News
Scubaverse UWP Winners Gallery: Charly Clerisse
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Each month we give the winner of the Scubaverse Underwater Photography competition the opportunity to show off a little more of their work in a gallery. The June winner was Charly Clerisse and you can see his winning image at the top of this page.
What do you love about diving & underwater photography?
Ever since I was a kid, I have always been passionate about the ocean and its inhabitants, but I didn’t try scuba diving until I was 22 while studying in Tenerife (Canary Islands) and instantly fell in love with it. About a year after I did my Divemaster course in Utila, Honduras, about a year after did my Instructor Course in Koh Tao, Thailand and I have been working in the diving industry since then, travelling and diving in many different places, meeting loads of people and being able to take pictures.
I started underwater photography almost at the same time as diving: I started with a little GoPro Hero, recording pictures and videos for my non-diving friends and relatives, to share the beauty of the underwater world for those who can not see it by themselves. Later on I upgraded for an Olympus Tg5 and moved to Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, and there I truly started to practise underwater photography, falling in love with all these crazy nudibranch you can find over there. After that, I started working in South Ari Atoll, Maldives where I used to take pictures of the Mantas passing in the area, collaborating with Manta Trust to record and identify the different individuals to study them. I love the underwater world, and by sharing my pictures I hope to create awareness about this beautiful yet fragile ecosystem.
What equipment do you use?
I use a Sony a6500 with a 16-50mm lens in a Fantasea a6500 housing. I use wet lenses: for the wide angle pictures, I use a Fantasea line UWL-400Q and for macro shots mainly the Fantasea UCL-06LF +12. As per strobes, I use a Sea&Sea YS-D2 and a Sea&Sea YS-03 Solis.
Where can our readers see more of your work?
My instagram account: https://www.
My website: charlyclerisse.com
To enter the latest Scubaverse Underwater Photography competition, with a chance to win some great prizes as well as have your own gallery published, head over to the competition page and upload up to 3 images.
News
Palau Packs Its Bags: The Pacific Island Paradise Heads to ITB Berlin
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Palau showcases its sustainability initiatives and unique culture at ITB Berlin 2025
Palau, a world-renowned destination for divers and nature lovers, is making its return to ITB Berlin after several years.
The world’s largest tourism trade show, taking place from March 4 to 6, 2025, provides the perfect platform for the island nation to highlight its unique attractions in culture, diving, snorkeling, and sustainable tourism.
Located in the western Pacific as part of the Caroline Islands in Micronesia, the Republic of Palau consists of over 340 picturesque islands. While it boasts limited landmass, it offers an abundance of natural wonders—both above and below the water’s surface.
Palau is recognized as a global leader in environmental conservation, having implemented forward-thinking measures to protect its natural resources. In 2009, Palau established the world’s first national shark sanctuary, banning commercial shark fishing. To further safeguard its marine biodiversity, Palau designated a 193,000-square-mile fully protected marine reserve in 2015, preserving habitats for over 1,500 fish species and approximately 700 types of coral.
Palau’s participation in ITB marks a significant moment for the island nation, celebrated for its crystal-clear waters, pristine coral reefs, and exceptional marine biodiversity. Visitors to Palau’s booth will discover what the future of sustainable tourism looks like, as environmental protection is deeply embedded in the DNA of its inhabitants. Additionally, Palau stands out as one of the few nations where women hold an officially recognized, central role in society.
“We are thrilled to return to Germany and share the beauty and diversity of Palau with the world,” said Leah Asanuma, Member of the Board, who will lead Palau’s delegation at the event. “ITB provides us with an outstanding platform to position Palau as a leading destination for sustainable tourism and one of the last true paradises for underwater adventures and nature enthusiasts.”
Amid growing global efforts to promote eco-friendly tourism, Palau continues to set the standard with initiatives such as the “Palau Pledge,” which visitors sign to commit to respecting and protecting the island nation’s environment during their stay. These and other groundbreaking measures will be highlighted at ITB to raise awareness about the preservation of marine ecosystems.
ITB offers visitors a unique opportunity to delve into Palau’s culture and natural beauty while planning unforgettable trips. The Palau Visitors Authority warmly invites everyone to explore their booth and be inspired by the pristine paradise that is Palau.
Find Palau’s representatives in Hall 4.1, Booth 218 where they will share everything there is to know about their extraordinary homeland.
For more information about Palau, please visit: www.pristineparadisepalau.com or follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/visitpalau/ or https://www.facebook.com/pristineparadisepalau/
Photo credit: © Palau Visitors Authority
News
Go Diving Show 2025 Inspiration Stage Speaker: James Neal
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Technical diver, instructor and underwater photographer James Neal will be giving a must-see presentation at the GO Diving Show in March on the Inspiration Stage, detailing – warts and all – his battle to get back to dive fitness after surviving a grade four bleed on the brain in the form of a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
An experienced recreational and technical diver and instructor, James is a brand ambassador for Atomic Aquatics, BARE, Hollis, Oceanic, Stahlsac and Zeagle, and an accomplished underwater photographer and feature writer, as well as being a passionate wreck and cave diver.
He is well known in the diving fraternity for having survived a serious subarachnoid haemorrhage, and for fighting his way back to dive fitness when many said he would never dive again. He has stood up against stigmatism, ignorance and discrimination in the dive industry against the disabled for over ten years and has now completed over 1,200 dives post-haemorrhage, some 1,650-plus in total to date (and counting), to depths in excess of 80m, and he enjoys travelling the globe in search of his next diving adventure.
His presentation will cover his entire journey, from his initial recovery, medical sign off, anxieties, challenges (physical and mental), stigmatism and discrimination, starting from recreational all the way through to technical and cave diving.
Go Diving Show 2025 takes place at the NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on the 1st -2nd March.
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