News
SCUBAJET gets role in AVATAR: The Way of Water
Avatar is officially the most successful movie of all time. Today, 13 years later, the long-awaited sequel Avatar 2: The Way of Water hits Austrian cinemas. The Austrian-based company SCUBAJET has accompanied this masterpiece, which has the potential to break new filmmaking ground.
It was 2018 when James Cameron’s team reached out to ask if SCUBAJET would consider their products taking part in one of his upcoming movies. In the end, the movie in question was no other than Disney’s Avatar 2: The Way of Water – the sequel to Avatar, starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet. James Cameron and John Landau produced the film.
At the time, no other underwater jet on the market could meet the high production requirements. SCUBAJET’s innovative and integrated battery system, its easy handling, as well the possibility to create a special custom-made controller for the film convinced James Cameron right away.
SCUBAJET CEO Armin Kundigraber still remembers the beginning of the cooperation. “Receiving an e-mail request from one of the world’s most successful producers is a special honor of which a young company like ours in 2018 can only dream,” Kundigraber says. “It made us incredibly proud to be able to participate, but it also confirmed that we were on the right path. Unique opportunities like this one are only possible with highly innovative products. Creating game-changing products is what SCUBAJET stands for and what drives and motivates me.”
The interaction with John Garvin, Diving Officer for Avatar Sequels, was of the highest level
and our cooperation was extremely positive in a variety of ways. During the almost one-yearlong collaboration, SCUBAJET CEO Armin Kundigraber met James Cameron and his team at the set of Avatar 2 in Los Angeles, and SCUBAJET played a significant role in underwater scenes. SCUBAJET propelled and sped up actors in the film studios’ pools in L.A. and New
Zealand, where most live-action scenes were shot. “We used custom-built SCUBAJETs on the Avatar sequels. Their performance and the company’s service were second to none.” – John Garvin, Diving Officer, Avatar Sequels
Film and television have always taken us to fantastical worlds, to alternative places in the universe, and on fictional journeys that we remember throughout our lives. Productions like AVATAR continue to push many boundaries beyond what most can imagine. The innovative technology that makes SCUBAJET a pioneer in the field of electric water jets has placed SCUBAJET in one of these breathtaking worlds.
The first Avatar movie was nominated for nine Academy Awards in 2010, winning three: Best
Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects. Avatar: The Way of Water is already nominated for the 2023 Golden Globe Awards and is generating major 95th Academy Award buzz in several categories, including Best Picture. At SCUBAJET, we are thrilled to be part of this spectacular production. Still, as much as we would love to share everything regarding the experience, we’ll leave it up to the producers to release any details of the filmmaking process.
For more information visit the Scubajet website.
Header Image: Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 20th Century Studios’ AVATAR- THE WAY OF WATER. © 2022 20th Century Studios
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Book Review: Shells of the World
Shells of the World: A Natural History by M.G. Harasewych
Shells of the world is a guide to the world of marine, shelled molluscs. And what a varied and interesting world it is. Some of my favourite things to find on a dive are detailed in this book, including disco clams (or Electric File Clams as they are correctly names), the cephalopods, giant clams and sea hares. There are also many on my wish list, top of which is the Nautilus.
Each chapter provides a detailed description of the species, along with beautiful images. You can dive deeper and discover where they live, both with global distribution and the habitat they prefer. Learn about their diet, reproduction and diversity.
Having dipped in and out of this lovely book over the past few weeks, it has inspired me to learn more about this group of animals that we see on most divers, wherever we are in the world. Some of the shells are incredibly intricate and beautiful. I have always agreed with never collecting, or touching, marine life. The description of a certain set of cone shells should be a warning to those that are happy to pick up marine life! One of the cone shells has a local name called the cigarette snail. Why? Because once the venom is in your system from this animal, you only have time to smoke one cigarette before the affects of the venom are fatal!
What the publisher says:
Mollusks are invertebrate animals with a remarkable natural history and a rich fossil record, and their shells are prized for their breathtaking variety and exquisite beauty. Shells of the World provides a wide-ranging look at the incredible diversity of marine mollusks. An informative introduction outlines the lineages covered, followed by a directory section, split into classes, that profiles a broad selection of different taxa to give a sense of their sheer numbers and variety.
- Features hundreds of beautiful color photos, depicting both the live animals and their shells
- Discusses mollusk evolution, anatomy, life cycles, behavior, and ecology
- Describes unique characteristics, distribution, habitat, and size
- Provides valuable insights into the conservation of the world’s marine mollusks
- Ideal for malacologists and shell collectors everywhere
About the Author:
M. G. Harasewych is research zoologist emeritus and former curator in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is the author (with Fabio Moretzsohn) of The Book of Shells: A Life-Size Guide to Identifying and Classifying Six Hundred Seashells.
Book Details
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Hardcover
Price: £25
ISBN: 9780691248271
Published: 9th April, 2024
Gear News
Go anywhere with Stahlsac
Stahlsac dive bags and travel luggage are built for our community of divers, surfers, kayakers and outdoor explorers who need bags that are constructed with durability, toughness, and the highest quality the industry has ever seen. We were founded by one man determined to build better watersports and dive bags, and today, that mission is carried on by many. Adventure doesn’t just present itself; it requires discovery. When we design dive bags, we make sure they are tough enough for you to explore in all conditions—warm and cold, wet and dry—to the nearest and farthest reaches of the earth. And for those times you want to push the boundaries of adventure, Stahlsac dive bags make sure you can truly GO ANYWHERE.
Abyss Duffels
Made to be your partner-in-crime on every adventure, Stahlsac’s Abyss Duffels protects your gear from Mother Nature’s worst. Tough and 100% waterproof with double-TPU nylon material that shrugs off daily wear-and-tear, and RF-welded seams further boost the bag’s potential for lifelong exploring. Get Wet. Get Lost. Go Anywhere with Abyss.
- A weatherproof duffel for trips, travel, and adventure
- Ultra-durable double-TPU nylon protects your gear
- Material repels water and keeps your equipment dry
- RF-welded seams are flush, tough, and waterproof
- Removable straps transform duffel into backpack
- Zippered internal stow compartments carry essentials
- External zippered flap is easy to open and close
- Welded external handles make transporting a breeze
Panama Mesh Backpack
The most copied design in scuba diving, the Stahlsac Panama Mesh Backpack is the “original” design and features two high-density foam padded shoulder straps, extra durable polyester mesh, duffel bag handles and our unique zippered dry pocket inside that combines with a wet pocket outside. The bottom’s built from reinforced 18-gauge PVC nylon to combat the wear and tear of your active coastal lifestyle, and, as a bonus in every bag, we supply a 12″ x 12″ mesh drawstring satchel for extra stowing utility. Pack up your beach kit and go.
- Density foam padded shoulder straps
- Outside wet/dry pockets
- 2 Carry handles
- Tough, snag-resistant polyester mesh
- Reinforced PVC bottom
For more information about Stahlsac bags, visit www.stahlsac.com/dive-bags.
Sea & Sea is the home of Stahlsac and other leading diving brands in the UK.
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