Year: 2017

DPG’s 10 Best Travel Stories of 2017

Jett & Kathryn Britnell December 23, 2017May 7, 2019 Comments are off

“Our article, “An Underwater Photographers Guide to British Columbia” was selected one of Dive Photo Guide’s 10 Best Travel Stories of 2017.” ~ Dive Photo Guide

This week DivePhotoGuide’s editors chose their 10 favorite articles by DPG contributors and editors after another amazing year of travel. Our article, “An Underwater Photographers Guide to British Columbia” was selected one of DivePhotoGuide’s 10 Best Travel Stories of 2017.

“We don’t normally consider Underwater Photographer’s Guides for our end-of-year “Best Travel Stories,” but Jett’s astonishingly comprehensive, lavishly photographed guide to BC, Canada, was just too good to exclude. So slip on your thermals, hood and gloves, and dive into the crystal-clear emerald waters for an eye-popping photographic adventure with our talented Mr. Britnell.” ~ DivePhotoGuide.

Here is the weblink to DivePhotoGuide’s 10 Best Travel Stories. Here

Workshops

Beneath The Sea, Here We Come!

Jett & Kathryn Britnell December 21, 2017March 24, 2019 Comments are off

“In Jersey anything’s legal as long as you don’t get caught.” ~ Bob Dylan

Seminar information for Beneath The Sea 2018 is now posted online and we’re pleased to confirm we will be presenting three seminars.

1. Tropical Splendor in a Cold Sea – British Columbia’s Famed Browning Passage.

2. Diving Wild – British Columbia’s Diving Hot Spots.

3. Shoot to Thrill – Tips & Tricks for Improving Your Underwater Photography.

See you at “America’s largest Consumer Scuba and Dive Travel Show,” Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, New Jersey.

Life As It Happens

Philippines Pearl Market

Jett & Kathryn Britnell December 8, 2017April 11, 2019 Comments are off

“Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow; he who would search for pearls must dive below.”

John Dryden (1631–1700) All for Love. Prologue

Well, there’s truly no need to dive to great depths anymore because you can shop till ya drop and find pearls galore at the famed Philippines Pearl Market located at the Greenhills Mall in Manila. Definitely a “must see” when in the Philippines. If you dare to take your spouse, or significant other, be sure to bring a pocketful of pesos.

Life As It Happens

A Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellows Get Together

Jett & Kathryn Britnell December 1, 2017March 24, 2019 Comments are off

A small informal gathering of Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) Fellows got together for dinner last night at Gastown’s Steamworks Brew Pub in Vancouver. The evening was organized and hosted by Gilles Gagnier, Chief Operating Officer and Publisher of Canadian Geographic Magazine, and Jason Muscant, Director of Advancement, Fellows Committee, Awards, Research and Grants, Expeditions.

Among the RCGS Fellows in attendance were, Daisy Gilardini, Francois-Xavier DeRuydts, Aaron Salus, Pridiu Juurand and Melanie Knight along with special guests David McEown and Jillian Salus. Certainly, a welcome opportunity to meet an overall talented group of Canadians.

In The Press

An Underwater Photographers Guide To British Columbia

Jett & Kathryn Britnell November 17, 2017May 7, 2019 Comments are off

An Underwater Photographers Guide To British Columbia

DivePhotoGuide.com asked me if I would write for them “An Underwater Photographers Guide to British Columbia.” The story was published today and the editor, Ian Bongso-Seldrup, kindly said, “It really is a fabulously well written and detailed piece, which I’m sure readers will find fascinating — and inspiring.”

