THE AMAZING WORLD OF SCUBAZOO

The Sabah Times has recently published a commentary about Scubazoo and the team behind the company’s operations. What with Scubazoo’s success with both ‘Great Ocean Adventures’ and the latest BBC series, as well as new publication work for Dorling Kindersley’s ‘Reef’, the companies profile is growing within Sabah and throughout the world.  Read the article here.

GOA II TRANSMISSION

Dates for the GOA II transmission are as follows: list of dates. Scubazoo once again provided the underwater cameramen for this series with Monty Hall. Keep an eye out for photos and the full story of shooting GOA II.

NEW PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS

SCUBAZOO have recently completed two new resort promotional videos - for Seaventures Dive Resort and Layang Layang Island Resort in Sabah, Malaysia. A third promo, for Ecodivers in Sulawesi is currently being edited in time for the upcoming DEMA show in the US. The Ecodivers video was filmed at both Tasik Ria and Kungkungan Bay Resort in Lembeh, with Jason Isley, Roger Munns and Matt Oldfield filming over a period of nearly 6 weeks to maximise the chances of getting some incredible footage! Matt Oldfield also took the opportunity to shoot some stills of Lembeh's bizarre inhabitants.

YEAR OF TURTLE - 2006

Since 2005, SCUBAZOO have been directly involved in the Year of the Turtle, launched in Bangkok in March 2006. This huge project aims to increase awareness of the plight of sea turtles throughout Asia.

The Indian Ocean - South-East Asia (IOSEA) 'Year of the Turtle – 2006' aims to unite nations and communities to celebrate marine turtles and to support their conservation.  While increasing public awareness and understanding of the threats faced by marine turtles, the campaign will also highlight the work of dedicated organisations that are striving to conserve these ancient creatures and the habitats on which they depend. more

ETC THAILAND

The beginning of April meant an eventful, fun and sometimes moving trip to Thailand for photographer Matt Oldfield, this time to help out with some video training at the Ecotourism Training Centre in Khao Lak - a non-for-profit organisation set up by Reid Ridgeway to help a group of local people rebuild their lives after the tsunami. In a nutshell, Reid managed to raise enough money to set up a year-long programme of training and learning for 17 students who had lost their livelihoods, and often family, homes and possessions as well, in an attempt to help them restart their careers and lives and get a fresh start after the disaster that hit Thailand.  more

In September 2005, cameraman Roger Munns and photographer Matt Oldfield traveled to Biak in West Papua as part of an exploratory cruise around Biak itself, the Cendrawasih Bay and Mapia Atoll (take a look at Biak for the full story). Whilst waiting in Manokwari for a new prop to arrive, the team onboard the Citra Pelangi took the opportunity to dive the many wrecks in the area - from WWII patrol boats to huge, unidentified freighters, Manokwari has plenty to keep wreck explorers excited. However, a chance dive on newly found wreck, just outside the main harbour area, led to the identification of a remarkable plane. more

SORONG LEATHERBACKS

Butterflies of excitement kicked in as I finally left Sorong in a longboat accompanied by my guide, boatman and cook. After almost 3 years' of organising, here I was now, just 15 hours away from where I hoped to experience one of my life-long dreams - to see, and swim with a leatherback turtle ...

Every year, these enormous, prehistoric-looking turtles visit the beaches of the Birds' Head peninsular off the North coast of West Papua in Indonesia to they lay their eggs. This spectacularly wild, frontier location revealed itself as we chugged along. But as the signs of civilisation disappeared, I was alarmed to see this rugged rainforest coastline punctuated by numerous timber logging settlements loading their barges with enormous logs. more

MARATUA

In May 2006, photographer Matt Oldfield was commissioned by Asian Diver Magazine to write an article about Maratua Atoll, off the coast of East Kalimantan.  The atoll has some incredible diving and unlike its nearby neighbours of Sangalaki and Derawan, has attracted little attention from dive tourists.  A lone resort, Nabucco, has been operating there for some years but Matt's trip was sponsored by a new operation, run by Adventure Travel Tours based in Kota Kinabala. more

The end of March 2006 saw SCUBAZOO cameraman Ian Jennings filming a feature for ITN's 'Three Degrees from Disaster' series highlighting the impending threat of climate change.  Based out of Laguna Beach Resort, Ian filmed ITN science editor cum presenter Lawrence McGinty as he dived some beautiful Maldivian reefs, as well as others damaged by the last major El Nino bleaching event.  Producer John Angier's had this to say about Ian's work:

"We were delighted with what Ian did. His pictures made a fantastic piece, and he was a great guy to work with."

