Maldivian resort LUX* has announced its second Underwater Festival from April 15 to 21 next year.
Activities at the festival include underwater photo and video courses, on-the-beach themed film screenings, film editing coaching sessions, as well as free diving and apnea courses. Courses will be led by experts including BBC film director Neil Lucas, television documentary editor Frank Spencer, free diving world record holder Sara Campbell and members of leading diving company Eurodivers.
BBC film director Neil Lucas will run daily introductory classes for guests to improve their photography skills and learn new underwater shooting techniques. He will be joined by Britain’s foremost underwater cameraman Michael Pitts.
Top television documentary editor, Frank Spencer, will work closely with attendees from their first cuts, through to the rough cuts, music and sound. Participants will be able to identify key stories, learn ‘fill and flood’ lighting techniques, shooting disciplines as well as sequence skills through storyboards and creative editing.
Free diving expert and four-time world record holder Sara Campbell will offer insights into breath holding and apnea techniques.
Special packages are available for the festival, email [email protected] for more
Underwater Festival trainers and supporters
Neil Lucas
Producer and Director of the BBC’s world-renowned Natural History Unit for over 20 years, Neil has worked on many international award-winning productions, including Sir David Attenborough’s Trials of Life, The Private Life of Plants, The Life of Mammals and Planet Earth. The majority of Neil’s programmes have been nominated for many international awards including BAFTAs and EMMYs.
www.Lucasproductions.com
Michael Pitts
Specialised in underwater shooting, Michael Pitts has received Emmy’s for cinematography on two BBC landmark series: David Attenborough’s Private Life of Plants and Blue Planet. He is currently working on a Future Planet Productions film on plastics in the world’s oceans, which is due for cinema release in 2013.
www.michaelpitts.co.uk
Sara Campbell
In October 2007 Sara became the first woman to hit the 90m mark in free diving using only the natural propulsion of her monofin and since then she has been internationally recognised through a series of awards. Her specialty is teaching advanced techniques such as the mouthfill, dive strategy, competition and record training.
www.sarafreediver.com
EURODIVERS
Founded over 40 years ago, Eurodivers operates diving centers in some of the world’s best diving destinations such as Egypt, Thailand, Mauritius and Maldives to name but a few. Eurodivers at LUX* Maldives counts on a team of international diving instructors and is instrumental to the execution of the ‘Underwater Festival’.
www.euro-divers.com
-Ends –
LUX* Resorts is a collection of premium hotels in the Indian Ocean where guests can celebrate island life and enjoy light living; it is the new name and consumer brand for the luxury hotels previously operated under the “Naïade Luxury Resorts” umbrella. The five resorts in the LUX* portfolio are LUX* Belle Mare, Mauritius; LUX* Le Morne, Mauritius; LUX* Grand Gaube, Mauritius; LUX* Maldives and LUX* Ile de la Réunion. The remaining properties previously operated by “Naïade Resorts” will be part of the “Produced by” LUX* Resorts portfolio. These resorts will continue to be known as Tamassa, Bel Ombre, Mauritius; Merville Beach, Grand Baie, Mauritius and Hôtel Le Récif, Ile de la Réunion as well as Ile des Deux Cocos, Mauritius, a private paradise island. In a world where time is precious, each moment matters, experiences and emotions are more valuable than material things. The brand’s Island Light concept is inspired by the nature, culture, flavours and wares of island life, presenting a true taste of Mauritius, La Réunion and the Maldives. Clear rather than cluttered, free rather than formal, spontaneous rather than predictable, LUX* Resorts are simpler and fresher, lightening, brightening and heightening the island resort concept.
