Submerged Nation magazine - Issue 3

OCEAN NUTS KOZYNDAN

MISSION 31 FABIEN COUSTEAU

BEHIND HOLLIS NICK HOLLIS

2014 - 15 AUS $12.95 incl. GST ISSN 2203-093X

VORTEX PROJECT

SHARK GIRL

EXPERIENCE WITH HEART

UNDERWATER WALKERS

THE BIG BLUE

SUBMERGED TESTED

PARLEY FOR THE OCEANS

www.SubmergedNation.com

LIA BARRETT

MADISON STEWART

ONE OCEAN ONE BREATH

LUCAS HANDLEY

PAGE 20

IMAGINE A JOB WHERE YOU LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO WORK EVERY MORNING . . .

Sailing into incredible sunsets could be the rule, not the exception. There are hundreds of positions available right now for PADI Pros in Australia and exotic locations all around the world.

•

Most people choose PADI Courses

•

Most Dive Centres employ PADI Professionals

•

PADI Dive Centres are located in 183 countries around the world

• DON’T LIMIT YOUR OPPORTUNITIES PADI Members in Asia Pacific are on track to certify more divers in 2014 than any year in PADI’s history. 2015 is a great time to become a PADI Pro.

WITH PADI IN 2015 Visit padi.com to start online with Follow us on:

or contact your local PADI Dive Shop.

Blog

© PADI 2014.

NOTE FROM THE COO // 5

NOTE FROM THE COO

W

ith the release of issue three, it is time for the team at Submerged Nation to sit back, take a breath and hope that our passion for the sport of Scuba Diving, the oceans and the people who dedicate their lives to them, shines through to all our readers. It is this love for the ocean and what it gives to communities around the world that drives every publication we create.

We are truly proud of how Submerged Nation has evolved. The feedback that we are getting from the diving community is something we can’t thank you enough for. We really see Submerged Nation as a way of bringing the sport of Scuba Diving and what it stands for to the wider community. Some exciting initiatives this year will see Submerged Nation being introduced to the American and European diving communities at DEMA, the world’s largest diving show. Our ultimate vision sees Submerged Nation magazines on newsstands and in dive stores the world over, spreading the true message of what it means to be a diver and passionate supporter of the marine environment.

The sport of Scuba Diving continues to open the eyes of tens of thousands of people each year to the wonders of the marine planet and the sensational playground that it offers. In a recent meeting with the Submerged Nation team, the discussion lead to our contributors and how this passion for the ocean was the common thread throughout. Whether it was a hard-core technical diver or

COO Adrian Briggs

Editor-in-chief and Art Director Candy Robertson

Assistant Editor Nick Robertson Advertising Manager Scott Chapman Contributing Writers Lia Barrett, Nick Terry, Lucas Handley, Parley for the Oceans, Christina Saenz de Santamaria, Eusebio Saenz de Santamaria, Adrian Briggs, Rachael Briggs, Dr. John. Lewis, Doug krause, Bob Halstead, Tim Muscat, Bjorn Nielsen, Attila E Kaszo, Emma Burdett, Lynne McAlphine, Dan Hart, and all contributors to The Word and Submerged Tested.

our contributors with more philanthropic goals and intentions, the dedication to the oceans and waterways of the world is always the common bond.

I was fortunate enough to travel to Papua New Guinea earlier this year and it was during a visit to one of the local villages where I was struck by how powerful the sport of scuba can be in bringing people from any background together. Here I was, a scuba diver from Victoria, Australia, sharing a wide smile, a hand shake and meeting the grandmother of a true PNG local in the middle of a tropical jungle setting. Had it not been for the 5 days of magnificent diving we had shared together earlier that week, I’m sure this opportunity would have never come my way.

A big thank you to all our contributors, advertisers, proofing team and printing house; without you, we would simply not have a publication anywhere near the quality we do today. Also a huge special thank you to our newly appointed Editor-in-chief, Candy Roberston, who has worked tirelessly for the past few months pulling Submerged Nation together.

It gives us great pleasure to share our third edition with you; we hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.

Adrian Briggs COO Submerged Nation

Contributing Photographer

Publisher and Distribution

Eric Cheng, Kozyndan, Anne Marie Cousteau, Kip Evans, Carrie Vonderhaar, Maxim Blinkov, Bionic Yarn, G-Star, Ernst Stewart, Kaufmann Productions, Lia Barrett, Nick Terry, Emma Burdett, Julia Wheeler, Bob Healstead, Christina and Eusebio Saenz de Santamaria, Bjorn Nielsen, Attila E Kaszo, Nick Hollis, Liz Rogers, Michelle Doolan, Albert Li, Steve Lock and Dan Hart.

Australian Underwater Products Ph: 1300 305 530 Email: sales@aup.com.au www.aup.com.au

Front Cover Image Kozyndan

Submissions and Advertising Ph: 1300 305 530 Email: aupmarketing@icloud.com

Subscriptions www.isubscribe.com.au

Finds us at www.SubmergedNation.com facebook.com/theSubmergedNation twitter.com/SubmergedNation

Newstand Distribution Integrated Publication Solutions Ph: 1800 606 477

Printer Ink Asia Ph: 61 2 8628 0403 Copyright by Australian Underwater Products. All rights reserved. Publishes annually by Australian Underwater Products.

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of Australian Underwater Products and/or the editors.

Reproduction of any contents of this publication is forbidden without prior written consent of the publisher.

While every effort was made to ensure that the information contained in this publication was accurate at the time of printing, references are all subject to change.

DIVERLOG

DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR DATA. DiverLog is a digital log book for recording your dives.

It allows you to upload or input manually, sync review and save data recorded by your dive computer.

DESKTOP

MOBILE

CLOUD

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Log, view and share your dives with your iPad or iPhone.

Sync, store & share your dives with DiveCloud.

WHAT CAN DIVERLOG DO FOR YOU?

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eDiverLog.com

** Limited only by the storage of your device.

VTX

READY, SET, DIVE.

The VTX has the unique capability to pair with Diverlog mobile software via Bluetooth 4.0.

Control your settings, view log and profile data, add locations, notes, and even share dives via email, Facebook and more. On the boat, the beach or in your home.

It’s that easy. Intuitive user interface, high visibility color OLED display, wireless air integration, Bluetooth 4.0 ready & powerful features. What more did you want?

OCEANLOG

DIVERLOG

MADE IN THE

USA

OceanicWorldwide.com

8 // THE WORD

WHY BUY SUBMERGED NATION?

CONTENTS 10

The word

20

Submerged tested

ISSUE 03

Features Art Ocean nuts Kozyndan

W

26

e have to submerge ourselves in more than the expected to turn an industry on its head. It is this creativity that sets us apart.

Science

Our love for the ocean is not unique, but our desire to highlight other people’s passion for it is. Submerged Nation is about fostering a community as diverse as the water in which it is based. By sharing the stories and experiences of people that inspire us, we hope to, in turn, inspire a growing audience to the wonders of the underwater world.

38

Vortex project Parley for the Ocean

44

Shark girl Madison Stewart

And what a world it is!

32

Mission 31 Fabien Cousteau

Conservation

20

Photography 50

Underwater walkers Lia Barrett

50

Silent wreck photography Nick Terry

Technology 62

Oceanic Omega Russell Kitt & Adrian Briggs

66

Decompression theory & The evolution of

the Oceanic dive computer John E. Lewis & Doug Krouse

Adventure

We are excited to be partnering with the Australian Marine Conservation Society this year, with 1% of every sale going towards our ocean.

We have an obligation to look after our forests. Paper stock used in this publication has been sourced from PEFC certified suppliers and printed with soy-based inks, reducing our environmental footprint.

70

Experience with heart Lucas Handley

76

How to make extraordinary dives Bob Healstead

82

26

THE WORD // 9

32

50

Freediving 82

The Big Blue Christina and Eusebio Saenz de Santamaria

89

Freediving Essentials Bjorn Nielsen

Tech 90

Behind Hollis Nick Hollis

96

Becoming a closed circuit rebreather diver Tim Muscat

Eco-Tourism 102

Scuba for change Albert Li

104

Whale Sharks Oslob Philippines Attila E Kaszo

Destination 106

Diving the Rowley Shoals Emma Burdett

110

Beauty of Bali and beyond Lynne McAlpine

114

Traveller must-haves Dan Hart

70

10 // THE WORD

OCEANIC DELIVERS THE OCL DIVE COMPUTER IN STYLE

The new OCL is the latest in sleek design excellence from Oceanic, offering all the proven features of the ever-popular Geo 2.0 and then some. Brand new features like freshwater/saltwater calibration, Dual Algorithm reset after calculated desaturation rather than 24 hours, and the super comfortable new silicone band will set the new OCL apart from the competition.

With the capability of accepting up to 2 nitrox mixes to 100%, housing an audible alarm with LED light, being firmware updateable, compatible with PC, Mac and iOS applications, along with being housed with slim stainless steel case, the OCL will certainly be one of the most feature rich computers in its category.

OceanicWorldwide.com

DOCUMENTARY WITH A MISSION - MISSION BLUE Legendary oceanographer, Sylvia Earle, is on a personal mission to save the ocean.

For generations, we have believed that the ocean is too big to fail. We have overfished it to the point of collapse; used it as a massive dumping ground; and drilled for oil thousands of feet down, regardless of the environmental risks. It’s a model we can no longer sustain. Having logged over 7000 hours and more than 70 expeditions underwater, Sylvia Earle is uniquely positioned to help us understand why.

Mission Blue – shot during a 3-year period in numerous locations around the world – the film traces Sylvia’s remarkable personal journey, from her earliest memories exploring the ocean as a

young girl, to her days leading a daring undersea mission in the Virgin Islands and beyond.

The film deftly weaves her unique personal history with the passion that consumes Sylvia today: creating a global parks system for the ocean that she calls “Hope Spots.” As she eloquently expressed in her TED prize wish, Sylvia passionately believes that this ambitious plan is the best way to restore the health of the ocean. But as she travels to the Gulf of Mexico, the Galapagos Islands, the Coral Sea, and beyond, it becomes clear just how daunting the challenges we face truly are.

The film is part oceanic road trip; part biography; part action adventure story. Guiding us through the film is Fisher Stevens, whose own lifelong love for the ocean inspired him to produce the Academy award winning film, The Cove. In many ways, Mission Blue is an extension of that earlier film. But rather than explore a single issue – as The Cove did when it turned its lens on dolphin slaughters in Japan – Mission Blue tackles the daunting challenge of how to protect the global ocean that is now under attack as never before. As a witness to change over the past 60 years, Sylvia is a steadfast warrior, leading the charge to restore the ocean to health before it’s too late.

Ambitious in its visual language, goals and passion for change, Mission Blue is a wake-up call -- for everyone who has ever cared about or experienced the Ocean -- as well as for those far inland who are dependent on rainwater, clean air and weather cycles regulated by the ocean. As Sylvia says: “No blue; no green. No ocean; no us.”

Mission-Blue.org

THE WORD // 11

GREAT BARRIER REEF - MAGICAL OR MUDDY?

Before LNG Project, Gladstone, 2005

After LNG Project, Gladstone, 2011

People say to me, ‘what was the most magical thing you ever saw in your life?’… and I always say without a word of exaggeration, ‘the first time I was lucky enough to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef.’ Sir David Attenborough 2014

The Australian Marine Conservation Society has a long, proud history of fighting for the Reef, including a crucial role in establishing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area decades ago.

