We are giving a free “Explorers Talk” evening presentation at Fjällräven Vancouver on Tuesday, February 11th! Our presentation will touch upon the three explorer societies we are involved with, shipwrecks, sharks, salmon, First Nation burial sites, and a remote Norwegian archipelago called Svalbard which lies in the Arctic Ocean between the North Pole and Norway’s mainland.
Here is a link for tickets: Here
It hit me last night soon after I started Explorers Talk with some opening comments. Kathryn had just introduced the first speaker, Jude Isabella, Chief Editor of Hakai Magazine, when it occurred to me that all the months of organizing, coordinating and preparation leading up to this evening was all in the lap of the gods now. Jude was about 2 minutes into her presentation and I’m sitting in the audience thinking… “Ohhh, this is good!” Clearly, the gods were smiling.
Indeed, the Explorers Club – Canadian Chapter Fellows from the BC / Yukon Region who had graciously agreed to give presentations all knocked it out of the park.
Jett Britnell gives opening remarks at Explorers Talk, Nov 5th 2019, Aquaquest Theatre at Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Canada. Photo by Craig Minielly.Jude Isabella presented “Taking the Measure of a Mysterious Monkey” which was about the plight of Borneo’s fascinating Proboscis monkey.
Jude Isabella. Photo by Craig Minielly.Isabelle Groc’s stunning photography visually illustrated her long-term study of Sea Otters in a presentation titled, “A Journey into the Sea Otter Coast.”
Isabelle Groc. Photo by Craig Minielly.Phil Nuytten’s presentation “Land that Devours Ships” was about the first High Arctic dives in 1981 on the Breadalbane (a British merchant ship which sank in the Barrow Strait near Nunavut’s Beechey Island in 1853) using the WASP, an atmospheric diving suit similar to the Newtsuit. Phil also gave us an enticing glimpse into some ongoing modern-day undersea exploration being conducted in Greece wherein the Hellenic Navy is surveying what has been called “the Titanic of the Ancient World,” the Antikythera treasure shipwreck.
Phil Nuytten. Photo by Craig Minielly.Among the sunken treasures discovered in this Roman-era shipwreck dating from the second quarter of the first century BC, was the celebrated “Antikythera Mechanism,” an ancient Greek analogue computer used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes decades in advance. All the statues and other treasures onboard when the vessel sank were gifts destined to be delivered to Julius Caesar. Just pause to think about that… gifts destined for Julius Caesar.
Phil Nuytten at Explorers Talk. Photo by Craig Minielly.Our primary concern was to respect the audience’s time by not running overtime. As it turned out, we ended the three presentations with 30 minutes to spare. I asked the audience if they would like to see a brief presentation of some underwater images from British Columbia? It was unanimous, so I gave a presentation called, “Tropical Splendour…in a Cold Sea.” Afterwards, a heartfelt thank you to all… some gifts of appreciation for our speakers… and wham bam… we had all exited the theatre spot on time at 9PM.
Jett Britnell presenting, Nov 5th 2019, Aquaquest Theatre at Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Canada. Photo by Craig Minielly.We are filled with gratitude to all who attended Explorers Talk. Some attendees came from as far away as Abbotsford, Whistler, Salt Spring Island and Vancouver Island. Apart from the Explorers Club members who came, I feel we succeeded in creating greater awareness about the The Explorers Club through our outreach to the general public with this event.
Explorers Talk audience. Photo by Craig Minielly.No event of this magnitude just happens, nor is it the reflection of work by just one person. Along with the speakers, the Vancouver Aquarium supported us in providing a theatre and Audio Visual and Security personnel at a price far below what they usually charge. My multi-talented wife, Kathryn, coordinated the event insurance through SBC Insurance Agencies Ltd., and also took on the duties of introducing each speaker and inviting them to the stage.
Kathryn Britnell. Photo by Craig Minielly.We also were the beneficiaries of support from three amazing volunteers. We enlisted the assistance of local photo pro, Nikon Ambassador, and TEC Member, Craig Minielly to photograph the event. In return for his photographic prowess, I promised him he would be handsomely rewarded with EXPOSURE (yes, we both chuckled over that). Coleen Clancy, TEC’s Social Media Goddess, performed her social media voodoo during the event, took some photos, and supported us in promoting Explorers Talk in the days and weeks leading up to the event. Coleen messaged me last night, “I have more that I will post tomorrow. Thanks again! It was a great night. My friend Erzsi now wants to become a member.” And last, but certainly not least, our friend and fellow Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellow, Ruby Banwait, answered our call to check off names on the guest list as people arrived. Craig, Coleen and Ruby, you are the best! Thank you for your friendship and support in helping to make Explorers Talk a success.
Explorers Talk evening with Phil Nuytten. Photo by Craig Minielly.Well, that as they say, is a wrap. There were several people in the audience who enthusiastically wanted to know when the next Explorers Talk will be? Good question? As I said to Kathryn over a late dinner last night, that question is somewhat akin to asking a mother just moments after she has given birth… “When are you going to have your next baby?” In that moment, you just want to absorb what just happened. Ask me again… in a few months. At this moment… I’m inhaling love… and exhaling gratitude.
A photo of my tattoo was once published in Canada’s Diver Magazine. It was part of larger feature story about scuba divers who have tattoos. This photo request was by far one of the strangest requests I have ever received from a dive magazine editor.
