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Jett Britnell Photographics
Jett Kathryn Britnell
Jett & Kathryn Britnell

116 Articles

Jett and Kathryn Britnell are acclaimed Underwater, Wildlife, and Expedition Photographers, as well as Explorers, internationally recognized for their published work as scuba and adventure travel writers and dynamic speakers. Both are distinguished as Fellows of the exclusive Explorers Club in New York and the prestigious Royal Canadian Geographical Society in Ottawa. Both have been named Antarctic Ambassadors by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators - IAATO. Jett also holds membership in the esteemed Ocean Artists Society—a global collective of leading marine life artists, including painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, and writers. He is among an elite group of approximately 75 of the world’s foremost underwater photographers who have contributed imagery in support of The Ocean Agency’s marine conservation initiatives. Additionally, he serves as a consultant to Elephanatics, a Vancouver-based organization dedicated to elephant advocacy.
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In The Press

Fear and Loathing of Sharks: It’s a Love Story!

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onMay 3, 2019May 7, 2019 Comments are off
8. Caribbean reef sharks are the most commonly encountered reef shark in the Caribbean Sea

“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”

~ Alice in Wonderland

Not so much fear and loathing of sharks, but more of a love story about an apex predator that I have both admired and studied for the past 55 years. Yes, I was the kid who chose sharks as the topic for my interest talk to my fellow grade 5 classmates in Ottawa, many years before the movie JAWS scared the living bejesus out of people. So, you could say that I was an early adopter when it came to shark appreciation. This is a story Kathryn and I wrote for Shearwater Research Inc (manufacturers of rugged dive computers for technical divers). Kathryn learned to overcome her fear of sharks after diving into my deep blue sea over the past decade.

Here is  link to the story: Here

In The Press

The President and the Lady: World’s Greatest Diveable Intact Shipwreck?

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onApril 15, 2019May 7, 2019 Comments are off
Bow Gun on President Coolidge copyright by Jett Britnell

Luxe Beat Magazine has published our latest column, “The President and the Lady: World’s Greatest Diveable Intact Shipwreck?”  You can read it: Here

The Fog of War

Bathed in a shroud of dim pale blue light the silent steel hulk looms up from the shadowy depths. An enormous ship at 654 feet the SS President Coolidge, an American luxury ocean liner when she was launched in built in 1931, is equivalent in length to two- and one-half football fields when placed end to end. Like every shipwreck, the Coolidge has a glorious story to tell about a time long ago, in a place far, far away. The tale of how this metal hulk sank into a watery grave was written during the tides of war more than a half century ago.

Life As It Happens

It’s Our 11th Wedding Anniversary!

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onApril 2, 2019April 30, 2019 Comments are off
Jett Kathryn Britnell 2

“Blue skies of Hawaii smile. On this, our wedding day.” ~ Hawaiian Wedding Song.

Today, April 2nd, is our 11th wedding anniversary!

It was a stupendously gorgeous sunny day 11 years ago when Kathryn and I posed together for wedding pictures on Waimānalo Beach, with our toes in white sand framed by the scenically beautiful cerulean blue Pacific Ocean that stretches along Oahu’s windward coast. We created quite a stir with a few beachgoers that day; with you looking so breath-takingly beautiful in your white Fufu wedding dress, and me clearly trying to “punch above my weight” in a white tuxedo jacket and looking somewhat rakish as if I had just stepped out of an upscale nightclub and gambling den called, “Rick’s Café Américain”, in Casablanca during World War II. Truly, an unforgettable and absolutely perfect day this one turned out to be.

On this joyful occasion there are far too many eloquent things I could say… along with a never-ending river of words I could write. But I will cut to the chase and simply say this. You are both a good woman and a kind-hearted charitable soul who never ceases to inspire me with your unconditional love & sage wisdom. Thank you, for being all that you are… all that you aspire to be… and always… for choosing me to be your husband.

“Happy anniversary, mi amor precioso!”

In The Press

Pyramids, Plazas and Temples

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onMarch 22, 2019May 7, 2019 Comments are off
August 3 Ways To Ruin Your Maya Riviera Vacation Jett Britnell3

Travel Thru History has published our story, “Three Ways to Visit the Ruins” about Mexico’s Mayan ruins on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Pyramids, Plazas and Temples

While many people flock to Riviera Maya solely to drink cold Coronas while sun worshiping on white sand beaches splashed by a crystal-clear turquoise ocean, there are many who choose to ruin their Mexican vacation by stepping back in history by visiting some ancient archeological masterpieces. Today, the Maya’s past is revealed in the impressive crumbling ruins of their elaborate pyramids, plazas and temples which are scattered throughout the Yucatán Peninsula. Many archeological structures still remain undiscovered as they are hidden from view by thick vegetation and cloaked by dense jungle. While there are a seemingly endless number of ancient sites to explore, Chichén Itzá, Tulum and Cobá are three of the Riviera Maya’s finest and most diverse collection of archaeological sites that are easy to visit, and yet, they still possess some unique mysteries to entice modern day explorers.

Here is a link to the story:

http://www.travelthruhistory.com/html/historic210.html

In The Press

Published by Canadian Geographic!