It’s hard not to agree. The World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef is a stunning underwater vista of exquisite corals, seagrass and marine creatures stretching for thousands of kilometres.

We are campaigning to ensure the Queensland and Federal governments make decisions in the best interest of the Reef and its communities, rather than cosy deals with the mining companies and big developers.

So it’s difficult to believe that the Reef is facing the unprecedented threat of port expansions driven primarily by mining and its associated infrastructure. There are seven new or expanded port proposals along the Great Barrier Reef which will see increased shipping and 100 million tonnes of dredging. Most of the dredged mud and sand will be dumped in the Reef’s waters or used in land reclamation. There are plans to make Abbott Point, just 50kms from the Whitsundays, the largest coal port in the world.

The Reef supports a $6 billion tourism industry, recreational and commercial fishing and represents a unique way of life for coastal communities along the Reef coast.

If we don’t act now, we risk making mistakes that could last for generations.

We are calling on government to minimise dredging and ban dumping in the Reef’s waters, to protect the wetlands, clean up the sediments and fertilisers from farm run-off and take action to address climate change – the biggest long term threat to the Reef.

Magical or muddy? The future of the Reef is in our hands. Please join us to protect it.

Felicity Wishart

Great Barrier Reef Campaign Director Australian Marine Conservation Society

fightforthereef.org.au

AUSTRALIA’S SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD GUIDE Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide is an independent tool to choosing seafood wisely. It is Australia’s original online resource for consumers seeking to make responsible seafood choices, and was developed in response to growing public concern about overfishing, farming practices and their impact on our oceans and wildlife.

What’s in the Guide?

Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Online Guide gives you an insight into the sustainability of around 90 seafood species commonly found at our fishmongers supermarkets, fish and chip shops and restaurants. It includes assessments of Australian and imported fish species.

You can find important information about Australia’s seafood industry, seafood and your health, seafood labelling, some of the common seafood myths and much more.

In previous versions of the Guide, for ease of use some similar species with the same sustainability ranking were presented together (e.g. wild caught prawns), even though we conducted the research and assessment at a species level (e.g. endeavour prawn, banana prawn). In the updated Guide, we provide more detailed information on impacts of fishing for or farming individual specie. sustainableseafood.org.au

12 // THE WORD

HOLLIS ADVANCED AUG UNDERGARMENTS Hollis has just announced the arrival of their Advanced Undergarment (AUG) Layering System. The new AUG range includes 3 different garments: AUG BASE, AUG 260 and AUG 450, for a wide variety of dive conditions. They are designed to be used together at the diver’s preference and provide the stretch to complement their proprietary drysuit - Biodry FX 100 and DX 300 - material for the ultimate freedom of movement.

AUG Base is an ultra-fast wicking fabric, designed as a base layer that draws moisture away from the body, effectively keeping the skin drier, and allowing any additional undergarments the optimal chance to maintain body warmth during and after the dive.

AUG Base

AUG 260 is a dedicated thermal drysuit undergarment, that can be worn as a stand-alone undergarment, or combined with either

the AUG Base or even the AUG 450, depending on water temperature and type of drysuit used.

The AUG450 is the perfect combination of extra warmth with less bulk. The AUG 450 is constructed of 450gm using high density and stretch fabrics using a dual layer design, allowing warm air to be trapped both in the hollow fleece fibers, and also between the two garment layers, providing the best possible thermal protection for its surprisingly low weight and bulk.

Fully machine washable, and the wicking properties won’t be degraded by the washing cycle.

Available through authorised Hollis dealers.

Hollis.com

AUG 450

AUG 260

TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE - BECOME A PADI PRO! You know the saying, “If you love what you do - you’ll never work a day in your life”?

Just imagine the ocean being your office and exchanging your desktop computer for your scuba equipment. As an avid diver, going professional might seem like a dream, but it may be more attainable than you think.

To begin with, getting the proper training is crucial. The PADI Divemaster course is the first step in ‘going pro’ and becoming a PADI Professional. Next, the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor course is where you learn about teaching people how to dive and start to see how you can transform people’s lives through scuba diving.

weekends? You may want to help people in water emergencies - or dedicate your time to saving our precious underwater environments? No matter what your interest, there are numerous jobs around the world that need well-trained PADI Professionals.

With over 6200 PADI Dive Shops worldwide - including all over Australia - it’s easy to find a PADI Dive Shop where you can start your training. For more information simply visit your local PADI Dive Shop or padi.com.

Richard Fernie, 25 years, from Adelaide, South Australia, who became a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor in 2011, explains what he enjoys most about being a PADI Pro. “The training I received as a PADI Instructor has provided me with unique life skills and opportunities that are not only essential in diving, but are useful in all aspects of my life. As a PADI Pro, I have met so many interesting people from all walks of life and really enjoy introducing them to new places and underwater environments.”

Going pro takes dedication, but there are many options to fit your schedule. Some knowledge development sections are available online through PADI eLearning, before you complete the remainder of your course with your PADI Professional. You can also choose to train full-time or part-time.

As a PADI Pro, you’ll enjoy many career opportunities. Would you prefer working at a resort in a tropical location - or like Richard, work locally in your own city or town with fulltime or just on

There are numerous opportunities around the world and in Australia for well-trained PADI Professionals.

THE WORD // 13

SCUBA DIVING IN JAPAN… REALLY? When I think of Japan, my mind straight away thinks of things like skiing, sushi, shopping, karaoke, radiation, Hello Kitty; and places like Mt Fuji, Tokyo and Osaka. So when I received a phone call asking me to join a group of strangers in Okinawa, Japan, to introduce them to diving and enjoy the diving Okinawa has to offer, my initial response was, “Is this a prank?”

Of course I decided to jump on board the project and head to Okinawa, the southern-most islands of Japan. Not a lot of people consider Okinawa as a travel destination in Japan, and that’s why the tourism board started the #BeOkinawa project to raise awareness of the destination to people outside of Japan.

So what better way to show what Okinawa has to offer than bringing 7 people from all over the world together, each with a particular skill or interest that they can experience in Okinawa and share with the group. As a full time scuba diving instructor, my skill was ... well you guessed it, diving!

Arriving in Okinawa I had no idea what to expect, no idea who the other cast members were and what activities we might be doing.

The first thing I noticed was the temperature. It was a lovely 30 degrees, exactly like anywhere else tropical, but this time I was in Japan!

Driving back to the hotel felt like I was in Hawaii.

Crystal clear water surrounds the island, the beaches are pristine, and everywhere you look people are wearing Hawaiian shirts and have big welcoming smiles.

Over the next week I got to learn traditional cooking recipes, tried my hand at cocktail invention, smashed through pieces of wood in a karate lesson, attempted to play the Sanshin, oh and we dressed up in a royal Kimono and performed a traditional geisha dance at the ruins of an ancient castle at sunset.

AMAZING! Then it was my turn to introduce the group to my skill, scuba diving. We jumped on a plane that morning for the one hour flight to Ishigaki Island. Everyone was excited but there were a lot of nerves amongst the group. Many of the cast had never been snorkeling before, let alone scuba diving. I knew I had a big task ahead of me and I had my fingers crossed the diving conditions were going to be good so they would all enjoy the experience.

As soon as we were out on the dive boat I knew we were in for a good day. The water was pristine and I could see the abundance of coral from the surface. Ishigaki Island is well known for the blue coral, and I can see why. I have never seen so much coral in such good condition.

We all snorkeled together first, and no one could believe what they were seeing. “It’s like an aquarium!” “There’s so many fish!” “The water is so clear!”

I knew everyone was ready to put a scuba tank on and go for the try dive. There were big smiles all round, especially when we found Nemo! Just when we thought we had seen the best of Ishigaki diving, we jumped in at Manta City Point - a cleaning station for the resident giant manta rays. What a fantastic site! The rock formations across the bottom of the dive site made the area feel like an underwater amphitheater and the manta rays were there to perform for us, gliding up and down and back around. What a great experience, and a day to remember.

I never thought of Japan as being a top diving destination but now I can’t wait to get back and experience more of the Okinawa culture, food, and diving.

Emma Burdett PADI MSDT

EEZYCUT TRILOBITE The forefront of Emergency Cutting Tool (E.C.T.) dynamics and design, the EEZYCUT TRILOBITE was developed for divers, mariners, mountaineers, extreme sports adventurers and rescue service providers.

The unique cutting mechanism of the EEZYCUT TRILOBITE provides the cleanest, sharpest, most effortless cutting action available.

Everyone experiences the “wow factor” the first time they use this ergonomically designed cutting tool, as it slices and dices its way through line and webbing. The EEZYCUT TRILOBITE is rated to cut line with ease, repeatedly, up to 8mm thick, and can easily cut through larger line. The TRILOBITE also makes light work of all types of webbing. With replacement blades, this cutting tool provides you with the best cut, every time.

Eezycut.com

MERIDIAN LED STROBE LIGHT

PRINCETONTEC.COM

www.mcnett.com/m-essentials M EssentialsTM is a trademark of McNett Corporation. All rights reserved. Š2014

20 // SUBMERGED TESTED

SUBMERGED TESTED TESTED BY SUBMERGED DIVE TEAM

OCEANIC OMEGA 3 REGULATOR

The original Oceanic Omega was a regulator loved by many.

Those who have the original Omega regulators love them and are still diving them today. So when I heard the newly up-dated Omega 3 was on its way, I was very excited.

I’m a huge fan of side-breathing, servo-assisted regulators and have been diving with them for years. It doesn’t matter what position you are in underwater, you can always breathe easily, which is very helpful when you’re upside-down taking photos! When you’re stationary, the bubbles move up and away from your mask so you don’t have a disrupted vision.

With my love for the side-exhaust, I was keen to try the new Omega 3, and what better way than to take it with me to dive Ishigaki Island, Japan! The first thing I noticed was the weight; the FDXi first stage, braided hose and Omega 3 second stage are a lot lighter than my other brand regulators.

The new design is eye catching and it was a tough choice between black, white or clear. My inner fashion victim won the day and I decided to colour co-ordinate with my white OCi computer. It looks great but does it breathe well?

The new simple twist pre-dive/dive switch is great, very easy to use and doesn’t take two hands to move position.

As I started to descend, I immediately noticed the ease of breathing. There’s no resistance or gushing of air as you inhale. The breathing is smooth and easy from the surface to 30m down. The swivel join on the second stage takes the comfort of the regulator to the next level, and the braided hose relieves any drag in the water.

Not only does the Omega 3 look great, it performs exceptionally well.

Second Stage Omega 3 • Unique all metal levered servo valve automatically maintains minimal inhalation effort throughout the entire dive.

• Patented Dynamic Adjustment automatically maintains inhalation effort throughout the dive.

• Simple twist dive/pre-dive adjustment.

• Inline ball swivel reduces jaw fatigue.

• Orthodontic mouthpiece.

• Paired with the FDXi first stage.

First Stage FDXi The FDXi in-line design provides an improved flow rate, greatly reduced weight and more ergonomic port positioning for better hose routing when compared to the classic right angle first stages.

• DVT Dry Valve Technology.

• Precision cold forged.

• Reduced weight.

• Pneumatically Balanced - consistent performance at any depth.

• Environmentally sealed diaphragm - cold water ready.

