News
UWP News from DEMA: Subal
Subal are the oldest existing housing manufacturer in the world, as they have been making housings since 1954 and they are still going strong. Subal offers an excellent range of housings for over 40 models of camera, covering 6 camera makers. At their stand at this year’s DEMA, we chatted to the Subal Production Manager, and professional underwater photographer, Vladimir Mladenovic about what was new in the world of Subal.
The first thing to really catch our eye on the Subal stand at DEMA was their striking housings for Leica M cameras. They have a fantastic retro look, and Subal are the only housing manufacturer to offer housings for Leica M and SL cameras. The Subal M housings have been designed to mirror the looks of the Leica cameras, and they offer a full range of ports for lenses that will work for underwater photographers. For anyone looking for something a little bit different, you should definitely take a look at these. Subal also made an adapter for the Leica M housing that will allow you to use your old Nikonos lenses (this also applies to their Sony Alpha 7 MkII housing).
Subal were also showing off the new housing (the NDF) for the Nikon DF camera. Again this is a unique housing offered only by Subal. The Nikon DF is the lightest full frame camera with a retro look and feel. It is a camera for photographers who want a little magic in their lives, as well as a sense of history.
For those that want to shoot pro standard underwater video, then also on display was the whopping pro video housing for the Sony FS7. It is a thing to behold! Vladimir was keen to point out that they now offered TTL for both Canon and Nikon cameras. They are the first to do this for Canon and the system will work with several models of Ikelite, Sea&Sea and INON strobes.
All Subal housings can come in custom colours of black, red, yellow, white as well as the well-known standard colour. You can order 80m depth rated standard housing, or upgrade to a 120m version. As of January, all housings will come with the electronics for a vacuum pump leak detection system. With pro and amateur underwater photographers using these housings all over the world, Subal are always in the forefront of the industry. We really hope to be able to review the Leica housing at some point in 2017.
News
Euro-Divers to close dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda
Euro-Divers have announced that as of 15 April 2024, they will no longer be operating the dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda (formerly known as Amari Havodda).
The popular dive centre chain released this statement regarding the closure:
Dear valid customers, business partners and friends,
We are leaving NH Collection Maldives Havodda – former Amari Havodda as of 15th of April 2024.
Unfortunately, the information reached us on short notice that we are no longer operating the dive centre at the resort.
It was a great pleasure to work with the Amari Hotel group and continue to work with the NH Hotel group.
We wish our partners great success with all their new changes.
Thanks a lot for cooperating during our time at the resort. We wish everyone with whom we have worked a good and hopefully successful future.
Euro-Divers continue to operate in several other dive resorts throughout the Maldives in addition to other locations.
To finds out more about Euro-Divers, visit www.euro-divers.com.
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Creature Feature: Undulate Ray
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.
This month we’re looking at the Undulate Ray. Easily identified by its beautiful, ornate pattern, the Undulate Ray gets its name from the undulating patterns of lines and spots on its dorsal side.
This skate is usually found on sandy or muddy sea floors, down to about 200 m deep, although it is more commonly found shallower. They can grow up to 90 cm total length. Depending on the size of the individual, their diet can range from shrimps to crabs.
Although sometimes called the Undulate Ray, this is actually a species of skate, meaning that, as all true skates do, they lay eggs. The eggs are contained in keratin eggcases – the same material that our hair and nails are made up of! These eggcases are also commonly called mermaid’s purses and can be found washed up on beaches all around the UK. If you find one, be sure to take a picture and upload your find to the Great Eggcase Hunt – the Shark Trust’s flagship citizen science project.
It is worth noting that on the south coasts, these eggcases can be confused with those of the Spotted Ray, especially as they look very similar and the ranges overlap, so we sometimes informally refer to them as ‘Spundulates’.
Scientific Name: Raja undulata
Family: Rajidae
Maximum Size: 90cm (total length)
Diet: shrimps and crabs
Distribution: found around the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat: shelf waters down to 200m deep.
Conservation Status : As a commercially exploited species, the Undulate Ray is a recovering species in some areas. The good thing is that they have some of the most comprehensive management measures of almost any elasmobranch species, with both minimum and maximum landing sizes as well as a closed season. Additionally, targeting is entirely prohibited in some areas. They are also often caught as bycatch in various fisheries – in some areas they can be landed whilst in others they must be discarded.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website
Image Credits: Banner – Sheila Openshaw; Illustration – Marc Dando
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