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This part-one of the SCUBA Show preview will take a look at the show’s continuous film festival, seminar program, and exhibitor presentations. Part two, to be published in the June issue, will preview exhibits (including information on the World’s Largest Traveling Aquarium at 8 feet high and 41 feet long), demo pool, special exhibits, Casino party and California Scuba Service Award.
Many parts of the show have been revamped and reformatted for a better show than ever! The exhibit hall has been reconfigured for better enjoyment by the show attendees.
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Underwater cameraman Marty Snyderman will give several seminars.
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A consummate pro, Jim Church has been teaching underwater photography for over three decades. Jim will again return to the SCUBA Show to share his secrets in underwater photography and video.
California Diving News publisher and editor Dale Sheckler will be giving two talks, one entitled Stupid Underwater Animal Tricks that is bound to hold some surprises.
Other subjects covered in depth in the seminar program include California diving (Northern, Monterey, Channel Islands, Wrecks, and more), How to Buy Dive Gear, travel tips, medical aspects, marine life, diving techniques, lobster diving and more. All of these seminars are given by top experts in their individual diving fields. Many are noted authors.
EXHIBITOR PRESENTATIONS
SCUBA Show exhibitor also sponsor a number of talks during the show. Most of these are detailed presentations on various travel destinations, including what you will see, what you can expect and packages and programs available. Other presentations include talks on dive gear.
CONTINUOUS U/W FILM FESTIVAL
A film festival featuring underwater video films from around the world will run continuously all day Saturday and Sunday. Many of this films are premiere videos, shown for the first time at SCUBA Show 2001. All the films will be shown two or more times each day but, with the exception of one very special film, a completely different set of films is shown each day. Included is spectacular footage of kelp forests, whale sharks, turtles, manatees, and huge manta rays. This year’s film festival seems to have a emphasis on diving in the Pacific Ocean, particularly California. It will be some of the best California underwater footage you have ever seen.
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Centerpiece for this year’s film festival is Visions at Land’s End by Erik Erikson. This is a premiere for the SCUBA Show and the only film to be shown both days. The film’s exceptional camera work take you on a spectacular tour through California kelp forests and encounters with sea lions, rays, sharks, squid, and jellies.
Other films to be screened at the SCUBA Show that focus on California diving include Beneath the Waves by Joe Pomento (another highly recommended film), Silent Encounters by Alan Studley with excellent harbor seal and up close sea otter (sleeping!) footage, New Year’s Squid 2001 by Mary Lynn Price, and Divers’ Log: Catalina by Kevin Dahlgren (Producer) and Ron Moore. This is a detailed look at some of Catalina Island’s best dive sites.
Tropical and semi-tropical Pacific waters are represented as well. Palau: Micronesia by Artie Williams III shows the underwater tropical paradise of this incredible coral atoll. Featured are colorful reefs, feeding sea turtles, sharks, cuttlefish and more. On the other side of the Pacific is remote Socorro Island, famous for huge manta ray encounters. Spectacular footage of just such encounters are included in the film Catching Rays: A Socorro Adventure by Joe Pomento. Another underwater film set in the Eastern Pacific is Isla De Cocos: The Real Treasure Below by Steve Douglas and Bob Gladden. This film’s most spectacular scene is the congregation of hundreds of marble rays. Also featured are morays, sharks, in-your-face turtles, whale sharks, and hammerheads.
Two films come to us from Hawaii this year. The first is Life’s a Beach: Then You Maui by Walter Marti with colorful reef fish, turtles, sharks, and night diving with gigantic manta rays. Hawaiian Adventures by Dot Norris has incredible footage eyeball to eyeball with a whale shark.
If you are into sea turtles you’ll enjoy the film Sipidan Island: Turtle Paradise by Michael Myers. Not only are encounters with sea turtles included, but you’ll swim with colorful reef fish among a dazzling coral reef in crystal clear waters.
Another of this year’s highly recommended films is Manatees: Our Vanishing Mermaids by Ray Ann McNeil Bradford. This delightful film is not only fun, showing us the odd animals of Florida’s springs and rivers, but informative as well, sharing important information on the manatees’ life cycle, habits, habitat, and what we can do to protect this endangered marine mammal.
Opposite of the warm-fuzzy manatee is the great white shark. The film Great White Sharks of Ganasabaai by Steve Douglas. This is South African great white shark diving at its best. Excellent slow motion and underwater footage punctuate this short film about the ocean’s greatest predator.
HOTEL
Seminars, exhibit hall, film festival — it’s difficult to take in the entire show in just one day. Why not make a weekend of it, or longer. Nearby is the Aquarium of the Pacific and dive charter boats. The SCUBA Show has arranged for a special low convention rate at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel within very easy walking distance of the convention center, Aquarium and Rainbow Harbor. The City of Long Beach also has a free shuttle. To take advantage of the low convention rate at this hotel call (800) 321-2211 and mention the Long Beach Courtyard and the SCUBA Show. Book early as space is limited.
Part II of this preview article will appear in the June issue of California Diving News and cover information on the Exhibit Hall, Special Exhibits, Door Prizes, Saturday Night Casino Party Benefit and the California Scuba Service Award. Full information, including advanced registration (recommended to save money and time) is available on the insert at the center of this issue or online at http://www.saintbrendan.com/attend01_info/info01.html.
Return to Cover Page/Contents for May 2001 issue