SCUBA Diving the Coral Triangle - Cancelled

SCUBA Diving the Coral Triangle: Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands with Lin Craft, FPSA, FSCACC

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this presentation needed to be cancelled.

We will try to reschedule for the 2023-24 season.

The Indo-Pacific region of the southwest Pacific Ocean contains the most biodiverse marine waters in the world. At its heart is the so called Coral Triangle. I recently returned to SCUBA Diving and over the past three years I have had the good fortune to make diving expeditions to several locations, two of them within the Coral Triangle: Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

This program, while focusing on sharing the incredible beauty and diversity of these relatively pristine areas as seen through the eyes of a marine biologist, will also mention the challenges and threats faced by our oceans, and by coral reefs in particular.

In Papua New Guinea we’ll visit the magnificent coral reefs and seamounts surrounded by the picturesque volcano dominated islands of New Britain. These remote coral reefs areas still teem with an impressive diversity and abundance of fish life and invertebrates. We’ll explore the vertical walls of seamounts festooned with luxurious arrays of soft coral, and sponges and discover interesting interspecies relationships. We’ll also explore the islands and reefs of the Solomon Islands. Along the way, I will describe the unique challenges that are faced by the underwater photographer and the equipment that is needed. We may also briefly visit some of the native people that we encountered . I hope you will join me for this adventure.

About Lin Craft:

Now retired and living in Fallbrook CA, Lin has been a marine biologist and underwater photographer for over 40 years. Her love of the underwater world has taken her all over the world, including diving under the ice in Antarctica. Her photographic interests focus on wildlife and the natural world and she travels as much as she can. Her goal is to share not only the beauty of nature, but to foster a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the interconnectedness of all living things.

Lin is very active in camera clubs and photo organizations both locally and nationally. She is the current President of the Fallbrook Camera Club and a past President of the Southern California Association of Camera Clubs (SCACC). A longtime, active member of the Photographic Society of America (PSA), Lin has served in many positions including as Chairman of the Nature Division. She is currently a member of the Ethics Review Board for PSA.

Lin judges regularly for camera clubs and photo competitions all over the US, including the San Diego County Fair, the Antelope Valley Fair and many PSA sanctioned International Exhibitions of Photography.

Her photography has been exhibited and sold at local art venues and her images have been published in Books, Magazines, Calendars and Brochures.

She has presented over 250 educational slide shows for groups of all backgrounds and ages including more than 10 programs for PSA Annual Conferences.