• 4 low pressure and 2 high pressure ports.

• Angled ports for ideal hose routing.

• Improved flow rate over standard right angle first stages.

OceanicAus.com.au

EMMA BURDETT PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer Dolphin Scuba Diving Dolphinscuba.com.au

SUBMERGED TESTED // 21

OCEANIC VTX DIVE COMPUTER computer settings, with facebook sharing and much more to come. As the computer firmware is wirelessly user updatable, watch this space!

Having had the prototype demonstrated by Doug Krause at a previous DEMA show, I was keen to get my hands on this next generation of dive computers (my first computer being a second hand Edge for those old enough to remember).

First impressions: The unit is less bulky in person than the product shots might suggest and extremely stylish, making it a suitable companion for both male and female divers – this is no ‘brick’ on your wrist.

The VTX is supplied complete with all accessories and spare batteries in a tidy storage case.

OLED Display - these displays offer superb contrast and ideal legibility in any condition, and the VTX is no exception – the screen size and orderly display layout make this a clear winner, particular for those of us who are not the young divers we once were. You can set brightness manually or use the auto function – we had to dial it down at depth (68m) as it was almost too bright.

Reducing the display brightness also improves battery life (more on that later). Like modern rebreather computers, critical data is colour-coded for importance, which adds a nice uniform touch.

Most of the powerful technology features are not visible at first glance, and the list is long but key features include: Bluetooth; 4 Gas Mixes; at last a 3-axis compass with proper tilt compensation; Hoseless Air Integration; and full App control, to name but a few.

For me though, simplicity is the standout design element – the intuitive menu system (Logic) is a departure from previous designs and is a major step forward. The computer’s menus and setup can be navigated with ease, without opening a page of the manual (obviously not recommended!), resulting in an extremely powerful yet easy to use computer, without the clutter. The key information is easy to follow, yet extremely powerful.

Finally, the critical element on any dive computer: battery life.

Oceanic have chosen to go with the CR2 battery (Duracell provided), which offers around 30-40 hours life, which some might consider expensive on batteries, however with testing I found brand name lithium batteries lasted 30-35% longer, and ‘cheap’ ($4) non brand name batteries still lasting 25-30 hours with the auto brightness feature enabled. However, the easiest solution – rechargeables. A charger and two quality rechargeable CR2s can be purchased for around $33, meaning you’ll never be without power. It is worth noting it is extremely easy to change batteries with a simple screw-out battery door using a coin and the CR2 is the same battery used in the wireless transmitters, which keeps them standard and easily available.

The bluetooth functionality allows for a growing range of features and functions via Apps for Apple, Android and PC platforms – from the usual dive logging, to remote control of all

MARK MILLER Master Instructor / Tech Instructor Tech Dive Academy Tech-dive-academy.com

• Ultra-bright high contrast full colour OLED display with intuitive colour identification of critical dive data.

• 3-Axis Digital Compass with Full Tilt Compensation.

• Bluetooth 4.0 LE ready for wireless transfer of dive profiles and dive computer settings. Compatible with soon to be released PC, Mac and iOS applications.

• Automatic Safety Stop Countdown.

• Up to 4 Nitrox mixes - each with individual PO2 set points.

• Optional Deep Stop with Countdown Timer.

• Advanced features for today’s technically-savvy diver, yet comes out of the box simple for new or less frequent divers.

• Intuitive push button menu interface with “Step Back” allows for easy settings preview and edits while viewing the menus.

• Powered by Dual Algorithm® allowing you to choose the decompression algorithm that best suits your diving needs without compromising safety.

• User Replaceable Battery. Data Retention maintains settings and calculations between battery changes.

• Hoseless air integration with patented Air Time Remaining Algorithm provides calculations in real time, allowing accurate gas management.

• Firmware Update Ready.

OceanicAus.com.au

SUBMERGED TESTED // 23

HOLLIS SMS75 SIDEMOUNT

As an avid cave diver/instructor, I have been diving sidemount configuration for over 20 years. In that time, I have tried and used rigs from various different manufacturers and, in their own way, they have all had their good points and bad points.

When Hollis released the SMS100, it had some features that immediately appealed to me, but it lacked the simplicity of a low profile sidemount rig. I immediately fell in love with the SMS50 when it was released because it met my cave diving needs as a streamlined, versatile sidemount harness, but it was too small for conventional diving.

So as most good manufactures do, they listen to their customers.

When the Hollis SMS75 was released, it was clearly apparent that Hollis had listened and combined the best of the SMS100 and the SMS50 in a uniquely versatile, comfortable and streamlined sidemount harness.

Having dived the SMS75 for some months now, I have been very impressed with how comfortable the harness is. Its design is very low profile, but still provides ample lift capacity for 4 large cylinders at depth. Clips and rails are placed in the best possible spots to ensure that all cylinders and accessories are easy to clip and unclip, but more importantly, that everything remains streamlined whilst you are swimming.

For a traditionalist sidemount cave diver like myself, I have always shied away from multi-purpose sidemount harnesses. I have not wanted the extra clutter of padding and webbing that is required to allow the harness to be used as a sidemount, twin backmount and single cylinder harness. As I am a cave diver, I always looked for a sidemount harness that was simple and lightweight.

The SMS75 meets all my expectations of a streamlined, lightweight sidemount harness, but its clever design allows it to still be a multi-purpose harness for other configurations. I have actually used the SMS75 with my Hollis eSCR Explorer Rebreather and my Hollis Prism 2 Rebreather and both units dive very well with this harness. Two main benefits are the fact that I have two rails to clip my bailout cylinders, and the extra clips for other accessories.

mount system! Having completed four very long dives over the weekend with the Hollis SMS75, there were some things that stood out for me from other harnesses I had used in the past: • The bladder’s shape made it very easy to acquire a perfect trim without too much manipulation of cylinder rigging and lead distribution.

• The rounded rails make it very easy to locate and attach cylinder clips.

• The dump valve on top of the harness is very easy to use and air can be easily dumped from bladder without losing any trim in the water.

• The dump valve is also positioned inwards, meaning that it cannot be damaged if hitting the roof of a cave • The use of bungees instead of clips behind the unit to attach accessories means that if something gets caught in a restriction (cave or wreck), it allows for some give and protects from major damage.

• I had no problems swimming with 4 x steel 100cf tanks and 2 x ali 40cf stage cylinders. The 40 lbs lift of this harness was ample.

In conclusion, Hollis has created a sidemount harness that not only meets the expectations of the purist cave/wreck diver, but has also designed a system that can be purchased by the novice open water diver, who can then grow into their diving and have a harness that is versatile enough for twin tank diving and can accommodate the rebreather diver as well.

I recently completed a weekend of diving in Mt Gambier. My weekend was spent in Tank Cave – a maze system full of low tunnels and slit-like passages. The perfect location to test a side-

• Trapezoid shape to promote horizontal trim.

• Adjustable and removable wing bungee.

• Designed for cave or open water sidemount.

• Cam slots for single tank and grommets at 11” for banded doubles.

• Reversible Inflator and Dump assembly.

• Rigging kit included: Tank bungees, SS Cam bands, SS Bolt snaps & nylon line.

• Includes sternum strap and crotch strap.

• Inner located elbow to avoid overhead interference.

• Firmware update ready.

Hollis.com

26 // OCEAN NUTS

It’s the orgasm of psychedelic weird creatures. It’s the relaxation from work. It’s the sense of freedom...

It’s the place of inspiration and adventure.

OCEAN NUTS // 27

OCEAN NUTS Kozyndan WORDS and INTERVIEW CANDY ROBERTSON IMAGES KOZYNDAN

A

s ocean lovers, we all appreciate and admire the ocean in our own way; searching for something to call our own, something unique. For Californian-based husband and wife artist duo, Kozyndan, this involves making up their own creatures, such as the Bunnyfish.

Self-confessed ocean nuts, Kozyndan have developed an artistic styling that is instantly recognizable; a surreal world of intricate illustrations inhabited by a bizarre combination of characters, some known, some distant, but all pulling you in, enticing you to discover more.

Art is a very powerful medium, connecting people on many different levels. I have been following Kozyndan’s work for nearly ten years now, seeing their work grow and evolve, inspiring more people each and every year. I was fortunate enough to catch up with this busy pair and learn more about the amazing artists behind all these magical works.

Hi Kozy. Hi Dan. Tell me, what was your first collaboration like?

How did Kozyndan all start?

Kozy: While at University, we had already been dating and living together for a while, but Dan and I had never collaborated on art.

I was working on a project for a class, doing a long panoramic drawing of the inside of our apartment. Dan liked it so much he decided to scan it in to the computer and colour it in digitally, just for fun. I was liking it and jumped in to help him finish it and we really liked the result. It was a fun thing.

We didn’t think so deeply about it at the time, but we did decide to make another one. We have been collaborating together ever since.

28 // OCEAN NUTS

You two have worked on a lot of enormous panoramic pieces in different spaces around the world. What’s it like working on such a large scale?

Dan: It’s a strange thing for us, to be sure. Those panoramic images begin life very small actually. The final linework for those pieces are only about 18 cm tall. So initially kozy is drawing at a very intimate miniscule scale. We scan the art in at a very high resolution so that when we begin to paint the image in Photoshop we are painting details that are smaller than could be visible in the linework. Then when it is finally printed (we have lately gotten the opportunity to print it very large – up to 15 meters wide, and 5 meters high), details that we either very preciously created, or zoomed in to create, are seen larger than life. People get the chance to appreciate the effort we put into the tiny details.

It must be amazing being wrapped around by your illustrations!

It would feel like you are lost in Kozyndan World. Completely absorbed in a dreamland!

There is a strong underwater theme in your body of work. If I may say, you guys are obsessed with the ocean! Is that an exaggeration? What do you like so much about the ocean and its inhabitants?

Kozy: We are obsessed yeah. It’s always the happiest place for us.

Dan: It’s the escape. It’s the orgasm of psychedelic weird creatures. It’s the relaxation from work. It’s the sense of freedom. It’s the humbleness of being so small in such a huge place. It’s the place of inspiration and adventure. As artists, and just as people who want to have actually LIVED life and not have regrets – these are important things. I love how strange it all is, how alien, to be floating around, often in an almost meditative state (this occurs almost just as a by-product of being unable to speak while diving), with all these very weird animals in very close proximity to you.

This doesn’t happen so often on land.

OCEAN NUTS // 29

©Eric Cheng

©Eric Cheng

going back to Indonesia. So much to explore there and so many crazy animals above and below water, and so few tourists (where we go anyway) and beautiful little islands and amazing food – it’s a complete package for us I guess. We have been 4 times, but haven’t gone even half the places we’d like to in Indonesia (and haven’t dived touristy places there like Bali or Lembeh, which are probably still pretty great).

Your works often feature animals. I have seen sea otters, sharks, whales, cats, bunnies, giant octopus and many more. What is your favourite?

Dan: It changes weekly! And radically!

Kozy: Yeah this week it’s been ALL baby goats, ALLL the time for me.

Dan: It’s ridiculous – she can’t stop watching baby goat videos on YouTube. Then again we are off to Tonga this week to photograph and swim with humpback whales, so by the end of it, I will probably be in love with humpbacks again, just like after our last trip there. We are both just fascinated by the huge variety and beauty of Animalia. Whatever is the latest creature I have spent time with in real life, or seen some amazing facts about online is my new favorite. Today I got sucked into reading about Bearded Vultures – huge crazy looking birds, 90 percent of what they eat is just bone.

