Australian Premiere for Planet Ocean Documentary at Heron Island
The 90 minute documentary film, Planet Ocean, which premiered recently at the Earth Summit in Rio, will make its Australian debut at the Heron Island Dive Festival to be held later this month from 25 – 29 July.
Directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, the movie has been created to change the way people look at oceans and to encourage them to imagine conservation and stewardship as responsibilities shared by everyone on Earth. Arthus-Bertrand who is well known for his “Earth from the Air” aerial photography exhibit, which previously toured Australia, is also a passionate environmentalist. He says of this project “it was time to look at things directly, to illustrate and denounce the dangers threatening our oceans and therefore our planet.”
The documentary, which also draws on the talents of some of the world’s leading aerial and underwater cinematographers, oceanographers and biologists will be made available free of charge to any interested NGO following its premiere to ensure it brings these important ocean conservation messages to the widest possible global audience.
The movie was produced in partnership with Swiss luxury watchmaker, OMEGA which has provided decades long support for oceanic health and exploration. Jacques Cousteau, who famously pronounced the Heron Bommie as one of his top ten dive spots, was often photographed wearing an OMEGA Marine.
The premiere screening on Heron Island will take place on July 26. It will then run several times over the next few days of the Festival providing a highly relevant inclusion on the Festival’s agenda this year.
Heron Island, located off the coast of Gladstone, on the Great Barrier Reef is a renowned diving and snorkelling region. A natural coral cay teeming with reef fish, turtles, manta rays, reef sharks and endless varieties of invertebrates, Heron Island not only boasts over 20 different dive sites but is also a precious nesting ground for endangered Green and Loggerhead Turtles. In recognition of this, the Island recently announced an important partnership with the Sea Turtle Foundation.
Heron Island was featured in the recent BBC documentary series, “The Great Barrier Reef” and will be the launch destination for the SeaView scientific project which will explore 20 destinations along the Reef beginning September 2012.
Last minute bookings are still available for the Dive Festival which is priced from $1256 per person, and includes four nights’ accommodation, two dives daily (per diver booked), three meals each day, return launch transfers from Gladstone and tanks and weights.
Visit the website at http://www.heronisland.com/Dive-Festival.aspx for further information. For reservations contact 1300 233 432 or email travel@dncinc.com .
