DiveFilm HD host and Wetpixel moderator, Mary Lynn Price, is on her way to Antarctica to video document some of the Weddell seal science work being done there during the 2010 Weddell seal pupping season. She plans to post a video blog of her trip and the science work with the seals from her remote field camp on the sea ice near Big Razorback Island. This small volcanic island is the south-eastern most of the Dellbridge Islands, lying in Erebus Bay off the west side of Ross Island, and to quote Wikipedia, the name is “descriptive”.

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Shark advocates and filmmakers, Ron and Valerie Taylor, have been interviewed as a part of CNN’s Talk Asia Coverage. In the interview, the Taylors espouse the view that the ongoing shark fin trade is endangering many shark species and the hope that their footage may help the anti-finning cause. Ron and Valerie have been filming underwater for nearly fifty years.

“World wide sharks are in serious danger, mainly for shark finning,” Ron Taylor told CNN, “The Asian market just can’t get enough of sharks fin; the price has gone way up. Even Australian fishermen are taking shark fins now in the Great Barrier Reef.”

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Ikelite has announced the release of a housing for the new Canon Powershot G12 compact camera. The new housing is made of clear polycarbonate, has a depth rating of 200ft/60m and gives access to all camera controls. It also has built in electronic circuitry to allow TTL exposure with current Ikelite DS strobes and comes supplied with a tray and handle.

As speculated in the forums, the new housing will also accommodate the G12’s predecessor, the Powershot G11, although the front dial control will not function. For those upgrading from G11 to G12 cameras, Ikelite are offering a simple factory conversion for the original G11 housing to the new specification. Please see Ikelite’s website for more details of this process.

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Save Our Leatherbacks Operation (SOLO) founder Dr. Larry McKenna has awarded Ronald T. Hand, President, CEO and owner of Amphibico Group Inc. with a special award in recognition of his and the companies support for the conservation of endangered turtles. Mr. Hand and Amphibico were the first personal and corporate sponsors of the organization at its inception in 2005, and their support has continued ever since. Larry Meckenna highlighted the fact that this support had, until now gone unrecognized, but went on to say that:

” Today, the tables are turned in a surprise recognition ceremony here within the Montreal Amphibico facilities. For all of your positive support to save the turtles of our oceans, we who speak for the sea turtles say thank you. These Leatherback turtles live today because of the firm support you provide”.

SOLO’s stated objectives are to find ways to save the giant Leatherback sea turtle from its path to rapid extinction.

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Ultralight Control Systems (ULCS) has announced the release of a new tripod designed for underwater use. It has lockable pan and tilt functions, and 11-18” extending legs with sharp ends or “snap-on balls” to stop them sinking into sand/muck. Both the tilt mechanism and leg extension are one-handed operations and other configurations are available on request.

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