Their stomachs have a pH of 1 and can dissolve bone completely in 24 hours. They like to rub themselves up on red earth to turn their white feather fiery at which point the look like crazy dragons!

Ooo, dragons! The animal kingdom is so full of surprises. That’s why the ocean is so fascinating; there’s so much we still don’t know about it. Do you guys dive or snorkel? Where is your dream dive location?

Kozy: Both! You can’t keep us out of the water. We seem to keep

Dan: I guess dream dive locations would just be places that are unspoiled, untouched. Maybe someplace like Kingman Reef?

Really remote atolls that would best represent what a reef should be like if it hasn’t been fished out by people – ie LOTS more sharks than we usually see diving today. I feel like we need to spend a lot more time in the water with sharks since they are getting harder and harder to come by. We are attracted to unusual phenomenon like mass fish spawnings, or aggregations of a species of ray or what not, just things you don’t see every day.

Your recent panoramic in the Honolulu Museum of Art is amazing. Can you tell us a little bit more about that project?

Kozy: We occasionally do projects with a non-profit group called PangeaSeed. They mostly are involved with helping to educate people about ocean conservation issues through art – film festivals, mural projects, art exhibitions. They created the first annual World Oceans Day Hawai’I (World Oceans Day is an international event) and held it at the Honolulu Museum of Art – amongst the programming for the event was our mural, which was installed in the theater at the museum for the summer of 2014. It was the longest digitally printed mural we have produced, at almost 20 meters long. The mural was a really playful piece that depicted an imaginary battle between characters we created called “bunnyfish” (a chimera of a fish body with a cute bunny head) and these trash monsters that evolved out of Great Garbage Patch in the Northern Pacific Gyre and had emanated out to wreak havoc on our coastal waters.

30 // OCEAN NUTS

OCEAN NUTS // 31

What is your creative process like? Do you two think in parallel and finish each other’s sentences?

In a fantasy world, where would you like to live? Forget about practicality. Does it involve people? Or fish?

Kozy: Hah – No! Not at all!

Dan: Boobs and baby goatfish?

Dan: We are more like yin and yang, if anything. We have some things in common, and certainly have a shared set of experiences from living, working and traveling together, but we definitely have different upbringings, and different personalities that bring us into (constructive) conflict with one another. We like to say that the creativity is in the pool of blood on the floor after we hash out our ideas for each piece. Sometimes we are in total agreement and have the same idea, but just as often an artwork evolves out of a balance between our ideas. It depends on how strongly each of us might feel about what we want to make for a project.

Kozy: Haha, And cats.

What other things do you enjoy doing other than drawing and making art?

Kozy: Music, yoga, food, sex, hiking, stupid comedy movies, making ceramics, reading about science … did I mention baby goats???

Dan: And ice cream.

Kozy: And papaya salad.

Dan: And Sunsets over water.

Kozy: And Super moons!

Dan: Hah! What if we could have this giant aquarium floating in space. Can you imagine the view – you are in the middle of a huge ball of snappers and suddenly a trevally darts through and parts the ball of fish to reveal the Earth floating beyond you? I think that sounds a nice place to live for a while.

Kozy: Only if the kitchen has papaya salad.

Haha. That sounds like a perfect vacation.

Dan: I like taking pictures of naked women in nature. Can I just do that all day instead of making “art”? Haha.

You have had numerous exhibitions in many different galleries across the globe. What is your most memorable exhibition?

Dan: Actually I think our exhibitions in Melbourne are most memorable. Kind of shocked how many people come to each of them, how many people wait in line to get in, and how nice they turn out to be when we meet fans there. Last year we also met 2 marine biologists who were fans, and someone from the Melbourne Zoo, who also gave us a special behind the scenes tour of the zoo. It’s like our dream audience and always a great experience. I don’t know why, but I think our Aussie fans really just “get” us in a way most people even here in the U.S. do.

You guys have created so many unique exhibitions on land. Have you ever considered exhibiting underwater?

Campbell’s Shark Fin Soup, 2012 soup can, resin, sculpey, acrylic, wood

Dan: Oh yes, it’s been discussed, and we have an idea for it, but we don’t really have a way to get the funding for it, or the technical knowledge to pull it off.

Kozy: Plus that other artist is already doing it.

Dan: Yeah – that too. Jason deCaires Taylor has been executing massive underwater sculpture installations for many years now, mostly in the Caribbean. Likely he will execute something like I would want to, before we ever could make it happen. We’ll leave that to him!

Where do you find your inspiration?

Dan: The natural world of course. And boobs.

Kozy: Baby goats, mostly?

ABOUT KOZYNDAN // kozyndan are husband-and-wife artists who work collaboratively to create highly detailed paintings and drawings for both illustration and fine art. They are obsessed with the ocean and being underwater and hope to someday come to rest at the bottom of the sea and slowly be devoured by deep creatures over many years.

Find out more about Kozyndan’s work visit www.kozyndan.com

32 // MISSION 31

MISSION 31 Fabien Cousteau WORDS NICK ROBERTSON IMAGES KIP EVANS

F

abien Cousteau doesn’t do things by halves. When he wanted to study the behaviour of sharks, he built himself a submarine that looks and moves just like a real shark, immersing himself in the shark’s domain for hours at a time. When he wanted to tackle declining fish populations and habitat loss, he founded the not-for-profit organisation Plant A Fish to educate, repopulate and restore vital marine ecosystems around the world. So when the 50th Anniversary of grandfather, Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s epic 30 daylong adventure aboard Conshelf II, an underwater research station beneath the Red Sea, came along, Fabien had to up the ante.

Cue a scene straight out of Hollywood.

3 atmospheres of pressure. 6 aquanauts.

31 days saturation. 81 tons of reinforced steel.

This is Mission 31.

Located 19 metres (63 feet) below the surface near a deep coral reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, lies Aquarius, the world’s only underwater laboratory. Operated by Florida International University, the laboratory’s hefty 81 tons are able to

withstand pressures almost twice its operating depth. Squeezed in its 13 by 3 metres barnacle-encrusted cabin are six bunk beds, a very basic kitchen, hot water and a host of scientific and communication equipment. Comfort is not the priority here.

For Fabien Cousteau and his team of aquanauts, the Aquarius offers the gift of time. Thirty one days, to be exact.

Fabien Cousteau, grandson of legendary ocean-explorer, inventor and documentary filmmaker, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, has recently completed his epic Mission 31 – thirty one days living at saturation, 19 metres below the surface.

Saturation is when the human body is completely saturated with nitrogen, a phenomenon achieved after spending twenty four hours at depth. This is why Cousteau and his team could spend up to twelve hours every day diving – there was no need for decompression stops, no descent/ascent time, just pure, unobstructed diving.

Which is good, because it took a full eighteen hours for the crew to decompress when they finally did surface!

What does living under water for a full lunar cycle tell us about the ocean?

MISSION 31 // 33

When I pierced the surface, the transition from this amazing, crazy, alien world full of life to seeing emptiness was a shock to the system.

ŠCarrie Vonderhaar

34 // MISSION 31

Well, a lot, as it turns out. Cousteau and his aquanauts collected over three years worth of data, enough for ten scientific papers and several feature-length documentaries.

“Living underwater gave us a better pulse of what’s going on,” Fabien says. “The fact that plankton are active at night and how sponges are now filling the roles that corals typically did on reefs. Change in temperature variations of underwater tides shuts down the process of corals and sponges in a way we never knew before Mission 31.”

Starting a typical day at 4.30am, Fabien and his crew repeatedly dived throughout the day, conducting various tests on reef acidification, coral growth, climate change and predator/prey behaviour.

Working with the Coral Restoration Foundation, Cousteau and his team of marine scientists planted new coral and installed tiny probes to record changes in the reef. They used sonar to study predators and prey, as well as high-speed cameras, used to great effect to capture an incredible example of a grouper fish releasing a pulse of sound to stun a barracuda.

They bore witness to other remarkable sights. Corals, illuminated with special UV lights at night, glowed an eerie, unnatural fluorescent green. Mass-spawnings of Christmas tree worms and a ceaseless parade of marine life allowed themselves to be observed in a manner unreachable through normal time-restricted diving. “We saw massive, swirling clouds of plankton blooming at night. They looked like tornadoes and snowstorms,” Fabien reflects.

All this data, all this passion and group effort is nothing if it is not shared, and it is for this reason that Fabien places so much importance on reaching out and harnessing the public’s innate curiosity with the world.

“My aim was to get the world to pay attention to the ocean through the lens of adventure.”

Live streams were broadcast and up to twelve Skype in the Classroom sessions were held every day, connecting with thousands of children around the world, eager to know what problems we face and what they can do to help.

“Our latest generation knows a lot more about the planet than we did at their age and people are modifying their behaviour, like making better choices in restaurants or the supermarket.”

MISSION 31 // 35

36 // MISSION 31

MISSION 31 // 37

And while learning about the underwater world was fascinating, it wasn’t all they were studying. Fabien and his crew underwent physiological and psychological testing to see what living in such small quarters, saturated with nitrogen, 19 metres under the surface, without sunlight does to the human body. “My sense of taste went dull. I was afraid I’d lost my taste buds forever. You can’t whistle. Your hair grows so much faster. And the air was syrupy – it’s very hard to breathe at three atmospheres.”

Fabien Cousteau rightly acknowledges the difficulty in making science accessible and, more importantly, interesting, to the general public. Thankfully, Cousteau has taken up the challenge, and by continually pushing the envelope of exploration, he brings forth an energy that demands attention.

Adventures like Mission 31 are the classrooms of our dreams – an unprecedented way to directly connect with millions of people around the world. Through the power of sharing, we can actively engage eager minds. We can inspire. Pose questions. We can challenge the norm.

By exploring, we discover. By sharing, we make a difference.

While most of us will never get a chance to spend the night in Aquarius, chatting with two generations of Cousteaus and Sylvia Earle (middle right image), we can still don our red beanies and escape under the sea virtually through the multitude of videos, photographs, blogs and educational data being presented through mission-31.com and their extensive Youtube channel.

“When I pierced the surface, the transition from this amazing, crazy, alien world full of life to seeing emptiness was a shock to the system. Our senses were so over-stimulated by activity around us all day and all night. To go from that to silence up top – feeling the breeze, feeling the sunshine on my face, but looking around and seeing air with no life except maybe a bird flying overhead – was eerie. It almost made me want to turn around and go back down.”

ABOUT FABIEN COUSTEAU // Fabien is an oceanographic explorer, conservationist and documentary filmmaker. As the first grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Fabien spent his early years aboard his famous grandfather’s ships, Calypso and Alcyone; and learned how to scuba dive on his fourth birthday. Today, Fabien continues to fulfill his family’s legacy to protect and preserve the planet’s extensive and endangered marine inhabitants and habitats. www.fabiencousteau.org Find out more about Mission 31, visit mission-31.com

www.hollis.com

NO INTEREST EVER* Certegy Ezi-pay option is available for the Hollis Explorer. Ask your local Hollis authorised dealer for more details. *Certegy Ezi-Pay Express is a continuing credit payment plan provided by Certegy Ezi-Pay Pty. Ltd. Fees, terms & conditions apply. Either an account Establishment Fee of between $35 & $90 or an Additional Purchase Fee of $22.00 is payable over the purchase repayment period. A Monthly Account Keeping Fee of $3.50 & a Payment Processing Fee of $2.95 apply. Prices & repayment amounts featured are an example for illustration purposes only & are subject to change. Certegy Ezi-Pay Express No Interest Ever! applies. See in store for details or visit www.certegyezipay.com.au

44 // SHARK GIRL

Getting people to love the animal is the first step to getting people to fight for the animal.