Dive Photo Guide Magazine

DivePhotoGuide.com is a comprehensive underwater photography and videography resource and award-winning website for photographers and videographers of all levels. Features include underwater photography technique guides, travel and destination guides, photo galleries, equipment guides, daily news, product reviews, event calendars, competitions, and a community of over 50,000 underwater photographers and videographers from around the globe. Article Here

Some Kind Words About This Article

“Epic writing by my friend, Jett Britnell… and his photographs are stunning as well! A great summary of how fantastic the underwater world is surrounding Vancouver Island!” ~David Welch

“Thanks again for a phenomenal contribution, Jett. The pleasure was all ours!” ~Ian Bongso-Seldrup

“Excellent! Score another one for the Canucks. Nice in depth piece, I don’t think you’ve missed a thing, pretty much covered it all, top to bottom, north to south… Wow!” ~Brian Burnett

“Jett Britnell’s wonderful overview of BC diving, just published in DivePhotoGuide. Soak up that colour! Love it!” ~John de Boeck

“Wow, I’ve just seen this post! Another great addition to educate divers across the world of BC’s underwater paradise. Thank you Jett.” ~Michael Campbell

“Excellent piece, Jett! Impressive work!” ~John Lentini

“Jett, thank you so much for an excellent guide to diving in Vancouver!” ~Joanna Lentini

“So thrilled to have you as an incredible ambassador of underwater and above water for BC and all that we hold dear!” ~Randi Winter

“Great story and work by one of my hero photogs.” ~Scott Stevenson

“Great article Jett. Beautiful images.” ~Jay Holbrook

“It is the best … not in the top 10, not in the top 5 … just simply , the best!” ~Shannon Almquist Kozak

“Love it! Just a few more years of global warming and I’m there…” ~Dena Mintz

“Great article, lovely photographs!” ~Susan R. Eaton

“What a great article and the photos…….Wow.” ~Christina McKee

“Awesome work Jett Britnell!” ~Roy Mulder

“Oh man! The secret is out for sure! What a great article, and such beautiful photos!!! Wow!” ~Linda Crawford

“Jett sums up exactly what pulls me back to BC for what’s turned into an annual pilgrimage. It’s truly the most beautiful waters I’ve ever been in. (I love Indo, but my first love is cold Canadian water… in drysuit… with a heated vest… and boozey hot chocolate waiting up top… and lots of wine all night long… with other awesome people).” ~Joanna Suan

Life As It Happens

Jett Britnell Elected “Fellow” ~ Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Jett & Kathryn Britnell November 16, 2017March 24, 2019 Comments are off

“It is clear that with your background, experience, and interests, you would be an ideal candidate for Fellowship.”

~ Royal Canadian Geographical Society

On November 16th, 2017, I was elected a Fellow of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). The RCGS College of Fellows includes many of Canada’s eminent explorers, astronauts, writers, geographers, scientists, artists, anthropologists, soldiers, business leaders, historians, educators and even some former Prime Ministers. RCGS Fellows are deemed to have distinguished themselves by directly contributing to scientific knowledge in the field of geography, geographical exploration or allied sciences (i.e., archaeology, atmospheric sciences, marine biology, zoology, etc.). Such accomplishments are evidenced by published books, scientific publications or major mainstream media coverage documenting fieldwork, or exploration. In the Society’s own words:

“Making Canada Better Known To Canadians And The World.”

“Fellowship in the College has, since its inception in 1929, represented the very best of Canada, including distinguished individuals from many different fields, united in their commitment to the Society’s mission to celebrate the country, its geography and peoples.”

There were 892 active Royal Canadian Geographical Fellows as of June 30, 2017, including 80 Honorary Fellows. Today, they added 86 more Fellows. RCGS Fellows are entitled to use post-nominal letters FRCGS (Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society) after their surname.

Truly, beyond words.

I’m deeply honoured and look forward to making significant contributions to Canada’s centre for Geography and Exploration, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, for many years to come.

Life As It Happens

Blessed to Have Married My Best Friend

Jett & Kathryn Britnell November 13, 2017March 24, 2019 Comments are off

In Memoriam

Remembrance Day: In Flanders Fields.

