Australian Seabird Rescue is excited about the sell-out of the Sharkwater premiere:
“On the night we raised $1,500. Fanstastic!
The money raised will be used to upgrade the sea water filtration systems on our turtle rehabilitation tank.
Maintaining water quality is of great importance to the rehabilitation of sea turtles, and is only limited by the resources available. The money raised at the Sharkwater premiere will allow us to increase the standards of our sea turtle care.
The Byron Underwater Festival 2008 - sun, fun & record crowds
by Tim and Wandy Hochgrebe - published 8 May 2008
The 2nd Byron Underwater Festival was a massive success. Sell out events and activities, glorious weather and calm seas made this an event to remember for everyone. Almost 60 people from all over Australia came to participate in the annual underwater photo and video shootout competition, making it the biggest event of this kind in the whole Australasia region. Over 20,000 dollars worth of prizes including cameras, underwater housings, dive gear and a dive trip for two to Papua New Guinea were handed over to winning participants in 7 categories. Biggest winner was Ballina resident Mark Gray who scored both first prize in the SLR camera category as well as the Underwater Portfolio. Two local school groups went out with sponsor cameras to take underwater photos for the first time and the winning students walked away with an underwater photography course, diving vouchers and books.
The Marine Visions open medium art competition held as part of the Underwater Festival in conjunction with Retrospect Galleries saw over 100 entries including sculptures, photographs and some amazing fine art. Over 300 people attended the launch event on Friday and it was pushing room only to get close to the works. Winner of the fine art prize was Paul Colby with his work titled “Marine Playground”. Some works can still be seen at Retrospect Galleries this week and will remain on display on the Underwater Festival website
Part of this year’s Byron Underwater Festival was also the Australian premiere screening of the anti-JAWS documentary “Sharkwater” by Canadian filmmaker Rob Stewart. The screening was held as a fund raiser for “Australian Seabird Rescue” in Ballina and organised in collaboration with the BayFM “Generator” program at Byron Cinemas biggest screen on Saturday night. The night was a sell-out and the personal introduction to the film by world renowned underwater cinematographer David Hannan made the screening a huge success. Certainly a film everybody should go and watch when it get released Australia wide on May 15.
Other highlights of the festival were the underwater photography clinics by Mathieu Meur, who flew in for this festival all the way from Singapore. His clinics were sold out quickly and participants were putting their new learned skills to test immediately. Mathieu who authored 3 books on digital underwater photography promised to be back next year for more workshops.
Last years guest of honour, Australia’s own underwater pioneer Neville Coleman was back this year to launch his new book the “Nudibranchs Encyclopedia of Asia and Indo-Pacific”. Neville is the author of over 60 books and well known for his passion for the underwater world and the small and unusual critters it contains. Listening to him talk about his many decades of exploration is an inspiration and for those who managed to meet him during the festival or hear his radio interview on BayFM on Friday will realise what an amazing person he is.
The Byron Underwater Festival is an annual event and not just for divers. Aimed at everyone wanting to experience our marine environment for themselves it encourages all to participate - whether you want to learn more about it, dive it, snorkel it, kayak it … or even paint it. Only one year to go to the next one …
The Byron Underwater Festival program is finished and we would like to ask interested visitors, dive shops and dive clubs to download the A4 program here (344 kb).
Printed handy festival programs are also available at Sundive, Byron Bay Dive Centre, Byron Community Centre and Planula Divers Retreat. For those booked into the shootout, a program will be in your ’showbag’.
There are only a couple of spots left in the Beginners Underwater Photography Workshop and the Advanced one is now fully booked. If you are interested, make sure you secure one of these last two spots quickly.
Mathieu Meur is coming all the way from Singapore and this is a very rare opportunity to learn from one of the top photographers in a hands on and very personal clinic.
At this point remaining tickets are only available at the Byron Cinemas ticket office - no phone sales. Get in early not to miss out.
Sharkwater opens nationally in cinemas on May 15th - ONLY at the movies!