ŠErnst Stewart

SHARK GIRL // 45

SHARK GIRL A conversation with Madison Stewart WORDS and INTERVIEW CANDY ROBERTSON IMAGES ERNST STEWART and KAUFMANN PRODUCTIONS

M

adison Stewart is not your ordinary twenty year old. Discontent being a mere armchair activist, Madi has, since the age of fourteen, been driven by a desperate need to alter people’s perceptions of her favourite animal. Madi has a really hard job. The animal she champions has bad publicity. People are scared of them. The media goes crazy whenever anything involving this animal happens, and while that doesn’t happen a lot, it’s enough to make a lasting negative impact.

But Madi’s out to change that. Armed with a camera, Madi set out to save sharks by changing people’s minds, showing audiences that sharks are not ruthless, indiscriminate killing machines, as the media often portrays. Shark Girl, a feature-length documentary, follows Madison’s journey to battle with commercial fishing in the Great Barrier Reef and question the bad reputation earned by sharks in Australia.

Madison sees sharks as her brothers and sisters; her mission in life is to do everything to protect them. Growing up on the Great Barrier Reef, Madison sees her childhood paradise drastically changing. During her lifetime, the Great Barrier Reef has lost a big chunk of its coral and the shark population is in threat.

When not in the ocean diving with sharks, Madison is busy campaigning for sharks in front of supermarkets, holding interviews with the media and sending mercury test results to the government. This is not a fight she plans to lose.

Madi, you are a passionate conservationist, a voice for our marine animals. Why sharks? What makes you feel so connected to them?

I have always loved sharks. I cannot remember a time when they weren’t my favourite animal in the ocean. I guess I was a weird kid in many ways, I loved the ‘monsters’. Since then, growing up surrounded by sharks, I feel like underwater, they are the only animal that talks back to you. You feel like your level of intelligence and dominance is matched when you’re around a shark.

©Kaufmann Productions Pty Ltd

46 // SHARK GIRL

©Kaufmann Productions Pty Ltd

©Ernst Stewart

©Kaufmann Productions Pty Ltd

SHARK GIRL // 47

You are someone who doesn’t just sit back and watch things vanish. You have recently released a documentary called “Shark Girl” to raise awareness of sharks. For some of us who haven’t seen it, can you tell us what it is about?

Shark Girl basically followed me over the last few years in my efforts for shark conservation. It has the first in-depth look into legal Australian shark fisheries and my ongoing struggles against government, public opinion of sharks and large corporations selling shark.

It also has some pretty neat footage of our underwater interactions with sharks.

That must have been a fantastic experience. What have you learned from the production of your documentary?

That one person can truly make a difference.

You started diving from a young age. How did you get into it? Do you still remember what it was like on your first dive?

My father got me into diving, and thanks to many documentaries I saw, I was so keen to try it! I remember it being overwhelming and exciting and I remember seeing sharks and being totally stunned by how perfectly they moved through the water.

Having recently turned twenty, how many dives have you logged?

What was your most favourite encounter?

I have logged more than 600 dives at this point. I have many favourite encounters, but my top two are when I saw an unexpected great white because I wasn’t in a cage, and when I encountered a large female tiger shark and we both made eye contact and flinched at the same time.

You seem to have a strong resistance to injustice. Do you like super heroes? Who is your favourite?

Oh yeah … Spiderman all the way. Great power, great responsibility.

Haha. I thought of Spiderman when I first found out about you.

It must be really hard to change people’s perceptions of sharks.

What are some of the hardest challenges you have had so far?

People think sharks eat humans and seek out humans as food, and even though I can tell them I swim with sharks – so you would think I know – they still don’t want to believe me when I try and tell them they are not bloodthirsty mindless killers! I think when it comes to sharks, they have earned an unfair reputation (more people are killed by bee stings in Australia than shark attacks), but people still want them killed and that takes a piece of me every time I hear it.

You are partnering with organisation such as Sea Shepherd Australia. What is your role there?

I do occasional work with Sea Shepherd who have always been a leader on direct action and I am also their shark director which involves the plotting of shark-based campaigns.

I have been following your “Woolworths Toxic Shark Meat – Just say no!” campaign. Can you tell our readers what it is all about and the meaning behind this campaign? How did it start? What is the progress like?

During the making of Shark Girl, we tested shark meat from many places for the toxin, mercury. Sharks, being upper-trophic predators, naturally have a lot of mercury in them, and certain amounts are actually dangerous to humans and illegal to sell in Australia. We

©Ernst Stewart

48 // SHARK GIRL

©Ernst Stewart

©Kaufmann Productions Pty Ltd

©Ernst Stewart

SHARK GIRL // 49

tested samples of shark being sold as food for humans that was 60 times over the legal limit of mercury – enough to kill an unborn baby if eaten by its mother – and this was from Woolworths.

I met with Woolworths and presented them with this information.

They removed shark from the fishery I fight, which was an amazing move, but they still sell shark, and I’m still on their case about it.

You also produce other short films to promote the welfare of sharks. Do you find this medium the most effective? What is your creative process like?

I strain myself to write letters and petitions and put up posters and educate people and do speeches, but the second I step back, and just press play on one of my small films, it feels like I’m achieving something the world almost made me believe was impossible to so easily achieve. My films and footage do the most for sharks. It is my most powerful medium to be able to show people my interactions with sharks, and have them walk away with a different opinion.

Getting people to love the animal is the first step to getting people to fight for the animal.

We see these messages in the media and can’t help but think what we can do to help. How can we help to promote the welfare of sharks?

Mainly through actions.

Say no to shark fin soup.

Don’t eat shark meat (often called flake) and if you buy fish and chips make sure it’s not shark before you buy it!

Also educate people about the truth, because when it comes to sharks, all we know is the movie Jaws, and that’s not true. Sharks kill an average of 12 people worldwide a year but we kill 100 million sharks a year!

What is your plan for the next year? Are you working on any project at the moment?

There may be a project coming up, but for now I’m just doing what I’ve learnt to do, keep fighting for the cause, and eventually your small ripples turn into waves!

Shark Girl has become a symbol, an inspiration for the younger generation. She has received letters from shark supporters as young as four years old and recently been nominated for the Pride of Australia Award 2014. Everything big starts from something small. Never underestimate your power. Join the movement.

Join Madison Stewart.

SHARK GIRL DOCUMENTARY // Shark Girl is available now on DVDs Australia nation wide. An educational one-hour documentary produced by kaufmann Productions. Following Madison Stewart’s journey battle for the sharks in the Great Barrier Reef and uncover some shocking truth and effect of eating shark meat. Travel to some exotic locations such as Bahamas and Paula to appreciate this ocean top predator – Sharks. Watch Shark Girl’s movie trailer here. http://youtu.be/PbRhUg13x84 madisonstewart.com.au

©Ernst Stewart

50 // UNDERWATER WALKERS

UNDERWATER WALKERS WORDS and IMAGES LIA BARRETT

UNDERWATER WALKERS // 51

Leftover from a nostalgia for a childhood fantasy where dreams seemed relentlessly possible, and the idea of utopia wasn’t farfetched, I think this project was, and is, many years in the making.

I

felt the wall of perplexed cave divers in training hovering behind me, eyes piercing the back of my head, thoughts wandering who knows where. In my mind, they wore the look of suspicious watch dogs, like the scuba divers who watch you photograph something small, almost on patrol, making sure you’re not harassing an animal or kicking a coral. This type of patrolling, self-righteous diver who will yank the fins of newbies treading too close to sea fans, or profusely scold the chap with the camera “blinding” the seahorse is a character not unfamiliar to photographers. But today isn’t about wildlife. There aren’t any critters to blind or corals to smash. No, today we are in a freshwater cenote in Mexico, part of a vast underwater system that runs under the porous landscape of the Yucatán peninsula, and we are tying

my woodland animal silhouettes most gingerly onto the branches of underwater trees.

The looks of curiosity from onlookers are warranted, yet nevertheless, distracting. So what the heck is up with the woodland animals? The only explanation I can muster for justifying spending hours with a blister-inducing razor blade, crouched on the floor, hoping I wouldn’t slip and cut off something important, is that I was tugging at an almost cumbersome idea lodged within my subconscious. Leftover from a nostalgia for a childhood fantasy where dreams seemed relentlessly possible, and the idea of utopia wasn’t farfetched, I think this project was, and is, many years in the making.

The literal inspiration that I draw from is the lush and saturated imagery from fairytales - the enchanted forest, the sunny glen, and the ominous mist that seems to foreshadow something menacing.

Using the properties of water, a human can take on seemingly supernatural feats: a lady sleeping effortlessly on a tree branch, another hovering or flying, and one perhaps stuck in the middle of a lake. And with the underwater landscapes I have found throughout my career, it seemed only fitting that the playgrounds of my adulthood, which have often seemed more surreal than those of

52 // UNDERWATER WALKERS

UNDERWATER WALKERS // 53

my childhood imagination, be the backdrop of portraying a lifetime filled with dreams.

Working with freedivers, a superhuman class of individuals who are more in tune with their bodies than any other set of people I know, has really opened the scope of where my creative process can go underwater. Having access to watermen and waterwomen who are capable of holding their breath for several minutes on end, at depth, and without panic, is truly an underwater photographer’s dream.

And so, with a suitcase of animal cutouts, a wardrobe from my own ocean-inspired clothing line, Prawno Apparel, and a team of safety divers to ensure all went smoothly, I overtook a freshwater sinkhole as bemused onlookers studied our movements. I placed owls, squirrels, and crows in the tree branches. I studied the light, the colour casts in the water, and the silhouettes of the underwater forests. Crestfallen and almost plastered in a state of purgatory, these tree branches seemed kept alive as if they were an uprooted flower in a vase. Out of their element, and yet out of reach of the agents of decay, they layed still in a world where they seemingly don’t belong, a metaphorical parallel to my plastic bunny and my air dependent freediver.

Each cenote evokes a different mood. It is “autumn” in the ponds, so where there are usually beds bursting with brightly coloured water lilies, there are simply the withering remnants of a season in passing. One cenote that is literally a vertical cylindric enclave that extends about 200 feet downwards, has a false bottom (occurs when hydrogen sulfate and seawater mix), which literally looks like an underwater river, an illusion that plays havoc on your senses.

Sticking out from the deceptive plume of mist are more of those purgatorial trees, making the mood even more creepy.

54 // UNDERWATER WALKERS

The freediver followed cautionary protocol of freediving, which involves “breathing up” in between dives to restore oxygen, and listening to her body when she felt she had reached a build up of carbon dioxide that was telling her she needed to get fresh air in order to recover.

Without a mask or fins, she blindly felt her way through the water, transforming into a different persona once she reached her marked destination. Her hair flowed streamlining with her movements, and she was truly a site of beauty to behold.

But the series extends beyond the freshwater wonderlands of Mexico’s Yucatán. In Roatán, Honduras, a place very near and dear to my heart, I both began and continue the Underwater Walkers series.

