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NUPG August 2018 Monthly Meeting Report
Over 20 people turned up to this month’s meeting to listen to Sean Chinn presenting an informative and very entertaining talk entitled ‘Underwater Photography: My Journey’.
Before 2011 he had little knowledge of photography or diving. He began his underwater journey in 2011 in a chilly Stoney Cove and since then has improved his photographic and diving skills through a mixture of education, trial and errors. He explained that after returning from a dive trip in Bali in 2013 he had come back frustrated with his “blue” pictures and although the diving had given him the buzz he knew he wanted to do better.
A couple of lessons with Caroline and Nick Robertson-Brown of Frogfish Photography combined with the purchase of a strobe and video light for his Canon G1X led him to get much better pictures in November 2013 when he went diving in the Red Sea. There followed a trip to The Bahamas which re-enforced the belief he was shark mad and loved diving with these creatures. He also won his first ever competition with Scubashooters
The next couple of years saw him progress exponentially, he upgraded his photography equipment to with a mirrorless Olympus OMD-EM10 set-up and continued travelling the world revisiting the Red Sea, diving in The Maldives, Indonesia and The Philippines, Mexico and The Revillagigedo Islands as well as the UK. His tales of diving at night with sharks at Roco Partida brought gasps of astonishment! He survived to tell the tale and it is clear how he has progressed with his photos showing he has become proficient in both wide angle and macro photography and the post processing of images. He won a couple more competitions and he explained what happened when his “Tiger Shark at Tiger Beach” Competition Winning shot went viral as well as his experiences on his first official press trip to Aqaba in Jordon in 2017.
His talk had the audience laughing out loud on many occasions as he recalled many of the classic mistakes he made with regards cameras and how to use them as well as running before he could walk as he was learning to dive as well as learning to take photographs at the same time! He shared his frustrations on learning how to use new bits of equipment such as dioptres and snoots. Finally he reiterated what every underwater photographer and diver knows, you never ever stop learning, there is always something new out there.
If you want to find out more about Sean you can visit his website http://greatwhitesean.com/
A great inspiring talk that reminded us, as if we need to know how lucky we are to witness and be able to record the underwater world.
Despite the good turn-out for Sean’s excellent talk, entries were a bit light for our monthly image competition. Those present were mostly in favour of reverting to two images per entrant, so that’s how we’ll run it next month.
John Spencer took 1st place with a lovely reef shot whilst Yo-Han Cha and Paul Ansell were joint runners up with shots taken in Capernwray and The Cenotes in Mexico respectively. An honourable mention went to Maggie Russell with her shot of seaweed as hers was the only entry taken with a compact camera!
The meeting ended with congratulations once more being given to Yo-Han Cha and Glenn Philips for their winning entries in this year’s Annual Splash-In competition held on the 4th August.
For more information on the NUPG or you are interested in joining us then please feel free to come to one of our monthly meetings which are held on the 2nd Monday of each month please visit our website at www.nupg.org.uk
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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