Dr. Gregory Dudek, together with PhD candidates Junaed Sattar and Anqi Xu of McGill University school of computer science in Montreal, Canada, have developed AQUA 2: a robot which can move on land as well as swim and dive in the water.

The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) uses six independently controlled fins to offer a highly maneuverable underwater sensor platform.The arrangement of highly compliant thrusting surfaces results in a vehicle that poses no danger to humans or sea life and can land or take-off with minimal impact. Tested to a depth of 120 feet, the robot has an intended operating range from the shoreline to 100 feet.

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The 37th World Festival of Underwater Images, formerly held at Antibes, will be held from the 27 to 31 October 2010 at the Palais du Pharo. Marseille. Jean-Michel Cousteau will be the honorary president in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of his father, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and many of those who took part in the Calypso odyssey will be at the event.

Entries for the 2010 competition are now open.

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Tony Wu’s short video of the Easter Fields of Papua New Guinea is now available as an HD or iPod podcast via DiveFilm on iTunes. The film, shot on DSLR’s, includes footage from this remote and rarely visited area. Tony also interviews Craig DeWit of MV Golden Dawn, who also will be the skipper on the upcoming Wetpixel Eastern Fields Expedition.

DiveFilm HD showcases some of the best high-definition underwater short films being produced today from all over the world. Featuring beautiful images of the underwater world, marine life large and small, interviews with interesting people, and updates on underwater imaging. Produced in association with Wetpixel and available via iTunes.

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Tourism Corporation Bonaire has announced that Dr. Eugenie Clark will become the second North American recipient to receive Bonaire’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.  A panel of distinguished media chose Dr. Clark, legendary ichthyologist and authority on sharks, after long deliberations on several candidates. Dr. Clark will travel to Bonaire during the island’s Celebrate Our Planet Week, from August 22 through 28, 2010, a highlight week of the Bonaire Dive Into Summer program.

During her time on Bonaire, she will make several dives with visitors and residents of Bonaire, as well as give two presentations: one for adults, and one for Bonaire’s schoolchildren.  She’ll also be kept busy with a book signing of the newest edition of her book, “Lady With the Sharks” and will be the guest of honor at the home of Lt. Governor Glenn Thode when she is honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more after the jump.

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We’ve just had a single cancellation for our July 18-26, 2010 Bahamas sharks and dolphins trip. We’ll be with Jim Abernethy aboard the M/V Shear Water, and will be spending the week in the Bahamas photographing dolphins, tiger sharks, lemon sharks, and Caribbean reef sharks. Trip is led by renowned photographer, Alex Mustard.

If you’re interested, please contact Dan Baldocchi at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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