Having lived there, I was able to scrounge, pillage, okay “borrow,” props and find willing people to pose, assist, and help out on inspiration binges. On one particularly ambitious shoot at the Waihuka Shark Dive, I had procured a set of deck furniture, very heavy deck furniture might I add, a lamp, two coffee cups, and two freedivers.

A ripping, raging current, two spare tanks of air, and a couple dozen plump Caribbean reef sharks pacing around us presented a stack of challenges. Luckily, all went according to plan, and it was that set of shots that actually launched the project into motion.

If you’re used to being around sharks, if you’re a frequent diver, an underwater photographer, or a freediver, sharks are an exhilarating encounter, yet not unheard of. What I realized by exhibiting humans with sharks in such a relatable, recognizable situation, is that it feeds on an innate human instinct, one that is plausibly suppressed by those who have become accustomed to their presence. And despite the tiresome, yet sometimes flattering cries of “Photoshopped,” I felt that more than anything, if I can contribute to conversations about coexistence with apex predators, well then, why wouldn’t I?

UNDERWATER WALKERS // 55

ABOUT LIA BARRETT // Born in Korea, and adopted to the States, Lia Barrett is an underwater, travel, and fine art photographer.

Her work and interests have taken her around the world from the far corners of West Papua New Guinea to the deep darkness of the Cayman Trench. Lia’s imagery ranges from coral reefs and macro critters to open oceans and pelagic wanderers.

Over the last year, she has focused much of her time on individuals and their relationship with water and nature, particularly freedivers. Her love of the ocean and appreciation for life has led her to bring conversations about conservation and individual impact into her work, and as a result, in 2013, she was honored to be selected as a member of the Ocean Artist Society. Inspired by life underwater, Lia is the creative mind behind the clothing line Prawno Apparel, a brand geared towards ocean lovers with an emphasis on conservation. Lia is also the Photo Editor of Dive Photo Guide. www.liabarrettphotography.com

56 // SILENT WRECK PHOTOGRAPHY

SILENT WRECK PHOTOGRAPHY // 57

SILENT WRECK PHOTOGRAPHY WORDS and IMAGES NICK TERRY

With my rebreather, the sense of urgency now disappears. I can take my time and set the camera up for the shot I am looking for.

I

have many tools in my underwater arsenal.

These range from the open circuit single cylinder basic setup to the more advanced twinset and the inevitable deco cylinders. However, my most prized possession is my rebreather. I have used a vast array of rebreathers during my time diving, from manual to fully electronic systems.

This can also be said of my underwater photography equipment. I have many housings of forgotten cameras all decorating my Man Cave at home.

Now, whatever the dive site, whatever the goal of the dive, be it checking out a new wreck never dived before, exploring a coral reef, or taking photographs, in my case the rebreather always wins over open circuit. Why is this? Well, the duration of the dive is no longer limited to the autonomy of the cylinder, but the size of my camera’s memory card. Dive time is thus lengthened considerably so that you can finally take time to wait for that image you are looking for. The photographer on land has to be patient and watch and wait for that shot they are after. Underwater, the constraints of the dive time make this a challenge. As soon as we submerge

under the waves, the clock starts and the pressure is on!

With my rebreather, the sense of urgency now disappears. I can take my time and set the camera up for the shot I am looking for.

No longer do I need to keep checking the pressure gauge to see how long I have left. One major advantage of the closed circuit rebreather is that it maintains a constant partial pressure of oxygen throughout a dive. This means that instead of planning an EAN mix for a given depth, the rebreather constantly changes the mix to suit the depth you are at. This way the system is continually changing the oxygen content to maximize oxygen levels, and therefore minimize nitrogen levels. By doing this closed circuit, rebreathers can increase your dive time over conventional open circuit. By always ensuring that the gas mix you are breathing is ideal for the depth you are at, decompression times are reduced. But for an underwater photographer it offers so much more.

With open circuit, the bubbles make a lot of noise. As divers we all know that. What we don’t know is that for some creatures we are trying to photograph, our bubbles may be a sign of aggression, or they may see us as a predator. So is it any wonder that when we try for that once in a lifetime photograph of an animal it simply turns and swims away? So why not dive silent?

For me, my rebreather has allowed longer dive times and has

58 // SILENT WRECK PHOTOGRAPHY

SILENT WRECK PHOTOGRAPHY // 59

the perfect mix for any depth, resulting in less decompression or greater no-decompression time. It results in a much more peaceful dive allowing me, as a photographer, to interact with the underwater world. I am able to approach shy marine life in a way I was not able to using open circuit.

As an underwater photographer, I really like to explore areas that others might not see. This sometimes takes me to depth. This makes it even more challenging, with gear set-up, check and recheck, gas mixes and sometimes surface support.

While I find anything to do with underwater photography fascinating, I have a certain obsession for wreck photography. The history of the vessel and those who sailed on her, the tragic stories of human loss and survival … exhilarating!

It’s essential to consider the depth at which some of these wrecks now rest. Some are quite shallow and allow ample light penetration, while others lie silent in deeper water. Some of the wrecks

are of considerable size and may need to be dived more than a handful of times. A problem experienced photographing in and around wrecks is that the diver must be able to operate all of his wreck diving equipment and camera gear while not kicking up any sediment. He also has to contend with the darkness inside a wreck.

Wrecks offer the underwater photographer an endless amount of photo opportunities. Whether you’re photographing a porthole, fish, lobster or any of the other majestic photo opportunities shipwrecks offer, divers will almost certainly never run out of things to photograph. Apart from the wrecks themselves, they also offer shelter to a multitude of marine life, so I use wide-angle photography as well as macro. I don’t want to miss the small things!

I have recently explored the wrecks of Truk Lagoon in Micronesia.

Having visited the area before on open circuit, I wanted to return with my closed circuit rebreather so that I could explore more. I

60 // SILENT WRECK PHOTOGRAPHY

SILENT WRECK PHOTOGRAPHY // 61

wanted to return to the deeper wrecks, which are located on the outer reef system, to take my time and document with photographs.

Truk Lagoon is a popular spot for Australian divers and also divers worldwide. With my closed circuit rebreather strapped to my back, I was able to explore a wider area of the wreck and it allowed me to concentrate on the images I was after by giving me more time.

Swimming over, around and through the wrecks, I was able to come across some stunning sights. Some of the best sights are the abundance of fish life and soft corals covering these wrecks. I was able to emerge out from many holes into shoaling fish and not disturb the activity. On one occasion, I managed to squeeze out from a small space right into the path of a large turtle, who did not seem to be fussed at the strange object looking straight at him!

As a keen land photographer who loves to dive, it seemed like a natural progression to take my camera underwater. I have always felt at peace under the waves watching my bubbles rise to the surface and thinking there goes the stress of the day. When I started diving the rebreather, I was amazed at how much more peaceful and quiet my diving became. It felt like I was no longer an invader to the underwater realm, but part of it!

ABOUT NICK TERRY // Drawn to diving and the sea from an early age. Nick Terry can still remember watching TV episodes of Jacques Cousteau, sat next to his father. He was spell bound and knew that one day he’ll do that!

It was not until later in life Nick found my passion again for the underwater world. Following an Open Water course, Nick progressed through the PADI ranks and filed up to Instructor. It was here that he then became interested in Deep Technical diving. Nick now holds instructor qualifications in Trimix and Rebreather training.

A keen terrestrial photographer, Nick Terry can now show others his underwater experiences as well. flickr.com/photos/16692936@N07/

70 // EXPERIENCE WITH HEART

I wanted to find the beauty in life, the possibility of the undiscovered, and the meaning that lay between the lines versed by some reporter on TV, and that’s what now drew me to the pacific.

EXPERIENCE WITH HEART // 71

EXPERIENCE WITH HEART WORDS LUCAS HEADLEY IMAGES JULIA WHEELER

T

hirteen, pause, beat, beat … fourteen, longer pause, beat, beat, fifteen, longer still; there is calculation in relaxation, methodical, purposeful and rhythmic calculation. It’s the anticipation of excitement really, I’m trying to suppress, and counting in my mind relaxes me, regulates me: prepares me.

My heart rate slows to the tempo of my counting, and while my eyes are shut this experience is entirely internal. A familiar squeeze develops in my chest. The wavering line of exhilaration and caution synchronises with accelerating freefall; intoxicating.

Cool water rushes over my cheeks. I release a little air through my nose to equalise my mask and soon it hits me. The Thermocline.

This is the boundary zone of water bodies; currents that run in different directions or layering, created by the heat from the sun.

It is along this blurry and dynamic transition, that large predators wait to hunt. It is the reason I am here.

The temperature drops a few degrees and this sudden sensory assault cues the explosion of outward experience. I adjust my fins and curl, open my eyes, scan the surroundings and latch onto the nearest precipice. My watch beeped at 35m so I know I’m just a little deeper than that, and with the wall at my back, massive gor-

gonians concealing my touchdown, the locals of this drop-off come circling in to check out the alien landing.

With the wealth of information and normalisation of armchair exploration in today’s entertainment age, one can be forgiven for succumbing to the practicality of this experience. You can travel anywhere on earth, visit a myriad of cultures; see the heights of every mountain and the depth of every ocean. Entire conversations can revolve around the beauty, harshness or intricacy of places we’ve tele- or www-experienced but have never really been to.

Our judgements while informed, are essentially through the eyes of another, a lens and a myriad of people who decide what is important, what is interesting and what is not.

This, to me has an emptiness, a shell with no life inside. Where are the memories, or friendships; connections with people and places that supersede simply knowing about them? Where is the grit and the grime? It was chasing experiences like these that first led me to pack my haversack; swag and dive gear and solo explore the island communities of the world. I wanted to dive the edges of the earth, pin back the age of exploration, and travel to unchartered and unfamiliar places. I wanted to face danger, adversity, meet strange and wonderful people in obscure and intriguing places. I wanted to find the beauty in life, the possibility of the undiscovered, and the meaning that lay between the lines versed by some reporter on TV, and that’s what now drew me to the pacific.

72 // EXPERIENCE WITH HEART

So I sat for 14 hours, packed among bags of rice, dried fruit and cardboard boxes with unrecognisable names, parcels of woven leaves full of fish, chickens and plastic bags; on the aft-deck of the Fair Glory. After a night in Honiara, which can only be compared to the opening scene of “The Beach” where a possibly insane passer-by delivered information about a place that sounds like James Cameron’s Avatar. I was sure my Solomon Islands expedition was going to be a dangerously exciting adventure. As the only white person on the ship, I was very much the centre of attention, and the locals, characteristically friendly, accommodating and eager to trade stories jumped at the opportunity to say hello. I was apparently heading to the Amazon of the pacific, where gold runs rich in the hills, UFOs are hidden in underwater caves, and mystery and old magic surrounds the cultural history of every island. It was the experience, the stories behind both the smiles and tears that were important here, just as much as the wild ecology I had come to see.

My newly acquired friends all have family in the islands, and while we or rather I, baked in the equatorial sun, connections were being made and plans to visit different villages were being arranged. At 1am the Fair Glory slowed and from the darkness, small fishing boats emerged, dim head-torches lighting their way. Cargo was loaded, including myself, precariously from the side of the ship into waiting arms, all at sea. Everybody helped. Human conveyor-belts quickly assembled, moving parcels, bags and babies from around the ship into the tiny vessels. I was called to from the deck above and as I hung over the side of the ship, suspended above a pitch black ocean, a wriggling 3-4 month old baby came towards me, legs first. Like ants with a common goal, it was amazing to watch the community, working selflessly to look after the people around them and get things done.

