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.
Producer James Cameron_Studios AVATAR- THE WAY OF WATER. © 2022 20th Century Studios.
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
Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s relentless campaigns to make Britain shark fin-free reached a new milestone last week when a private member’s bill to ban the import and export of shark fins was voted through parliament with unanimous cross-party support.
The bill is now scheduled for three readings in the House of Lords and, if successful, it will then go to King Charles for Royal Ascent and become law.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said:
“Our goal of ending Britain’s ties with the global shark fin trade is within our reach. This country has a dark history of exporting around 20 tonnes of shark fins every year and it remains legal to bring up to 20kg of dried shark fins through Customs without needing to declare it. This bill could represent a significant blow to the multi-million-pound shark fin industry. It’s now down to the House of Lords to smooth its path to the palace.”
Since July 2022 the charity has been consulting the Labour MP Christina Rees who put forward the private member’s bill after the government failed to bring its Animal Welfare Bill, that promised to ban the import and export of shark fins, into law last year.
To help improve support for the bill, Bite-Back also created a briefing document on the issues for all MPs to reference. During the bill’s final reading in the House of Commons MPs from different parties wholeheartedly endorsed the ban on the import and export of shark fins.
In her closing statement Christina Rees MP said that she hoped this bill would ‘drive up the standards of global shark conservation’.
Bite-Back will now turn its attention to educating and inspiring members of the House of Lords to vote in favour of a ban.
Follow the bill’s progress at www.bite-back.com and learn how you can get involved in supporting shark conservation initiatives in the UK.
Header image: Finned sharks underwater- Copyright – Scubazoo.
Join us on some of the most spectacular and exciting Dive Travel Adventures worldwide!
The latest issue of Scubaverse’s printed premium quality, quarterly publication, Dive Travel Adventures, is available now. After an extended hiatus due to world events, we’re delighted to be back bigger and better than ever before as we share with you the Winter 2023 edition.
Packed full of incredible photography and first person travel experiences, Dive Travel Adventures will inspire you to put on your scuba gear and explore more of the underwater world. From amazing marine encounters to edge of your seat expeditions across the planet, Dive Travel Adventures offers you an insight into the hottest and coolest dive travel destinations the world has to offer. Get ready to tick some incredible Dive Travel Adventures off your wish list!
In the new Winter 2023 edition of Dive Travel Adventures:
BAHAMAS
Nick and Caroline’s long-held dreams of epic Tiger Shark encounters come to fruition on their return trip to Grand Bahama.
MEXICO
Black Manta Photography take a trip to Mexico’s Caribbean coast for a twin centre holiday that showcases the incredible underwater diversity of Cozumel and Playacar.
TRAVEL GUIDE: AZORES
Into the Blue: Hovering around the dramatically beautiful mid-Atlantic archipelago with Daniel Brinckmann.
FUERTEVENTURA
Yo-Han Cha takes a short flight to the Canary Island of Fuerteventura for a week of relaxed diving and some winter sun.
LUNDY ISLAND
Lundy Island offers an off the beaten track experience along with fantastic scenery above and below the waterline. Jane Morgan explores.
SNORKELING SCOTLAND
Nick and Caroline take advantage of the international travel hiatus to seek out some underwater highlights a little closer to home.
PALAU
Jay Clue heads to Palau to discover what makes this spectacular Pacific archipelago one of the most diverse dive destinations on our planet.
JORDAN
Sean Chinn returns to Aqaba for the scuttling of a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar Plane.
EGYPT
After many a difficult time with suspended flights and then the COVID pandemic, Sharm el Sheikh is firmly back on the map for UK divers. Nick and Caroline head out to see what’s new.
View or download a digital copy of the WINTER 2023 edition of Dive Travel Adventures HERE.
Want a printed copy? The printed edition of Dive Travel Adventures is available to pick up FREE from dive centres throughout the UK and Ireland now, so make sure you pick up your copy today. See a complete list of stockists HERE.
New outlets where you can pick up Dive Travel Adventures are being added to the list all the time. In addition to being available from dive centres, copies will also be delivered to your door with selected orders from leading manufacturers and retailers. You can also pick up your FREE copy of Dive Travel Adventures at various dive shows and events.
We hope you enjoy reading the latest edition of Dive Travel Adventures! Let us know your thoughts on our new publication in the comments below!
Keep up to date with all things #DTA on our Dive Travel Adventures Facebook page and on Instagram.
Look out for the Spring 2023 edition of Dive Travel Adventures coming soon!
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