Nudibranch Workshop Newsletter No. 2
Reminders
Unfortunately I have to start this newsletter with some reminders that target the hip pocket nerve. In the first Newsletter I said that a deposit of USD 270 was required by the end of April. This deposit is to secure your place in the workshop, and if it’s not sent by the end of this month your place will be forfeited to the next person on the waiting list.
I also explained that citizens from India and Taiwan need to obtain a Tourist Visa for citizens from a PNG embassy before arrival in PNG. Participants from these countries should have already contacted Dietmar as they will require booking confirmation from Lissenung for the visa approval. Again, failure to contact Dietmar right away will mean forfeiture of your place.
Getting there
The official’ start of the workshop will be 11 March. And the ‘official’ end will be 25 March. Flights to Kavieng on 10 March are now showing on the Air Nuigini website (thanks Julie), so participants are now able to check flight times and prices. Presently Air Niugini allows more weight in terms of baggage than QANTAS does and from the start of June QANTAS instigated a ‘one bag’ per person policy.
Insurance
Participants need to have to have DAN insurance for this trip. Participants can sign up to it online and if they need any more details they can contact Dietmar directly.
Collection of specimens
Can anybody who want to collect specimens contact me please.
After dinner program
It is planned to have a cycle of talks by participants on two successive nights followed by a night dive on the third night. If you are able to give Gary some idea of the subject of your talk he will arrange a program of speakers.
Workshop T-shirts
Gary has come up with a magnificent design and he is now ready to order the T-shirts. Can participants please let him know what size you are.
Above: Synchiropus splendidus
Sponsorship
There will be a three-tier sponsorship program for participants attending the workshop:
For amounts over $(A) 1000.
This level would enable coverage of the expenses for entire workshop for one of the students and would be awarded on my discretion.
For amounts between $(A) 350 and $(A) 600.
This level of sponsorship would enable me to buy a copy of either MacFarland’s nudibranch book [from the California Academy of Sciences] or Schmekel & Portman’s nudibranch book [from Amazon.com], both classics and masterpieces in nudibranch research combining art and science, to award in a raffle to a participant during the workshop.
For amounts under $(A) 300.
This level of sponsorship would be cover the cost of one free dive for all the workshop participants.
I am delighted to announce that already we have three sponsors (thanks Ash and Julie!). Nudibase.com will sponsor one Level 1 and Dragon Mouse Diving will sponsor one Level 3. Duke Environmental Management Consultants will sponsor one Level 3
Can anyone think of a company we might approach for sponsorship? Any suggestions are welcome.
News from Lissenung underwater
Nozaki kindly sent me two photos she has recently taken of Roboastra gracilis. These photos show a ‘classic’ individual with its beautiful sky blue rhinophores and gills. I often wonder why such a small slender nudibranch should ‘need’ such large organs.
And Nozaki also sent me a really cute photo and a video link of hers to a pair of mating Mandarin Fish at ‘Nozaki’s Secret” dive site. This is a nice shallow (less than 10 m depth) dive site where Nozaki tells me nudibranch abound. Need I say more!
Best wishes to all and please don’t hesitate to contact me,
Richard |
