Photographer at work at Divetech’s Lighthouse Point deep wall. Photo courtesy of Divetech’s Jay Easterbrook
Divetech is hosting the 5th annual FOCUS UNDERWATER (previously Tek Week), an annual event that brings together underwater photographers, ocean conservationists and rebreather enthusiasts, at Cobalt Coast Dive Resort in Grand Cayman August 24–31, 2013. Participating divers will enjoy world class diving on the North Wall and Northwest Point while sharing their passion for the sea with professionals from the rebreather diving world and the underwater imaging industry who are there to share what they know and the show the latest equipment on the market. Attending FOCUS UNDERWATER are well-known dive industry personalities Ryan Canon from Reef Photo & Video, Chris Parsons from Nauticam, Curt Bowen from Advanced Diver Magazine, Paul Barnett from Light & Motion and Adam Hanlon from Wetpixel, plus Mike Fowler from Silent Diving, Doug Ebersole from KISS Rebreathers, Eric Keibler from Oceanic Ventures and Peter Sotis from Add Helium.
Divetech owner Nancy Easterbrook says this combination of pros with knowledge and divers who want to know more, thrown into the diving mix for a week, is an exciting opportunity for everyone to learn. “There’s a tremendous amount of talent at FOCUS UNDERWATER, so no matter where people are, they can learn so much,” she says. “This event is open to recreational and technical OC and CCR divers – new photo buffs and experienced shooters are all welcome.”
Divers who sign up for the event will have the chance to test the latest in underwater housings, strobes and cameras from Reef Photo & Video and Nauticam. In addition to diving with the professionals, they will learn about new products and technologies, or test the latest in rebreathers. FOCUS UNDERWATER includes six days of open-deck boat trips, unlimited shore diving with incredible macros opportunities, unlimited air, O2, nitrox, trimix and scrubber, including Cayman’s famous Kittiwake Wreck and Stingray City, plus the new blue light NightSea® Flouro Discovery dive by Light and Motion. The photo contest includes categories for Cayman Small, Underwater Scene, Spirit of Cayman, Fluorescence and Spirit of Cayman Video and awesome prizes awarded with 100% of the entry fees donated to ocean and marine life conservation including setting a turtle free! Everyone wins a prize!
Divetech’s Jay Easterbrook with his new Nauticam housing for the Nikon D7100.
Easterbrook says FOCUS UNDERWATER is an evolution of what was their annual TEK WEEK, an event specifically designed for advanced and technical divers. As more and more divers began using rebreathers, she says they also expressed interest in underwater photography. To accommodate that change in the industry, Easterbrook added clinics and specific photo dives to the week’s itinerary, and then in 2009 renamed the event FOCUS UNDERWATER to be more inclusive. No matter if you are shooting or not, focus underwater is a good thing.
With a full week of diving, clinics, workshops, lectures, demonstrations, test diving rebreathers and other events, Nancy Easterbrook says her favorite part of the event is enjoying the fruits of everyone’s labors. “Of course all the incredible, creative photography and video is such a joy to watch under 10,000 Caribbean stars!” she says. Sessions to choose from include: Intro to Fluorescence Light & Lighting, Wide Angle Techniques, Exposure – Dialing It In, Green Water, Shooting Wrecks, Lighting Techniques – Strobe Positioning and More, Macro Techniques and Tools, HDR and Pano Images, Macro Video, Video Techniques, Editing and Exporting Images w/Lightroom, Technical Excellence – Eliminating Common Errors in Photography, Telling a Story with Video, Intro to Video Editing, Image Sharing & Collaboration and Silent Shooting.
In addition to diving, the event package includes accommodation at the Cobalt Coast Dive Resort, full meal plan, special cocktail hour, airport transfers, tax and service charges, bus tour in the mangroves, photo contest entrance fee and an event t-shirt. The US price per person is $2,300 for divers, $2,800 for CCR Divers and $2,100 for non-divers, based on double occupancy. For reservations or information call toll free 1 888-946-5656, or in Grand Cayman, 1 345-946-5658. Information is also available online at www.FocusUnderwater.com, www.divetech.com, or www.cobaltcoast.com.
About Divetech
Divetech is a IANTD Platinum Facility / TDI/SDI Instructor Trainer Facility / PADI 5-Star Resort / PADI TecRec Facility / PADI Project Aware Center / SSI Resort / IANTD & SSI Free Diving Center / BSAC Resort / National Geographic Center/ Scuba Rangers Club / Universal Training Facility / PADI Swim School / DAN Technical Field Research Station full service dive operator with facilities at Cobalt Coast Dive Resort on the tranquil Northwest shore of Boatswain’s Bay, and Lighthouse Point on Northwest Point Road, both located in West Bay just a few miles north of the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile Beach. Considered one of Grand Cayman’s leading dive operations, Divetech has been providing quality dive services since 1994, and it has earned a reputation as the place to go in Grand Cayman for quality training from kids to trimix with 18 Instructors on staff. Divetech is Green Globe Certified and is a recipient of the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2012 and the PADI Green Star Award. Divetech offers great dive and room packages with its resort partner Cobalt Coast Dive Resort, which has established a reputation for laid back luxury and friendly West Indian hospitality, offering 20 suites and villas, full restaurant and bar, pool and award winning customer service. For more information call toll free (888) 946-5656, in Grand Cayman (345) 946-5658 or visit www.divetech.com.
