
UK audiences will be able to immerse themselves in the wonders of the ocean without getting their feet wet as the International Ocean Film Festival hits theatres for the first time this autumn. The festival, which originates in Australia, will feature a selection of the world’s most captivating ocean-themed short films and will be shown in 17 towns and cities across the UK.
Designed to mesmerise and enthral, the International Ocean Film Festival showcases more than two hours of sublime footage taken above and below the water’s surface. The films document the beauty and power of the ocean, and celebrate the divers, surfers, swimmers and oceanographers who live for the sea’s salt spray; who chase the crests of waves; and who marvel at the mysteries of the big blue.
Project AWARE, one of the Ocean Film Festival UK Tour environmental partners, has a shared positive vision for the future of the ocean. Each of the festival’s films conveys a deep respect and appreciation for the world’s oceans and the creatures that call them home.
“We thoroughly enjoyed the Ocean Film Festival Australia earlier this year so we’re really excited to have another opportunity to be a conservation partner of this awe-inspiring film festival.” says Domino Albert, Project AWARE Manager and New Media Specialist. “We encourage all divers and ocean lovers to book a ticket now. Let the Ocean Film Festival UK Tour inspire you to further explore, respect, enjoy and protect our ocean.”
Heart-stopping shots of surfers riding wild waves and jawsome scenes of divers swimming with white sharks will leave audiences on the edges of their seats. The films also encourage viewers to dive head first into ocean culture as the festival is filled with touching interviews and insightful narrations from the characters whose lives are inspired by the ocean.
A selection of 2014 highlights include:
And Then We Swam
In May 2010, two British friends set off to row across the Indian Ocean in a second hand boat. Having zero rowing experience, they signed up for an organised race – only to find that a lack of entrants meant that there would be no support boat. After 116 grueling days at sea, the duo was within 8km of the finishing line when disaster struck. An incredible story of adventure, foolhardiness and survival.
Duct tape surfing
Eighteen years ago, a car accident left Pascale Honore paralysed from the waist down. Fascinated by the ocean, Pascale dreamed of being able to surf. With the help of a roll of duct tape and with the support of her sons’ friend Tyron Swan, a big wave surfer and professional diver, Pascale’s dream eventually became a reality. Share in her joy.
Sportlife Saga: Water
Follow world champion free-diver Guillaume Néry deep below the water’s surface as he transforms the sport of freediving into an art. Now a world-record holder, Guillaume reaches depths of more than 100m and can stay below the surface for more than seven minutes at a time. His forays into the big blue will leave you breathless. (Image © Julie Gautier)
2014 UK Tour Dates are as follows:
- 4 September Truro, Hall for Cornwall
- 6 September Porthcawl, Grand Pavilion
- 13 September Whitley Bay, Playhouse
- 16 September London, Conway Hall
- 17 September London, Conway Hall
- 19 September Brighton, Brighton Dome (Corn Exchange)
- 20 September Llandudno, Venue Cymru (The Hall)
- 23 September Portsmouth, Kings Theatre
- 24 September Leeds, The Carriageworks
- 25 September Edinburgh, The Queen’s Hall
- 27 September Inverness, Eden Court (Empire Theatre)
- 1 October Exeter, Corn Exchange
- 2 October Bath, The Komedia
- 3 October Poole, The Lighthouse
- 11 October Bristol, Victoria Rooms (Bristol University)
- 17 October Cambridge, Lady Mitchell Hall (Cambridge University)
- 28 October Malvern, Forum Theatre
- 30 October Birmingham, Crescent Theatre
The 2014 International Ocean Film Festival UK Tour will donate 25 pence from every ticket sold to Project AWARE.
Here’s a trailer for the Festival:
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For Tickets and information, go to www.oceanfilmfestival.co.uk. You can ‘like’ the Festival’s Facebook page here and follow the Festival on Twitter here.
