Marine Life & Conservation
Aqua Lung names world-renowned Wildlife Photographer and Conservationist Paul Nicklen Global Ocean Ambassador
Aqua Lung, pioneer, designer, manufacturer and distributor of dive and watersports equipment for 75 years, has announced world-renowned wildlife photographer and conservationist Paul Nicklen is joining the brand as a global ocean ambassador. As part of the partnership, Nicklen will exclusively use Aqua Lung, Apeks, and O.ME.R. products during all dive expeditions.
Nicklen, best-known for his incomparable underwater photography and ocean conservation efforts, will utilize the full range of industry-leading Aqua Lung, Apeks and O.ME.R. products from wetsuits, masks and fins to technical gear and regulators. Helping to grow the brand globally, Nicklen joins an elite roster of ambassadors at Aqua Lung including, Philippe Cousteau Jr., Ashlan Gorse Cousteau, and Greg Lecoeur.
“From day one, the Aqua Lung family has been kind and unwavering in their support of our mission to build community and restore the health and abundance of our oceans,” said Nicklen. “Personally, I love the simplicity and quality of the Aqua Lung products and I’m grateful the entire SeaLegacy team gets to use them. Most importantly, the products are reliable and give me the ability to focus on filming and being a photographer and conservationist.”
Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer and marine biologist specializing in the polar regions and their wildlife. Nicklen has completed more than 20 assignments for National Geographic and in 2014, co-founded SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization that propelled ocean conservation onto the world stage through the power of visual storytelling, impact campaigns and the funding of sustainability projects. In 2019, Nicklen was inducted into the International Photography Hall of and in that same year, was appointed to the Order of Canada.
“We are thrilled to welcome Paul Nicklen to the Aqua Lung family,” said Laurent Boury, Senior Vice President of Brands for the Aqua Lung Group. “Paul is an incredibly talented photographer and an important voice in ocean conservation, and we are honored that he chooses to use Aqua Lung, Apeks, and O.ME.R. products to further his work.”
Nicklen and the crew from SeaLegacy are slated to spend the next six months in the Bahamas, focusing on the development of an immersive content series to inspire and galvanize a global audience, shedding light on critical threats, tipping points, and scalable solutions unique to the region. Against the backdrop of Hurricane Dorian’s still ongoing recovery efforts and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Nicklen and his team are documenting one of the most complex, yet promising, conservation stories as it unfolds. Using SeaLegacy’s storytelling expertise and Only One’s data-driven content delivery formula, this expedition will build a robust library of assets and supporting content that can be organized into actionable narratives and educational curriculum.
To learn more or to see Nicklen’s work, go to paulnicklen.com or follow him on Instagram. For more information about Aqua Lung products, visit AquaLung.com.
Source: www.divenewswire.com
Marine Life & Conservation
Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Marine Life & Conservation
Meet Steve Backshall in the Bite-Back Prize Draw
Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.
Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.
On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.
Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.
Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”
The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.
To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.
-
Blogs3 months ago
Gozo: An Underwater Treasure Trove in the Heart of the Mediterranean
-
News3 weeks ago
Iconic SS United States to become the World’s Largest Artificial Reef
-
Blogs2 months ago
NovoScuba’s Game-Changing Approach for Dive Store Owners: WE PAY YOU!
-
News1 month ago
Book Review – 52 Assignments: Underwater Photography
-
Marine Life & Conservation3 months ago
Book Review: Sharkpedia
-
Gear News1 month ago
DYNAMICNORD – New German diving brand enters the British market
-
News1 month ago
Exploring Cenote El Pit: A Diver’s Dream
-
Blogs3 months ago
Freediver Christian Redl Sets His 13th World Record at Lake Neufeld