Take a look at Lawrence McGinty's blog about his 'Three Degrees from Disaster' travels, including around the Maldives here.

In early February 2006 SCUBAZOO's senior cameraman, Simon Enderby, and chief photographer, Matt Oldfield, travelled through to the "wild west oil town" of Lae, on the eastern shores of Papua New Guinea.

The guys experienced a mix of emotions after traveling for over 24 hours without sleep to be met at Lae airport by german marine biologist Markus Ruf, along with several armed guards who escorted them to an armored mini-bus for their ride into town! more

Photographer Matt Oldfield spent his New Year 2005 15m beneath the surface at Seraya, Bali.  He travelled there courtesy of Bali Hai Adventure's Michael Courtenbach, who's company now manages the diving at Seraya.  The article below was written for FiNS Magazine and was published in July 2006. more

In September 2005, Roger Munns and Matt Oldfield traveled to Biak, West Papua, Indonesia, to join the Citra Pelangi on an exploratory cruise in some of the less-well known areas of West Papua.  The boat, operated by Swanido International, was part of a new operation based out of Biak that is trying to reinvigorate the diving tourism in the area.  SCUBAZOO were there to shoot stills and HiDef footage that would be used for promotional material in the hope of attracting tourists from around the world to this prime diving destination. more

On Tuesday 05/05/05, SCUBAZOO's first book, 'Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Sabah's Underwater Treasure', was finally released! In attendance at the launch were Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah and Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Environment, Sabah, as well as publisher Datuk CL Chan.

This incredible book, detailing the rich marine environments of these islands and the threats they now face, also marks the launch of SCUBAZOO Publications. Under the SCUBAZOO umbrella, Publications will compliment our production facilities and cater for all your imaging, writing and design needs. Contact jason@scubazoo.com for further information. more

The Antinea Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 2004. Its objective is to contribute to research on and conservation of the marine environment, the world’s largest and most diverse eco-system.

• The Foundation’s sailing boat provides its partner research and conservation organisations with the necessary facilities for conducting autonomous expeditions in the most remote areas of the world’s oceans.
• The Antinea Foundation strives to bring the marine environment closer to the public’s heart. A series of documentaries, a multimedia show, articles, educational projects for schools, internet downloads … A vast range of media for your information.
• The Foundation’s sailing boat offers passionate divers, sailors, ecologists a chance to discover the marine environment under the guidance of leading scientists whilst contributing to the Foundation’s mission. The opportunity for a once in a lifetime experience!

SCUBAZOO are pleased to announce that they have been chosen as a partner by the Antinea Foundation, and will be the official production company for the duration of this remarkable programme of exploration and research. A gala dinner and presentation will take place in April:

"The Antinea Foundation is happy to invite you to its launch gala which will take place in Geneva on Saturday the 9th of April. The gala's program will include a multimedia show which will be displayed on 6 giant screens; it will feature the pictures and footage of more than hundred of the world leading underwater photographs and filmmakers. The music written for the show will be played live by a band. Furthermore, we are going to present our projects, our partners and their work at this occasion."

Look out for more news regarding this exciting project

In February 2005, SCUBAZOO had the opportunity and privilege to work with Sir David Attenborough and the BBC Natural History Unit, as they filmed in Sabah for the BBC's latest blockbuster, 'Life in the Undergrowth'. more

November 2005 saw SCUBAZOO’s first project with Greenpeace International. Jason Isley travelled to the Sate of Orissa in India to shoot the mass mating congregations of Olive Ridley turtles, whilst staying onboard the famous ‘Rainbow Warrior’. more

From the jungles of Sepilok, to the tiny village of Lok Malom on Gaya Island, Matthew Oldfield travelled with Jeff Corwin and a Tigress crew for two weeks during October. And for the first time, SCUBAZOO were hired as HD camera operators, filming the grand finale on Gaya. more