Jett & Kathryn Britnell November 5, 2017March 24, 2019 Comments are off

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae (1872-1918)

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae (1872-1918) is remembered for what is probably the single best-known and popular poem from World War I,“In Flanders Fields.” On May 3, 1915, Canadian physician, McCrae penned his most famous poem after witnessing the death of his friend, 22-year-old Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, the day before. McCrae was a Canadian physician who fought on the Western Front in 1914, but was then transferred to the medical corps and assigned to a hospital in France. He died of pneumonia while on active duty in 1918. McCrae’s rank was Major when he composed “In Flanders Fields.” He was up for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel when he died in January 1918.

As McCrae wrote his poem, Sergeant-Major Cyril Allinson was delivering mail when he noticed McCrae sitting at the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the Yser Canal, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, Belgium. Allinson silently watched as McCrae wrote his poem and later recalled, “His face was very tired but calm as he wrote. He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer’s grave.” Within moments, John McCrae had completed his poem to a fallen friend and when he was done, without a word, McCrae took his mail and handed the poem to Allinson.

An exact description of the battle front

Allinson was deeply moved. “In Flanders Fields was an exact description of the battle front. McCrae used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene.” A collection of his poetry, “In Flanders Fields and Other Poems), was published after John McCrae’s death in 1918.On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians pause each year in memory of the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service. Lest We Forget, that in Flanders fields the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row.

Life As It Happens

The Explorers Club 2017 Lowell Thomas Awards Dinner

Jett & Kathryn Britnell October 31, 2017March 24, 2019 Comments are off

The Changing Face of the Arctic

A Night at the Royal Ontario Museum

October 28th, we attended The Explorers Club 2017 Lowell Thomas Awards Dinner at the iconic Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. The theme for the dinner was, “The Changing Face of the Arctic.” Hosted by the Explorers Club Canadian Chapter, this was the first time this prestigious event has been held outside of the USA.

Who was Lowell Thomas?

Lowell Thomas was an American writer, broadcaster, and traveler, best remembered for publicizing T. E. Lawrence a.k.a. Lawrence of Arabia. The Lowell Thomas Award was awarded for the first time on the occasion of the Club’s 75th anniversary, October 17, 1980, by Club President Charles F. Brush. On special occasions this award is presented by the President of The Explorers Club to groups of outstanding explorers.

The 2017 Lowell Thomas Award Winners

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, FI ‘14

Prince Albert II of Monaco has long been dedicated to the protection of the environment and focuses on fighting climate change, promoting renewable energy, combating the loss of biodiversity, and preserving water resources through his Prince Albert II Foundation. He has also participated in research expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, thus becoming the first head of state to reach both poles. He is a member of the Ocean Elders group and serves on the Advisory Committee for Students on Ice.

Donn Haglund, Ph.D., FE ‘72

Dr. Haglund is a Professor Emeritus of Geography at the University of Wisconsin, where he created and taught a pioneering Arctic wilderness field course for more than 40 years. He earned his Ph.D. in economic geography from the University of Pennsylvania, based on work done in Greenland. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in maritime transport in support of Arctic economic development, and for his dedication to scientific research in these areas.

Martin T. Nweeia D.M.D., D.D.S, FN ‘99

Dr. Martin Nweeia is a research scientist, explorer, professor and scholar on the functional significance of the narwhal tusk and Inuit knowledge. His landmark studies on narwhal tusk sensory function have earned him nine grants from the National Science Foundation, as well as awards from The National Geographic Society, Harvard University, and the Smithsonian Institution. He is currently lecturer at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, a clinical assistant professor at Case School of Dental Medicine, and a research associate in vertebrate zoology at the Smithsonian Institution.

Konrad Steffen, Dr.sc.nat.ETH

Dr. Konrad Steffen is Director, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research and Professor, Institute of Atmosphere & Climate, ETH-Zurich. Previously he was Director CIRES, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, and Professor Emeritus of Geography, both positions at University of Colorado Boulder. His interests include climate and cryosphere interaction in polar and alpine regions. In particular, he researches sea level changes sensitivity studies of large ice sheets using in situ and modeling results.