Main photo taken from the film ‘The Giant and the Fisherman’
In this series, the Shark Trust will be sharing amazing facts about different species of sharks and what you can do to help protect them.
As we’re currently in butterfly season, this month we decided to concentrate on the Butterfly Rays!
Within the family Gymnuridae, there are two genera and 12 species of Butterfly Ray. These species are morphologically different to lots of other rays because of the width of the disc and pectoral fins – in contrast to many other species of Butterfly Ray, their bodies are much wider than they are long, especially considering their very short tail. This gives them the appearance of gliding or flying across the sand.
Gymnura altavela – Spiny Butterfly Ray
Gymnura australis – Australian Butterfly Ray
Gymnura crebripunctata – Longsnout Butterfly Ray
Gymnura japonica – Japanese Butterfly Ray
Gymnura lessae – Lessa’s Butterfly Ray
Gymnura marmorata – California Butterfly Ray
Gymnura micrura – Smooth Butterfly Ray
Gymnura natalensis – Backwater Butterfly Ray
Gymnura peocilura – Longtail Butterfly Ray
Gymnura sereti – Seret’s Butterfly Ray
Gymnura tentaculata – Tentacled Butterfly Ray
Gymnura zonura – Zonetail Butterfly Ray
Spiny Butterfly Ray, Gymnura altavela. Playa La Granadella, Spain, Mediterranean Sea.
Today we’re taking a look at Gymnura altavela, the Spiny Butterfly Ray. Like all Butterfly Rays, the Spiny Butterfly Ray is a demersal species, meaning it spends the majority of its time on the bottom of the seabed. Butterfly Rays are known for their burying behaviour in the sand, a technique they use to camouflage themselves when they are resting during the day. This protects them from predators, in some areas larger sharks. It also aids them in their ambush hunting technique – by hiding themselves under the sand they are able to easily snatch up their dinner – usually crustaceans, molluscs or other small fish – as they swim by unawares. This behaviour can leave tell-tale butterfly-ray shaped imprints in the bottom of the seabed.
Spiny Butterfly Rays can grow up to 260 cm (disc width (wingspan)), although average is around 200 cm. They give birth to live young, and each litter consists of 1-8 pups. This species has also been found to aggregate, likely for mating. One study found that aggregations of primarily females in the coastal regions off Gran Canaria may correlate with the shifting water temperature.
It is estimated that the species has undergone a population reduction of 50-79% over the last 33 years. This is primarily due to fishing pressure – the Spiny Butterfly Ray is targeted and bycaught in both industrial and artisanal fisheries types using a variety of gear types. The species is now Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean and Southwest Atlantic.
Scientific Name: Gymnura altavela
Family: Gymnuridae
Maximum Size: 260 cm (disc width)
Diet: crabs, shrimps, various invertebrates, fishes, small crustaceans, and molluscs.
Distribution: throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Habitat: muddy and sandy substrates down to 150m.
Conservation status: Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean and Europe, Endangered Globally.
For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website
Banner Image: ©Tomas Willems. Main image: ©Andy Murch
DiveAlertPLUS is a specially designed, small, lightweight pneumatic signalling device that uses quick-connect/disconnect hose couplings to become an integrated part of your power inflator.
It uses a small amount of air from your SCUBA tank to make a piercingly loud sound in air or water. It can be heard a mile away from where the diver in need is above water.
How it works
The DiveAlertPLUS uses chrome-plated brass couplings to attach to your power inflator. Squeezing the device engages the actuator valve stem causing a small amount of air to flutter a stainless steel diaphragm emitting a piercingly loud sound. The subsurface/underwater signal is produced by a percussion “buzzing” noise made by a piston hitting a stainless steel diaphragm much like a drum.
To Learn more about the DV1 an DV3 DiveAlert click on this link to their website: https://www.divealert.com/index.php/divealert-plus
Sea & Sea is the home of DiveAlert and other leading diving brands in the UK.
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