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onMarch 13, 2019May 7, 2019 Comments are off
5. Orange spotted nudibranch Jett Britnell 1

Our story “What is a nudibranch? Meet the “high fashion models” of the ocean depths” was published online at Canadian Geographic yesterday!

Where we live

In British Columbia, where we live, nudibranchs inhabit the emerald depths in such high concentrations, the province is considered Canada’s hotspot for the creatures. Since our work as underwater photographers requires us to have more than a passing acquaintance with nudibranchs, we photograph as many species as we can.

Nudibranch basics

“There are two distinct types of nudibranchs: aeolids and dorids. Aeolids absorb oxygen through their skin and have a series of horn-like projections, called cerata, on their heads and backs that allow them to take in more oxygen. Dorids, the most common type of nudibranch, breathe through a tuft of external feathery gills that they can retract into their body for protection if needed. Nudibranch gills come in many shapes and sizes and are used for breathing, digestion, and defence. While in other parts of the world the average length for nudibranchs is about two centimetres, British Columbia’s nudibranchs are giants by comparison, generally reaching 15 to 30 centimetres in length.”

For more, go here: https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/what-nudibranch-meet-high-fashion-models-ocean-depths

Life As It Happens

The Holy Trifecta of Explorer Fellowships

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onMarch 11, 2019April 8, 2019 Comments are off
Explorers Club Jett Britnell e1519164650490

“Her soul was too deep to explore by those who always swam in the shallow end.”

– A.J. Lawless.

A shout out this post for my wife, Kathryn Britnell, who in January was named a Fellow in the world-renowned and exclusive Explorers Club. Over the past 6 months, Kathryn has been elected a Fellow in three of the world’s most famous and prestigious exploration societies, The Explorers Club in New York City, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society in Ottawa, and the Royal Geographical Society in London. She has achieved what is known in explorer circles as being the “Holy Trifecta!”

The Explorers Club HQ

A notable accomplishment for anyone to become part of a fraternity of explorers who claim such members past and present as Sir Ernest Shackleton, US president Theodore Roosevelt, Thor Heyerdahl, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Robert E. Peary, Roald Amundson David Livingstone, Sir Richard Burton, Sir John Franklin, along with modern day explorers such as astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Chris Hadfield, Amos Nachoum , Susan R. Eaton, Jill Heinerth, George Kourounis, James Cameron, Dr. Syliva Earle and undersea explorer, Phil Nuytten to name just a few.

The Explorers Club Flag
In The Press

Sport Diver Magazine Cold Water Cover First

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onFebruary 24, 2019May 7, 2019 Comments are off

In the April 1996 issue of Sport Diver (USA), Jett wrote the double-page spread feature article. The icing on the cake for him was one of his images of a female diver with a Giant Pacific Octopus appeared on the cover of the magazine. The editor told him it was the first cold water diving picture that up to that point had ever appeared on their magazine’s cover.

Marine Life

Coleman Shrimp & Toxic Fire Urchins

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onFebruary 24, 2019April 30, 2019 Comments are off

Coleman Shrimp

Somewhat rare, Coleman shrimp are normally found in pairs on the toxic fire sea urchin. The female is the larger of the two, Coleman shrimp move among the poisonous spines with impunity. They were named after the late, great, Australian diving legend, Neville Coleman.

The blue/white tips of this toxic fire urchin’s (Asthenosoma varium) spines are filled with a venom that can cause a very painful and long-lasting sting. It inhabits the tropical Indo-Pacific region and can reach 25 centimetres in diameter. Some claim it is similar to a great electric shock followed by an excruciating burn. My wife, Kathryn, can speak to as she got stung by a fire urchin on her thigh by one of these urchins last week while I was photographing the one pictured here in Anilao, Philippines. The 10 or so spines that broke off under her skin are slowly working their way out. Despite the the urchin wound, It did not prevent her from diving or enjoying rum infused mango shakes apres dives.

In The Press

Gulet Odyssey: Blue Voyage of Dreams

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onFebruary 20, 2019May 7, 2019 Comments are off

Our latest Third Age Expeditions column for Luxe Beat Media earned us another “Editors Pick”. “Gulet Odyssey: Blue Voyage of Dreams” recounts our adventuresailing the southern Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey on a traditional wooden Turkish gulet. The weblink is here. https://luxebeatmag.com/unconventional-underwater-photography-tips

In The Press

Ocean Metaphor: Unexpected Life Lessons from the Sea

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onFebruary 18, 2019November 11, 2020 Comments are off
Ocean Metaphor Book

Ocean Metaphor

It was a distinct honour to have been tagged as a contributing photographer to this is an eloquently written and beautifully illustrated new book by Cathryn Castle & Gui Garcia of  C2G2 Productions. The book includes some stunning images contributed by a distinguished group of ocean luminaries such as Marty Snyderman, Michele Hall, Allison Vitsky Sallmon, Chris Huss, Tanya G Burnett, Jennifer Penner, Joel Penner, Evan Sherman, Barry Guimbellot, Ellen Cuylaerts, Eric Hanauer, Karen Straus, Jayne Jenkins, Douglas David Seifert, Kevin Davidson and Kevin Lee. It is available now on Amazon. LINK HERE

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