News
Where’s Ellen? Part Two… (Watch Video)
Ellen Cuylaerts continues her travel adventures with a look back at ADEX in Singapore…
The only way forward for dive shows: Adex Singapore 25th anniversary, dedicated to a plastic free ocean!
ADEX 2019 is a wrap and took place April 11-14th in energetic Singapore. For 25 years the Asian Dive Expo has been a constant and the last 10 years with John Thet at the helm! John is the publisher of Underwater 360 with magazines ‘Asian Diver’, ‘Scuba Diver (Australasia + ocean planet)’ and many collector’s items! But John is so much more than a businessman, he has a true ocean heart, a vision and a strategy that is characterized by being genuine! ADEX is ‘so much more than a dive show’ – it’s a celebration of the oceans and a call to action.
This year’s theme dedication to a plastic free ocean was combined with the pledge for exhibitors, speakers and visitors to become an ocean citizen. The beauty of ADEX 2019 was that it was facilitated to say no to single use plastic: everywhere on the floor you could find water refilling stations that were actually art works provided by the Ayer Ayer Project. If you did not have a water container: no worries , you could rent a cup and even at the food station the drinks provided came in cans, bottles or beer from the tap in real glass pints!
And while I’ve seen efforts of manufacturers before in UK with Fourth Element leading by example and launching Mission 2020 last year to inspire the ban on plastic in packaging and logistics, I would love to see UK dive shows and DEMA in the USA banning the single use drink and coffee cups with plastic lids and the sale of plastic bottles on the floor. It’s an effort but we have to step away from the ‘throw away convenience’ and choose to avoid waste as much as we can. Will you take the pledge? And can we all ask the dive shows to do the same?
Apart from an excellent Tek Conference, many speakers and panels from photo/video, conservation, free diving and mermaiding circles, this ADEX stood out because we were all standing together to preserve our oceans, and to preserve life!
Here’s just a few highlights of the show:
Find out more about Ellen and her photographic adventures at www.ellencuylaerts.com.
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
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.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
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
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