Ocean Geographic - OG64 Cover Voting & Trip news
Dear Members and Friends
Help us choose the cover for OG 64 – details here below
We have just returned from our Antarctic Climate expedition with 115 ACE ambassadors. Sadly we were witness to the solemn impact of the climate crisis. This is my 9th time in the south polar region and I was dismayed to find the change to be the most rampant and more noticeable than in all my previous sojourns. Alas it is illustrative of the larger problem of habitat damage and the effects of pervasive human impact now reaching even the remotest wilderness regions.
We observed the immense scale of change from unusually wet snowfall to penguin chicks born too late to survive, rapidly retreating glaciers, to the expanse of green snow algae, microplastic samples found in every trawl, and frequent rainfall. Nevertheless, the Antarctic is still magically beautiful, an astonishing white and blue landscape occupied by penguins that are found nowhere else on this planet.
The world premiere of the ACE exhibition is scheduled at the CDL Green Gallery, Singapore Botanical Garden this 23 June 2023. Please look out for your special invitation.
The cover story of the next edition of Ocean Geographic is ‘Silent Serial Killers’ – this feature is about Ghost Nets - discarded fishing gear that ends up TERRORIZING as non-stop killers in our marine environment. A short movie of the same title performed by action actress Hidy Yi will premiere at the ADEX Dive show from 31 March to 2 April.
For now, please preview the selection of covers for the Ghost Nets edition – vote for the cover of this special edition at COVER VOTING OG 64
If you have to desire to see those amazing kaleidoscopic animals that you have never seen before, then you must join us for our photo masterclass this April. For the blackwater and macro aficionados, we are collaborating with Philippine’s champion photographer Dennis Corpuz to conduct a special Blackwater and Macro Masterclass workshop at the best resort in Anilao - Aiyanar Beach Dive Resort from 22 to 28 April 2023. This last week of April is the optimum time for sighting the amazing Blanket octopus and all the wonderful critters in the sand and in the deep water of Janao Bay. Limited spots so email to reserve your spot now.
For the intrepid diver, we may have one spot remaining for our special expedition into the heartland of the Coral Triangle in August of 2023. Starting with two days of interacting with the whale sharks at Cenderawasih Bay, using the Damai 1, we will head north to a special location – the seldom visited Mapia Atoll. Documented recently by Dr Mark Erdmann, the atoll harbours a huge biomass of fishes and an extraordinary number of undiscovered new species. From Mapia, we will head west to dive into some of the signature sites of Raja Ampat. May have one spot remaining – email to book.
And our expedition to experience the amazing mantas phenomenon at Baa Atoll in Sep of 2023 is also filling up fast. When the stars, sun, and moon are aligned, a vortex of up to 200 mantas…whale sharks hang on the surface to feast on the broth of living wriggling planktons. And we have selected the optimum period of the season – the 2023 summer equinox. Find out more.
We look forward to sharing the same ocean with you in 2023 and if you are so compelled to visit ADEX, see you on 31 March in Singapore.
Michael AW
http://www.ogsociety.org/covers/og64vote.html
Expeditions 2023
April 2023 – Blackwater & Macro Photography Masterclass – Philippines
Aug 2023 - Cenderawasih Bay, Mapia Atoll and Raja Ampat on the Damai 1
Sep 2023 – Mantas, Whale Sharks – Northern Maldives 2023
Nov 2023 – Running with Marlins, Mexico – Marlins, sea lions, and whales
Dec 2023 – Socorro - TBA
Reminder to Expedition Members: We recommend that you ensure your DAN Coverage is up-to-date before dive travel. Also, check out DAN’s Return to Diving Safely guide: If you’ve been out of the water for a while, take time to assess your health, and fitness, refresh your diving skills, and equipment check.
