The deadline for entry into the 44th Annual LAUPS International Competition has passed, we are no longer accepting entries. Thanks for all your submissions, the judges are going to have a tough time this year.

We're sorting through all the entries over the weekend and double-checking that we have all the entries and forms. We got a lot of entries on Friday, and many of the folks who have been checking entries in are out on the LAUPS shootout dive Saturday. Please bear with us. If you have not received confirmation of receipt, please email us at comp_entry@laups.org. Please do not resend your entries unless asked.

We expect to post judging results before the end of October. To stay updated on results, please check back on this webpage, or subscribe to this webpage's RSS feed, or join our email list for announcements and discussion of UW photography.

As always, thanks to our sponsors!

In the International Rules, we forgot to include the ideal resolution for digital files. They should be at least 1400x1050 pixels.

I admit it: I'm biased. Oarfish get more coverage here than other fish. Deal with it, or take over for me in this winter's election.

Anyway, here are some more photos AND A VIDEO of the oarfish that surfaced and died at Catalina a few weeks ago.

Oarfish Photos and Video from Big Fisherman's Cove (Photo copyright Judy Lemus)

Many (55 so far!) new cameras, lenses, and printers have been announced in advance of the Photokina show in Cologne, Germany, September 26th. More announcements are expected over the coming weeks. Highlights so far include a new version of the Canon Rebel, the 400D aka Rebel XTi, and a waterproof compact camera from Olympus, the Stylus 725. The few rabid Olympus fans out there have their fingers crossed for more live-view SLRs, including the long-awaited E1 replacement.

Photokina 2006 Report

Digital Photography Review Photokina 2006 Show Report

For only the second time, there's a healthy young white shark in our Outer Bay exhibit. 5 feet 8 inches long and 104 pounds, he arrived on August 31 and is making himself right at home in the million-gallon exhibit. Each day he's here, he'll teach us more about white sharks and how we can protect these thrilling—and threatened—animals in the wild.

Daily updates on the shark are on the lower half of this page:

Monterey Bay Aquarium: Aquarium Exhibits - Exhibit Updates

as of 9/3, the shark shows signs of acclimating, but has not yet eaten.

It's been announced that Steve Irwin, host of several Discovery Channel shows, has died of wounds from a stingray. Our condolences to his family and those who knew him.

Animal Planet :: The Crocodile Hunter
Australia’s ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Killed on Diving Expedition - New York Times
Steve Irwin killed by stingray - National - smh.com.au
Irwin's killer ray 'was probably startled' | NEWS.com.au

Apparently stingray venom is much more dangerous when the wound is in the core of the body.

NPR : Government Weighs Turtles' Habitat vs. Fishing

All Things Considered, August 30, 2006 · Federal fisheries managers are considering whether to allow gill-netting in the habitat of Pacific leatherback turtles. The endangered turtles live off the coasts of Northern Californian and Oregon. Each year at this time, leatherback turtles visit the Pacific Northwest coast. They swim thousands of miles to munch on the stinging jellyfish that live there. The area is a currently closed to the lucrative swordfishing industry because the fishermen's nets could pose a danger to the turtles. Now the federal government is considering a controversial request to let the fishermen back in.

Dive Luggage and Carry on Bags: The August issue of Undercurrent details airline restrictions coming in September that not only limit the weight of each bag a passenger checks, but also the total luggage weight. If you don't abide by the rules you'll be charged a fee. Too much weight and you'll be required to ship the bag (which means you'll miss your flight while you track down an airport shipper - and it will cost a fortune). The latest baggage restrictions, imposed August 11, should not affect divers, however, keep in mind that each country establishes its own rules. In many smaller countries, officious immigration and customs personnel can be haughty and arbitrary. They often order travelers to remove strobes, battery packs, even computers from carry on luggage. Be prepared. For information on US restrictions visit http://www.tsa.gov.

Update from Mike… 
Well things are certainly busy this year: Spoilsport moving to Cairns, the success of our new itineraries, attending ATE2006, and now deep in the throws of organizing attending DEMA in the USA.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your great support in Mike Ball Dive Expeditions.
 
Minke Whales still around.
Even though the official Minke Whale season has been over since the end of July we are still getting reports of Minke whales being spotted at Lighthouse Bommie on the Ribbon Reefs as recent as the 14th of August, both crew and passengers were excited with these encounters. 
 
The 2007 ‘official’ Minke whale season starts on the 14th of June with only 10 dedicated expeditions.  To avoid disappointment booking in advance is highly recommended.
 
Spoilsport a big hit!
The transfer of Spoilsport to our Cairns operation has been a big hit: high occupancies with passengers ranging world wide, great shark action in the Coral Sea, superb diving at new locations at Osprey Reef, and more fun had than you can poke a barracuda at. 

Osprey Reef Picturesque As Ever.
The remote Coral Sea has treasures where only seeing is believing… Osprey Reef is one of these treasures.  It is hard to believe that in 1991 Osprey Reef suffered damage during Cyclone Joy.  The regeneration of corals and marine life has been outstanding.
 
Osprey Reef has been a favorite destination on our recent itineraries with the shark action creating some great photo opportunities.