A synopsis of the film is below:
For filmmaker Rob Stewart, exploring sharks began as an underwater adventure. What it turned into was a beautiful and dangerous life journey into the balance of life on earth.
Driven by passion fed from a lifelong fascination with sharks, Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas.
Filmed in visually stunning, high definition video, Sharkwater takes you into the most shark rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world’s shark populations in the marine reserves of Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Sharkwater Shot in high Definition
In an effort to protect sharks, Stewart teams up with renegade conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Their unbelievable adventure together starts with a battle between the Sea Shepherd and shark poachers in Guatemala, resulting in pirate boat rammings, gunboat chases, mafia espionage, corrupt court systems and attempted murder charges, forcing them to flee for their lives.
Through it all, Stewart discovers these magnificent creatures have gone from predator to prey, and how despite surviving the earth’s history of mass extinctions, they could easily be wiped out within a few years due to human greed.
Stewart’s remarkable journey of courage and determination changes from a mission to save the world’s sharks, into a fight for his life, and that of humankind.
MadFish Wines, as proud sponsors of the Byron Bay Underwater Festival 08 would like to offer you a chance to win a case of MadFish wine from Western Australia.
Entries are now closed - However you can still join the MadFish Fish Bowl Wine Club where you can receive special member prices, access to new releases and cellar door only wines, information on MadFish events and much more!
This competition is open to Australian residents only.
And the winner is: Michelle Hunt from Canning Vale, WA
The winner will be notified by email and telephone on Wednesday 7th May 2008.
A very rare and special treat. Night dives are something not often organised in Byron Bay so make sure you don’t miss out on this opportunity to check out Byron underwater at night.
For people booked into the shootout competition, you are allowed to submit photos from this dive as well.
You can book yourself into these limited spots at the event booking section of the secure underwater.com.au shop.
Please note this as a BYO torch event - if you are having trouble locating a dive torch please contact us.
The Byron Underwater Festival will be the first place in Australia to show the new and amazing shark documentary Sharkwater ! A must see film for anyone that loves the ocean. A film that already won dozens of awards at international film festivals.
Sharkwater will be screened as a fundraiser on Saturday 3 May at Byron Cinemas - the biggest screen we have in Byron Bay!
Pre-book your ticket on the secure underwater.com.au website - or get them at Byron Cinemas. Don’t miss out - this will be a sell-out.
Sharkwater opens nationally in cinemas on May 15th - ONLY at the movies!
A synopsis of the film is below:
For filmmaker Rob Stewart, exploring sharks began as an underwater adventure. What it turned into was a beautiful and dangerous life journey into the balance of life on earth.
Driven by passion fed from a lifelong fascination with sharks, Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas.
Filmed in visually stunning, high definition video, Sharkwater takes you into the most shark rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world’s shark populations in the marine reserves of Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Sharkwater Shot in high Definition
In an effort to protect sharks, Stewart teams up with renegade conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Their unbelievable adventure together starts with a battle between the Sea Shepherd and shark poachers in Guatemala, resulting in pirate boat rammings, gunboat chases, mafia espionage, corrupt court systems and attempted murder charges, forcing them to flee for their lives.
Through it all, Stewart discovers these magnificent creatures have gone from predator to prey, and how despite surviving the earth’s history of mass extinctions, they could easily be wiped out within a few years due to human greed.
Stewart’s remarkable journey of courage and determination changes from a mission to save the world’s sharks, into a fight for his life, and that of humankind.
General: Sharkwater Premiere - April 12th, 2008 The Underwater Festival is proud to present the Australian premiere on Saturday 3rd of May at 7pm at Byron Cinemas.
A must see film for anyone that loves the ocean. A film that already won dozens o...
News: Sharkwater Premiere raises $1500 for turtle rehabilitation - May 12th, 2008 Australian Seabird Rescue is excited about the sell-out of the Sharkwater premiere:
"On the night we raised $1,500. Fanstastic!
The money raised will be used to upgrade the sea water filtrati...
The Underwater Festival is proud to present the Australian premiere on Saturday 3rd of May at 7pm at Byron Cinemas.