Sea & Sea has announced that their MDX-D7100 housing for the Nikon D7100 SLR will be available from the end of June. The new housing features the option of a built-in YS TTL convertor and a multi selector control that mimics both the function and position of the camera’s. It also has an externally controlled port lock and a leak detector as standard.
A study published in the Public Library of Science (PLOS) ONE journal has quantified the revenue that is accrued from tourism related activities associated with manta rays. In the 23 countries in which manta ray watching operations met the study’s criteria, direct revenue to dive operators from manta ray dives and snorkels is estimated at over US$73 million annually and direct economic impact, including associated tourism expenditures, at US$140 million annually.
Scientists from Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University have recently discovered a deepwater shark spawning ground off the waters of Scotland. Egg cases of the blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) were discovered on the Mingulay Reef, the only known coral reef in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
The Photoshelter Blog has published an article by photographer Aaron Schmidt entitled Back to Basics: Surf Photography Tips for Thrill Seekers. This offers valuable practical advice for those seeking to shoot images in the surf.
A paper published in the journal Science offers an explanation into how marine mammals manage to store oxygen during long deep dives. Scientists have understood that high levels of myoglobin allow more oxygen to be stored, but until now, have not understood how this happens.
Aquatica has announced the release of their housing for the Nikon D600 SLR. The AD600 provides access to the camera’s Fn control, which can be customized for a variety of functions, via a button on the rear. It also has a thumb lever for ISO adjustment and three ports for accessories such as monitor or vacuum bulkheads. The housing will retail at $3,199 in the U.S.A.
National Geographic has launched National Geographic Creative Studio, an in-house agency that brings together National Geographic’s photography and video stock collection and talent representation agency.
Dive Rite has announced its annual photo competition that aims to “showcase remarkable dives from around the world”. Scheduled May through July, themes for the contest are Gnarly Dive, Wildlife Interactions and Dive Rite Divers.
The Santa Barbara Film Festival is to host a tribute to Ernie Brooks. It will be held in the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara on Saturday, 14 September at 7:00 PM. The program will be a benefit to raise funds for the Historical Diving Society USA and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.
Manx Basking Shark Watch has tagged their first basking sharks of the season off the Isle of Man. In all, four sharks are tagged and can be tracked online through the Wildlife Tracking website.