The small boat floated across a glass-like sea, and as the Fair

Glory faded from view, the night sky melted into the horizon with whimsical indifference. The air was warm and thick, phosphorescence lit an ethereal vapour trail behind our boat, and the sounds of the jungle embraced a dark coral encrusted lagoon. Kavo Lavata, the village I had a contact in, and my immediate destination had half a dozen small lanterns showing as we beached. I was invited to stay with the friend I had met on the ferry, so I unrolled my swag and tucked myself in. Meeting my other friends could wait till the morning.

I had visited this place before, a while ago, but in a far different way. I had guided freediving trips to a nearby lodge, arrived by plane and had only a small amount of contact with the locals; an entirely different experience. Regardless of the time, or quality of contact in my eyes, the children of the village immediately recognised me, and seeing as it was during the holiday season, and the sun was up, it was time for chuv’e (swimming), and climbing on the white man. I had barely walked into the village when I was greeted by the smiles, shrieks and whistles. They remembered me by name, and as I was dragged down to the water for a swim, most of them completely nude, my friends emerged, laughed and exclaimed, “welcome home.”

It can be a strange thing to challenge the customs, values and rules from what you grow up with. Without the confrontation of difference, it is easy to continue in life assuming that the way things are, should be the way things are, simply because we have no viable need to, or want to challenge them. But when you immerse yourself in another culture, particularly one as community orientated as this, it can become apparent that some of the systematic or underlying social ideals of our own culture could do with a re-vamp, if not a dose of communal introspection.

A lady walked past, whom I did not recognise. “ I heard you were coming,” she said, offering me some bananas. The coconut wire-

EXPERIENCE WITH HEART // 73

less, or inter village whispers has better coverage here than most mobile carriers back home. I thanked her for the fruit, dried off and took my things up to Stu’s place. Here, freediving is very much a way of life, where the skills of a good hunter return to the village the sustenance that it needs. Just like the lady who had grown and then offered me fruit, the skills I had to catch fish would benefit the whole community. I wasn’t here to pay for an experience; I was here to be a part of it, and to contribute.

Raka la top’e, karaka bul’e via pa nina pia. I say to one of the boys. Which means something close to, or at least I hope it does, “I’m going spearfishing, the ocean looks fine today.” Dula, Stu’s younger brother nods, and raises his eyebrows in agreement, then helps me load the canoe. We paddle about a kilometre to a small island, where the current pushes up against an unfathomably deep wall. The people of Kavo Lavata rely on their environment for food. Their relationship is intimate and extensive. It’s impressive to watch Stu walk through the bush, and point out the different vines and leaves used as traditional medicines, or what fruits and nuts are good to eat and when. Right now it was the calm season, where the ocean was good for diving, and the moon meant that the large pelagics would be coming up shallower. The particular arcs that the baitfish made in the depths transferred information about what predators were around and what techniques would be needed to make a capture. In a world that is not buffered by currency and trade, a sustainable life is a necessity. Conserving for tomorrow is as important as catching food for today; we can’t simply import food from somewhere else when our larders run dry.

One of the advantages I have is the knowledge of how to freedive – I’ve trained hard for it. Having good equipment lets me do it safely and efficiently. Many people die every year because of a lack of understanding, training, or not following basic safety precautions. Although they are very experienced, the depth of

74 // EXPERIENCE WITH HEART

freediving is a relatively new domain. So part of my time in the Solomons is preoccupied with education and basic safety. Dula has anchored off the canoe on the shallow reef and is watching intently as I prepare for my dive. His job now is as important as mine. Watching my movements, counting out my bottom time and being ready to assist me if needed.

So here I am again, clinging on to the wall, amongst the gorgonians. The training I put myself through in the pool is paying off, and I’m feeling relaxed. Purple Anthias school along the walls; down in the depths I can see aggregations of Midnight Seaperch. A Harlequin Sweetlip sits under a small ledge and a couple of small vermiculated trout emerge from the rocky matrix to enquire about my visit. Then there are the sharks.

Sharks are a part of life in most pacific islands I’ve visited. The Solomon Islands are no different. Their belief systems, while differing from island to island, have been described to me in similar ways. One such belief is that sharks are vessels, capable of being inhabited by either good or evil spirits, and it is the actions of the people that keep the evil spirits out, and the good spirits in. Other beliefs have suggested that the sharks are inhabited by the spirits of their ancestors, and lead them to safety and good fortune the same way some western stories tell of dolphins. Regardless of the particulars of belief a common thread of respect flows steadily through every conversation, and there is a cautious, wary and competitive respect in me while I’m sitting here looking at them.

After all, we are all here for the same reason… something to eat.

They are quite used to what we do now so from the moment I enter the water I begin collecting an entourage. Grey reef sharks have sleek, muscular bodies and respond to vibration above anything else, they know that I provide a good opportunity to snatch some food so keep a very tight distance to what ever I am doing.

Any rapid kicking, the vibrations of an injured fish, the clicking I make with my hands, or the crack of my speargun, bring them in with up-tempo enthusiasm.

I’m out numbered, physically outmatched and physiologically stretching my limit. I need Dula in order to compete. A nice sized Spanish mackerel would be good, a dogtooth tuna, or even a pagu

(the local name for a type of surgeon fish). The commotion of my landing and the curious local reef fish has drawn the attention of a rusty jobfish. Still concealed by the gorgonians, it draws closer and I squeeze the trigger. These deep water species are usually fished for by line at depths up to 200m and are a favourite in the village.

The sharks come rushing in, and I focus my attention at keeping them at bay. Dula works the rope from the surface pulling the fish out of the fray. We make it back to the canoe, load our fish and move a little further along the reef, the shopping is in the trolley.

I love diving with sharks, and even though I’ve had some incredibly close calls, being rammed and bumped many times, I appreciate having them in the ocean. They are beautiful creatures, and they keep the ocean in which we live healthy enough for us to live from.

Happy with our catch, Dula and I return to the village and Hilda, our village mum, divides the fish up among the families. Everyone gets a share.

After a few weeks, it’s time to keep exploring. So I pack my haversack and diving gear and prepare to journey on. I’ll be back soon, I’m sure of that, but for now, there is the rest of the world to visit.

EXPERIENCE WITH HEART // 75

ABOUT LUCAS HEADLEY and JULIA WHEELER // Lucas is a passionate film maker and tv presenter, with a background in both law and marine biology. As a trained and practiced freediver, he has traveled the world, living and diving with many of the world’s ocean people.

Lucas is also the underwater ambassador for Scuba for Change.

For more information on his film projects, or to join him on one of his trips, go to www.lucashandley.com or follow him on facebook.

Julia is a professional lifestyle photographer, driven by meeting amazing people of all spectrums of every day life and documenting their world through her lens.

Whether it be in the depths of the Amazon Jungle, cliff-side in the Himalayas, family photography on Bondi Beach or free diving the world’s oceans, Julia gets as much joy photographing nature and people above and below the water. To see more of Julia’s work, visit www.juliawheelerphotography.com

82 // THE BIG BLUE

THE BIG BLUE WORDS and IMAGES CHRISTINA and EUSEBIO SAENZ de SANTAMARIA

T

he dramatic landscape was silent. The sweeping bay slept calmly under the golden morning light, the mirrored waters in contrast to the sheer towering cliffs, behind which rose the largest volcano on earth, Mauna Loa. Silence … until our burly captain-friend thundered towards the galley of the sailboat shouting ‘dolphins!’ I popped my head out of the deck hatch and sure enough inside the arc of the bay there was movement and energetic splashing. Without word we hurried to slide on our freediving wetsuits and long bi-fins, grab our camera and slide into the warm Pacific waters to experience the magical blue world that lay beneath the Hawaiian island.

We were on a sailing trip with friends along the beautiful Kona coastline of the Big Island and had decided to drop anchor for two nights inside a large half-moon bay that was often home to a pod of resident Hawaiian spinner dolphins during the day, particularly the early morning. After a night of deep-sea hunting for fish, shrimp and squid, pods of spinner dolphins would make their way to the protection of shallow bays to rest, play, mate and on this special occasion to freedive with us.

THE BIG BLUE // 83

What many people don’t realise is that everyone can freedive.

84 // THE BIG BLUE

Swimming slowly on the water’s surface, we approached the pod with care and once nearby we began to breathe rhythmically and calmly through our snorkels before taking a final breath to slip silently toward the sandy seascape below. At 10 metres depth, the bay was very shallow which allowed us to rest, relax and wait for the dolphins to come to us if they should choose. We always allow marine life to approach us, and, as freedivers, we are often the subject of great curiosity, however ultimately an animal will choose to interact or not, and this is definitely the case when freediving with dolphins who can disappear in a swift flick of a tail if they wish. Luckily for us, the dolphins were game!

In the distant blue came the undulating greys of snouts, fins and tails and in no time we were surrounded by a pod of over 60 Hawaiian spinner dolphins. Some swam serenely beside us while others were instantly more curious and approached us eye to eye.

As we began to fin smoothly beside them, the dolphins remained by our side. A few would follow us to the surface to take their breath as we would also need to take ours. They would slow down for us and began to play, twirling around our bodies and picking up the pace until we were dancing underwater with an army of angels.

There were dolphins with small calves and others who put on an aerobatic display by spinning in the air and splashing back down beneath the surface to chase tail or play tag by passing a leaf from snout to fin. They were spinning around us, peering deep into our eyes with wonder and intelligence while we listened to their beautiful underwater soundtrack of clicks and whistles.

Over the course of the morning we witnessed the dolphins playing, resting and even mating as they are highly promiscuous. Most memorable was a tiny calf no more than 1-metre in length trying to practise the trademark aerial spin. Being highly social, the spinners were often affectionate and would rub fins and bodies together and almost brush by our own bodies as the morning play continued.

The spinners had chosen this shallow sandy bay for protection from predators, such as different species of large sharks, and as mid-morning approached, the dolphins slowed their play and entered a period of rest or unihemispheric sleep, whereby they keep one eye open and rest half of their brain at a time. Finally, the dolphin pod tightened together and drifted off into the arc of the bay.

An incredible and exhausting experience which we were fortunate enough to encounter two days in a row before setting sail back to port on a high and with a hard drive full of images and film.

Freediving is our way of life and when not coaching on our island home of Koh Tao in Thailand, we journey around the world seeking out depth and interaction with marine life such as dolphins and sharks. While we both have experience in scuba diving and we acknowledge the many advantages, freediving is our passion and it is how we choose to experience the ocean and interact with marine life. We find that without the cumbersome equipment and noisy bubbles of scuba, marine life will approach you with more curiosity, as if you were another fish under the sea and you are more free to move around fluidly which was definitely necessary when freediving with the dolphins of Hawaii.

THE BIG BLUE // 85

86 // THE BIG BLUE

THE BIG BLUE // 87

What many people don’t realise is that everyone can freedive. We all have the ability locked within us and under the correct tuition we can all discover the power to hold our breath and dive deep beneath the ocean’s surface. Freediving is as much mental as it is physical, deep beneath the ocean is where you discover yourself and your mind, which is what empowers you to push boundaries beyond what you previously thought impossible. It also enables you to experience the ocean and marine life in a completely unique way.

