Boston Sea Rovers 51st Clinic 2005

by Eric Cheng Thursday, March 17th, 2005

Boston Sea Rovers 2005 51st Clinic and Film Festival

After the tremendous fortune of being invited to give a seminar on underwater digital photography last year, I returned this year to give two 3-hour workshops at the 51st Boston Sea Rovers Clinic, held as usual at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. Unlike the wonderful weather we had last year, this year's clinic was held buried in snow -- just before the arrival of a massive New England winter storm.

On the evening of Friday, March 4th, the speakers, sponsors and Sea Rover members assembled at the Gamble Mansion for a party. The Sea Rovers Clinic is known for attracting household names in the industry, and this year's event was no different. I spent most of the evening chatting with Norbert Wu, Brian Skerry, Bret Gilliam, Todd Essick, Mike DeGruy, and Mauricio Handler.

I've really enjoyed getting to know Norb Wu over the past few months. He'll say things like, "I don't know if you want to hear my opinion about XXX..." and will then proceed to tell you something so blunt that will catch you off guard if you aren't used to it. At the party, Norb introduced me to Dr. Tom Goreau, who was at the Sea Rovers Clinic to give a talk about large-scale coral reef restoration; during the introduction, it seemed to me that Norb could barely suppress audible giggles because Tom lost two fingers to a barracuda in August of last year. While pointing out someone who recently lost fingers to a barracuda probably isn't appropriate in all situations, it was somehow... appropriately humorous during this specific introduction. Later on (after the nice introduction), I spoke with Tom in much greater detail about his work, and about future projects he is planning.

Later that evening, Sea Rovers president Dave Morton took the stand to introduce a tribute video in honor of the late Frank Scalli, a Sea Rover and dive industry pioneer. There is now an annual summer internship in Scalli's name for graduating high school seniors interested in underwater-related careers.

The annual evening film festival put on by the Sea Rovers was very impressive -- even more so because all proceeds from both the film festival and the clinic are donated to charities.

The film festival was hosted by Bret Gilliam, and included the following presenters:

Stan Waterman: Guadalupe great white sharks
Norbert Wu: Excerpts from his documentary film on Antarctica
Ernest Brooks II: Slides from his new book, Silver Seas
Mike DeGruy: High-Definition footage of deep sea vents taken from his trip aboard the Mir submarine
Al Giddings: Footage of manta rays and blue whales

All of the footage shown was incredible, and it had the effect (for more than none person I know) of making me feel like a little guppie swimming among whales. It also crossed my mind that we may not even be in the same ocean! :)

Bret spent much of his time up at the podium telling funny stories about Mainers (a right granted to him by his residence there). Before Norbert Wu got up on stage, Bret shared a story about Norb's last time at a Sea Rovers clinic; a bunch of Sea Rovers were said to have imbibed a "Wu" of beer in order to fit him into their car (which had previously been filled to capacity with the stuff). When Norb took the stage after the story, he said that this year, Sea Rovers would have a harder time because his "Wu weight has increased significantly." He then issued a challenge to the men in the room. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the film festival's after-party nor its associated late-night hotel room debauchery (to witness the results of Norb's challenge) because I had so much work to do for the workshops I was there to give.

Speaking of workshops, I had excellent attendance at both the Saturday and Sunday afternoon workshops. Standing up and talking for six hours isn't very difficult, but the associated slides and preparation took up so much time that I wasn't able to properly enjoy this year's seminars and show room floor. Despite my busy schedule, I did manage to go see my good friend Steve Drogin's seminar of slides he took during our trip to Rajah Ampat last December. As a bonus, Steve also showed photographs of his new 3-man submarine, which is certified go descend to 1500'!

The annual Sea Rovers Clinic is unique among underwater festivals; I can't wait to go back next year. :) For more information about the Boston Sea Rovers, visit their website at: http://www.searovers.org/

Special thanks to Ethan Gordon, who took many of the photographs below.

Brian Skerry, Bret Gilliam, and Norbert Wu at the speakers' and sponsors' party

Kim holds up Nic de Gersigny's tag. Nic was unable to make it. :(

Dave Morton, President of Boston Sea Rovers, and the traditional kick-off bell

Todd Essick, me, and Mauricio and Julia Handler

Me with a headband on in front of John Kerry's house

The walk through the park to the Fairmont Copley

Our party was held at the Gamble Mansion, three houses down

abhi, lugging my PA across the park

The library is lit up by beautiful reflections from another building

Todd Essick with his cool scientific/wreck/rebreather diver friend, Tami Thomsen - dinner at the hotel before the film festival

Brian Skerry, Vienna Teng, and Steve Drogin at the Boston Sea Rovers 51th Film Festival. Philippe Cousteau and Ethan Gordon are in the background.

Me, with Todd Essick at Boston Sea Rovers

Todd Essick, Vienna Teng, and Bret Gilliam. I'm slowly converting all of my friends into Vienna Teng fans!

Walk through the park to the Fairmont Copley Hotel

Dan Baldocchi, me, and Paul Barnett at the torn-down Light & Motion booth

With Dr. Thomas Goreau, President of the Global Coral Reef Alliance

Ernie Brooks at the Boston Sea Rovers (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Gretchen and Bret Gilliam (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Norbert Wu and Dave Morton (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Dave Sipperly, Ernie Brooks, and Norbert Wu (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Ernie Brooks, Stan Waterman, Mike DeGruy, Dave Morton, and Sea Rovers scholarship recipients (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Boston Sea Rovers Film Festival at
John Hancock Hall (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Ernie Brooks (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Norbert Wu, a the Sea Rovers film festival (photo: Ethan Gordon)

MC Bret Gilliam at the Boston Sea Rovers film festival (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Stan Waterman speaks at the Boston Sea Rovers Film Festival (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Norbert Wu speaks at the Boston Sea Rovers Film Festival (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Ernie Brooks and Bret Gilliam (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Ernie Brooks (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Mike DeGruy speaks at the Boston Sea Rovers Film Festival (photo: Ethan Gordon)

Group shot of the speakers at the Boston Sea Rovers Film Festival: Norb Wu, Bret Giliam, Stan Waterman, Mike DeGruy, Ernie Brooks, Dave Morton (photo: Ethan Gordon)