Getting a tattoo was the furthest thing from my mind when I stepped off the plane on the Cook Islands in April 2003. The original tribal body art design that adorns my right bicep depicts stylized whale tails breaking the ocean’s surface. While the tattoo was being applied, the tattoo artist and I discussed where I was from. Upon learning I lived in British Columbia he asked, “You have Orcas there, right?” He added an Orca’s fin to the final design. My tattoo artist was “T” (Tetini Pekopo) of T’s Tattoos on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. He is native and does mainly traditional Cook Island tattoo designs but also creates some interesting contemporary patterns using traditional Polynesian motifs. His studio is extremely busy so one must book an appointment. “T” is known throughout Polynesia as a traditional artist and tattooist who is extremely talented, possessing incredible knowledge and skill.
Overall, a rather spontaneous decision on my part that I have never regretted.
It is my distinct pleasure that I can now formally announce who the speakers will be for “Explorers Talk” on November 5th, at the Vancouver Aquarium Theatre. In no particular order, they are:
Jude is Founder and Editor in Chief of Hakai Magazine, a magazine focused on science and society in coastal ecosystems. As a freelancer, she writes about science and the environment for readers young and old. Her book, “Salmon: A Scientific Memoir” (2014), explores the human relationship with Pacific salmon and chronicles her discoveries and thoughts collected over a four-year period in the field with scientists who study British Columbia’s coastal ecosystem.
Award-winning environmental writer and conservation photographer, Isabelle Groc shares her passion for everything wild, big and small, on land, in water, on the move. Her work focuses on environmental science, wildlife natural history and conservation, endangered species, marine mammals and ecosystems, and the changing relationships between people and the natural world. She aims to create engaging stories that increase our understanding and awareness of conservation issues and inspire change.
A recipient of the Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia, internationally recognized pioneer in the diving industry, Phil Nuytten has spent 40 years creating deep-water dive products that have opened the ocean’s depths to exploration and industry. Among his many pursuits Phil is an inventor; scientist; Sub-sea engineer; commercial diver; deep-sea explorer; author; carver and native advocate; entrepreneur; designer of the Newtsuit and the Exosuit; publisher of DIVER Magazine, the longest-established scuba magazine in North America; President of Nuytco Research; opened his first dive store in 1957; founded Can-Dive Service in 1966; co-founder of Oceaneering International in 1969; took part in the first saturation dive under polar ice; took part in the first mixed-gas dives under polar ice; given the name Tlaxwsam (Red Snapper) by the Kwakwaka’wakw tribe. Yes, we’re willing to take a chance on this multi-talented local kid who announced back in September 2018 that he was designing, and planned to build, an underwater human settlement off of the coast of Vancouver, Canada in the Pacific Ocean.
It is with immense gratitude that I extend our deepest thanks to all three of these Explorers Club Fellows for generously agreeing to participate in the Explorers Club, Canadian Chapter, BC / Yukon Region’s first Explorers Talk event. Many thanks also to all who put their name forward.
Jett Britnell FI’16, FRCGS, FRGS
Regional Director BC/Yukon
Canadian Chapter
The Explorers Club
As the Explorer Club’s Regional Director, BC/Yukon, Canadian Chapter, it is with great pleasure I can now confirm “Explorers Talk” in Vancouver is all systems go!
Tickets available here: Explorers Talk Tickets
The Vancouver Aquarium Theatre is booked for the evening of November 5th!
A call for three presenters from the Explorer Club’s BC / Yukon Chapter is in progress. Soon after August 1st, we will announce the speakers.
$20.00 general admission tickets will be offered exclusively to BC/Yukon Explorers Club membership for two weeks. After that, all remaining tickets will be made available for sale to the public. We will post when this happens.
So… take your protein pills and put your helmet on as the countdown has commenced for “Explorers Talk” in Vancouver.
Until then, dare to Explore… Dream… Discover.
Jett Britnell FI’16, FRCGS, FRGS
Regional Director BC/Yukon
Canadian Chapter
The Explorers Club
Happy to receive a note from Nikon Canada today advising that we are among an elite international group of special Nikon photographers and that we are now a Nikon Professional Services Member.
Join us for a “Polar Cruising Adventure” aboard PolarQuest’s, M/S Quest, August 14 – 24, 2019. Kathryn and are special guests for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to one of the world’s most remote, northerly, wilderness realms! With ten nights on board the small expedition ship M/S Quest there will be ample time for grand shore-based nature excursions and wildlife encounters. In August the polar ice is slowly starting to loosen its frozen grip, which offers good opportunities to explore the seldom visited eastern parts of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, which geographically, is closer to the North Pole than to Norway its nearest neighbour 1,000 km away. I am also aboard as a Special Lecturer during this polar voyage.
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.
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 HQA 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
A huge shout out and thanks to all who came out for our presentation at Vancouver Diving Locker last night! After an exhausting few days leading up to the event it was gratifying to see such a large turn out. Some friends also surprised me by coming. Over the past days Kathryn had a last minute out of town business trip. As we could not be sure she would make it to the show in time, let alone at all, I had to write out her part of the presentation. As luck would have it, she arrived at the Diving Locker from the airport with luggage in tow just minutes before me. Some warm feedback has been coming through messages. It was heartwarming to receive the attached message from Jeff Talbot on Instagram stating his wife was so inspired she is going to get her diver certification! Thank you again for the invitation to present, Tess Hedderich! And thanks must also go out to Coleen Clancy of The Explorers Club for taking some pictures. All in all, an evening filled with so many good vibrations!
We received some heart-warming feedback from our recent evening presentation, “ A Life in the Depths” which we presented at Vancouver’s Diving Locker.
All content on this website © Copyright 2023 - Jett & Kathryn Britnell - All Rights Reserved
(Play Nice In The Sandbox, Kids. Ask, Don't Steal)