Connect with us
background

Photo / Video News & Reviews

SeaLife Advances Sea Dragon Lighting Line With Four New Models

Published

on

SeaLife have announced their most powerful and advanced underwater lights to date. Featuring compact light heads and high power with long burn time, 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.

sealife-sea-dragon-2500-photo-video-dive-light-1-finalNearby 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.

sealife-sea-dragon-2100-photo-video-dive-light-1Divers 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).

sealife-sea-dragon-mini-650F-1A 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, the real value in these lights is their 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. A 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.

sealife-sea-dragon-batterySea 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 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

For more information visit www.SeaLife-Cameras.com.

Blogs

Diver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph

Published

on

UPY

An emotive photograph showing a freediver examining the aftermath of whaling sees
Alex Dawson from Sweden named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024. Dawson’s
photograph ‘Whale Bones’ triumphed over 6500 underwater pictures entered by underwater
photographers from around the world.

“Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions,” explains chair of judging
panel Alex Mustard, “as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear
witness to the carcasses. The composition invites us to consider our impact on the great
creatures of this planet. Since the rise of humans, wild animals have declined by 85%. Today,
just 4% of mammals are wildlife, the remaining 96% are humans and our livestock. Our way
needs to change to find a balance with nature.”

UPY

Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero

Whales dominated the winning pictures this year with Spanish photographer Rafael
Fernandez Caballero winning two categories with his revealing photos of these ocean giants:
a close up of a grey whale’s eye and an action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing an entire bait
ball, both taken in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Fernandez Caballero took ‘Grey
Whale Connection’ while drifting in a small boat, holding his camera over the side in the water
to photograph the curious whale. ‘The End Of A Baitball’ required Fernandez Caballero to dive
down and be in exactly the right place at the moment the whale lunged. “The photo shows
the high speed attack,” he said, “with the whale engulfing hundreds of kilograms of sardines
in one bite — simply unforgettable to see predation on such a scale.”

UPY

Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero

Lisa Stengel from the United States was named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image of a mahi-mahi catching a sardine, in Mexico. Stengel used both a very fast shutter speed and her hearing to catch the moment. “If you listen there’s an enormous amount of sound in the ocean,” she explained. “The action was too fast to see, so I honed in on the sound of the attacks with my camera to capture this special moment.”

“It is such an exciting time in underwater photography because photographers are capturing such amazing new images, by visiting new locations and using the latest cameras,”
commented judge Alex Mustard. “Until this year I’d hardly ever see a photo of a mahi mahi,
now Lisa has photographed one hunting, action that plays out in the blink of an eye.”
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK, and Jenny Stock,
was named as British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image “Star
Attraction”, which finds beauty in species of British wildlife that are often overlooked.
Exploring the west coast of Scotland, Stock explained “in the dark green depths my torch
picked out the vivid colours of a living carpet of thousands of brittle stars, each with a
different pattern. I was happily snapping away, when I spotted this purple sea urchin and I
got really excited.”

Photo: Jenny Stock

In the same contest, Portuguese photographer, Nuno Sá, was named ‘Save Our Seas
Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024, with his photo ‘Saving
Goliath’, taken in Portugal. Sá’s photo shows beachgoers trying to save a stranded sperm
whale. The picture gives us hope that people do care and want to help the oceans, but also
warns us that bigger changes are needed. “The whale had been struck by a ship and its fate
was sealed,” explains Sá. “An estimated 20,000 whales are killed every year, and many more
injured, after being struck by ships-and few people even realise that it happens.”

UPY

Photo: Nuno Sá

More winning images can be found at www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com.

About Underwater Photographer of the Year

Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK, that celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world. The contest has 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, as well as four categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. The winners were announced in an award ceremony in Mayfair, London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s UPY judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE.

Header image: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 winner Alex Dawson

Continue Reading

News

World’s Best Underwater Photographers Unveil Breathtaking Images at World Shootout 2023

Published

on

The winners of the prestigious World Shootout 2023 underwater photography competition were announced at this year’s BOOT Show, captivating audiences at the world’s largest diving and water sports exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany. Hundreds of photographers from 54 countries competed across nine categories, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technical skill.

Grand Prize Winners

  • Picture of the Year: Spanish photographer Eduardo Acevedo “secured” the top Honor with the prestigious prize the “boot Dusseldorf Director’s Prize, earning an Andromeda statuette and a €2,000 cash prize.
  • Best 5 Images Portfolio: Luc Rooman from Belgium triumphed in this category, winning a dream 4-week diving trip for two to Papua New Guinea, valued at $18,900.
  • Amateur Photographer: Alexandra Ceurvorst from the USA impressed the judges with her talent, taking home the 1,000 cash prize award.

Celebrating Diversity and Innovation

This year’s competition saw 11,680 entries from 964 photographers, showcasing a remarkable spectrum of skills and perspectives. From the intricate wonders of Macro photography to the beauty of “Black Water”, the “Underwater Fashion” category added a touch of artistry and innovation, while the ever-important ” Environmental & Conservation” category served as a powerful reminder of the need to protect these fragile ecosystems.

Looking Ahead: AI and Ocean Conservation

World Shootout founder and producer David Pilosof unveiled an exciting addition for the 2024 competition: this year the Environmental category will be focusing on the impact of plastic on our oceans and future.

This category will embrace the potential of AI or other editing software as a tool to amplify the conservation message.

Entrants will submit campaigns of three original underwater photographs dealing with plastic pollution, along with their final AI assistance processing. This innovative approach encourages artistic expression while raising awareness about a critical environmental issue.

Explore the Stunning Collection

Discover the complete album of competition entries by clicking here.

For Low-resolution photos of finalist entries in eight categories, click here.

Continue Reading

E-Newsletter Sign up!

Experience the Red Sea in May with Bella Eriny Liveaboard! As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Join us on Bella Eriny, your premier choice for Red Sea liveaboards, this May for an unforgettable underwater adventure. Explore vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs Enjoy comfortable accommodation in our spacious cabins Savor delicious meals prepared by our onboard chef Benefit from the expertise of our professional dive guides Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot: www.scubatravel.com/BellaEriny or call 01483 411590 More Less

Instagram Feed

Popular