Leaving the Kona coast and the bay of sleeping dolphins behind us, we encountered a rare school of hammerhead sharks slicing through the ocean’s surface, reminding us of the rich marine diversity of the Pacific Ocean. Always ready for an oceanic opportunity, we slid quietly into the water next to them, however the hammerheads were shy and smoothly glided off, taking with them some of our mercurial dreams and magical encounters of freediving in the big blue.

ABOUT ONE OCEAN ONE BREATH // One ocean One breath are the projects of Eusebio and Christina Saenz de Santamaria; husband and wife, professional freedivers and record-holders, adventure freediving photographers and filmmakers. They are based on the small tropical island of Koh Tao in Thailand where they train and coach, however they spend many months of the year travelling, shooting and filming as well as aiming for new depths and records in the sport of freediving.

Christina, originally from Sydney, Australia, discovered the sport of freediving in 2005 after completing her first freediving courses at Apnea Total. Since then, Christina has broken and established new freediving records around the world and now coaches at Apnea Total. She is an 8-time National Record Holder and currently holds the Australian National Records in two depth disciplines of Constant Weight and Free Immersion to 80 metres, making her the deepest Australian female freediver in history and ranking her among the top 5 deepest women in the world for Free Immersion.

Eusebio, originally from Bilbao in northern Spain, has been involved in freediving for over a decade and is a leader in freediving education worldwide. In 2004, Eusebio co-founded Apnea Total, one of the world’s largest freediving education systems. Since this time, Eusebio has educated and trained thousands of freedivers from beginner level through to the professional as well as world champion spearfishermen. Eusebio’s personal performances include being a former National Record holder for Spain in the three depth categories. He currently freedives to 100 metres in depth in the self-powered disciplines, a triple-figure barrier that very few men in the world have surpassed. www.oneoceanonebreath.com

90 // BEHIND HOLLIS

BEHIND HOLLIS A conversation with Nick Hollis WORDS and INTERVIEW CANDY ROBERTSON IMAGES HOLLIS INTERNATIONAL

H

ollis has come a long way since its first launch of ATS, a back inflate single tank BCD, in 2007. With a worldwide cult following, Hollis has become the Harley Davidson of the dive community. It’s easy to spot a group of Hollis fanatics gathered along the coast or in a cave entrance – the black and red trim is worn proudly like a badge of honour, rebreather casings offering acknowledging nods to Darth Vader and Iron Man.

Forever striving to push the limits and lead by example, Hollis values customer feedback as its driving force of innovation. From being the first manufacturer to embrace sidemount for open water diving, to the release of Explorer Rebreather for the recreational market last year, Hollis is not content just following the market.

Nick Hollis is the driving force behind Hollis International. He has

been involved in many aspects of the development of Hollis, from production, product testing to answering facebook messages. I was able to squeeze into Nick’s busy schedule and learn more about the story behind Hollis.

Nick, can you share a little background with us? Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in the Bay Area, California, in the small town of Castro Valley. I grew up in a diving family, traveling and enjoying the outdoors and the water. By the age of 8, my twin brother Zach and I were introduced to the ocean at a local dive site, called Breakwater in Monterey. Over the next several years we joined our father on trips to Grand Cayman, Mexico, Australia, PNG and others. Growing up I spent summer breaks at Oceanic, working in various departments from customer service to shipping and production and learning how the business operated. I attended college in Chico, CA, and returned home to work full time in 2006.

We started Hollis in 2007.

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Gear development is the most rewarding part of being in manufacturing and one I take an active role in every day. Excitement for improving “the dive� fuels our creative passion...

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Being the president of Hollis must come with a lot of pressure. What do you do to relax?

I spend my free time on the boat, diving and wake surfing, or riding motorcycles. I am also a gun collector and enjoy target shooting.

What makes Hollis different from other tech brands out there?

Before starting the Hollis brand, my experience in “technical diving” was limited. I had been diving recreationally for 15 years but hadn’t developed as a technical diver. 7 years later I have extensive OC and CCR training and teach in my spare time. I believe this is the biggest difference between Hollis and other dive manufacturers. We are a family-owned manufacturer, and from birth, we have also been divers. This background has allowed us to understand our customer’s needs and build some great products that we ourselves use.

You must have so many projects going on at the same time. What are you currently working on? Can you reveal?

Most of today’s equipment is an improvement on something that came before it. Whether it is a specific product or just market direction, customer feedback helps drive this. Gear development is the most rewarding part of being in manufacturing and one I take an active role in every day. Excitement for improving “the dive” fuels our creative passion, and the next one is no different.

Although I can’t reveal it yet, I can say we are continuing to change the sport.

Your father, Bob Hollis, is one of the legends of the sports. It seems that you were destined for the scuba diving industry. Is there anything else that you wanted to do other than scuba?

My father has always been a role model and the driving force behind American Underwater Products, our family of companies which started 40+ years ago with Oceanic. He has a rich history in

technical and saturation diving and has shared it with my brothers and I. At an early age, I always knew I wanted to be a diver like him. After leaving school, working for the family business was a natural fit.

Most of your family work in the scuba diving industry under the umbrella of American Underwater Products. What is the dynamics between you all? Do you work well together? Does it get very competitive?

Yes! The umbrella of AUP includes sister companies which are managed by other family members including my twin brother Zach and older brother Mike. This creates an interesting dynamic. While it gets competitive having 3 brothers and dad in the same building, I think it’s very normal. We all share common goals and work side by side.

What is the most challenging situation that you have faced so far?

Managing a global dive brand has been more than expected, but also more rewarding than imagined. The most challenging situation has been the launch of our rebreather line. As a company we have experience in life support products from dive instrumentation to buoyancy devices and breathing apparatus including mixed gas rebreathers for the military, but have never produced a commercially available rebreather until 2010. Four years later, we manufacture two units at opposite ends of the market; recreational and technical. We have established international rebreather facilities with instructors, technicians and parts on staff at each location.

This includes a training division lead by the best educators in the industry. It has been our biggest project to date and is still growing.

94 // BEHIND HOLLIS

BEHIND HOLLIS // 95

Do you get time to watch TV or movies? What is your favourite show?

I don’t get to watch much television but lately I’ve been catching up on “Breaking Bad,” great show. Favourite movie is “Point Break,” about a gang of bank robbing surfers. Favourite diving movie of course is “The Abyss”.

What is your favourite local dive site? What’s the marine life like there?

My favourite local dive site is called Point Lobos, here in Monterey, California. Point Lobos is part of a protected marine sanctuary and includes a variety of undisturbed marine life. We have migrating gray whales, sea Lions, octopus, nudibranchs, giant crabs, sea stars and amazing kelp forests. The water is cold, so bring your drysuit but get ready for a new world of critters.

With the recent release of the Hollis Explorer, how do you see the global uptake of the rebreathers in the recreational diving?

The Explorer is the cutting edge of rebreather design and specifically for recreational divers in mind, a first for any major dive manufacturer. Ultimately it’s the customer’s acceptance that will prove our success. The overall market is still learning the advantages of Rebreather diving and how revolutionary the Explorer is compared to others out there. For those who understand the benefits for the average diver, we are seeing a radical shift.

What is something people don’t know about you?

I turned 30 years old this last June and have an amazing 8 years old son named Seth. He is the next generation and quickly getting excited about diving.

Where do you see the future of Tech Diving?

I believe that technical diving is slowly becoming the new recreational. Equipment is getting easier to use, simplified, and there is more dive training available today than ever before. This is allowing longer, safer dives and more interaction with marine life. But to benefit from this, I see a desperate need to maintain our oceans, to encourage younger generations to dive and to teach about conservation. This will help ensure that what we see today is still there tomorrow and will allow a solid future for the sport.

ABOUT HOLLIS // Hollis manufactures dependable and innovative technical diving equipment for your personal exploration needs.

They bring engineering experience to the industry, designing the highest quality diving equipment available. Built to accommodate the beginning sport diver to the exploratory technical diver, using the most cutting edge materials and proven technologies for any condition.

Find out more about Hollis gear, visit www.hollis.com

SMS75 The SMS75 is an evolution from years of sidemount development, which started with the SMS100. A product that has been copied, modified and treated as a benchmark for technical sidemount for years. Even more popular has been the lightweight SMS50 line.

These two have taken sidemount mainstream and formed the building blocks of the new SMS75 harness.

While it will cater more to hardcore cave divers, SMS75 was created to handle all environments. Proper trim is key and the wing is designed to promote horizontal diving with increased lift towards the hips where it’s needed most, and without modification. The SMS75 will also support rear mounted tanks and reversible inflator positions.

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114 // TRAVELLER MUST-HAVES

1

TRAVELLER MUST-HAVES WORDS DAN HART

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1 Jetpack BCD/Backpack “This is a great concept combining a backpack for all your gear as well as a buoyancy control device.

This means you can save space and weight when you travel. It is carry-on size and Aeris say you can easily fit everything you need for a three-day trip, but this depends how light you travel. The front part of the pack zips off so it can then be used as a day back for mask, fins, reg and other gear, while the back part converts easily into your BC.”

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2 Lavacore Long Sleeved Top “I use my Lavacore all the time, particularly when diving in winter or cooler climates. They are designed to keep your body warmth in and they fit well under your suit without making it feel tight or restrictive. Here on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the Lavacore gives you the extra warmth you need in winter, without the need to wear a second wetsuit and it is very comfortable.”

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3 Cyanea Mask “This mask offers an excellent field of vision because of its unique shape. I love the elastic strap, which is easy to adjust, secure and includes an integrated snorkel keeper. It also has comfortable silicone seals and is light-weight, which makes it perfect for travel.”

5 Oceanic Omega 3 Regulator

7 McNett Sea Gold

“This is a good light-weight first stage regulator valve. With its delivery of airflow that is proportional to your demand, it makes breathing easy, without any sudden rushes of air or fluttering. It is also a very sleek and cool looking piece of kit and the swivel joint makes it very comfortable.”

“This is a definite can’t do without product. It means you can just get on with enjoying your dive without the risk of your mask fogging up. It is easy to apply and you know that it’s safe to use on all types of glass and plastic lenses without risking damage to silicone or rubber housings.”

4 Accel Fin “These are good lightweight, compact open-heel fins for allaround use. They are shorter than most full-foot fins but effective with a slick design. I really like how the straps don’t have clips, which means a possible break point is eliminated. Because they are compact and comfortable, they are easy to walk up the boat in and their size makes them great for travel.”

6 Oceanic OCi Dive Computer “This is a great dive computer.

It’s comfortable to wear, easy to read and operate, and it has all the features you want. It can handle up to four gases, calculate nitrogen on a free dive from its new tech-free mode, and select between salt and fresh water.

It is also rated to a depth of 180 metres and has clear alarms which is a must.”

ABOUT DAN HART // Dan has decades of dive experience and has worked in some of Queensland’s most beautiful locations and with some incredible sea creatures including the Minke Whales off Port Douglas.

This is why Dan now loves to call Queensland’s Sunshine Coast home, where he can dive the ex HMAS Brisbane, Flinders Reef, Julian Rocks and the Mooloolaba reefs, not to mention lead people on the new Australian 1st Swim with the Humpback Whale encounters.

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