Congratulations to our Halcyon MakeOver Winners!
Technical MakeOver Winner
Submission from: Sam Meacham
Divebuddy: Olmo Torres-Talamante
Halcyon dealer: Zero Gravity
Location: Quintana Roo Mexico
Motivation: I am writing to recommend my friend and dive buddy Olmo Torres-Talamante for the technical makeover. I have known Olmo for over 5 years and I see in him not only a shared passion for diving the incredible caves of the Yucatan Peninsula but, more importantly, a commitment to seeing that these wonders of nature receive protection from the rampant development that threatens them. Olmo is the only Mexican cave diving biologist actively working to identify the life forms found in our cave systems. At the same time he is doing research to better understand the ecological processes that make our caves tick. Biodiversity is a key indicator of the health of the aquifer and cave ecosystems. Thus, Olmo’s work is critical to the future conservation of the caves in this area. In his own words, “A better understanding of Anchialine ecology is needed in order to establish conservation strategies for the coast of Quintana Roo”. Over the last few years, The Mexican Cave Exploration Project (MCEP) and El Centro Investigador del Sistema Acuífero de Quintana Roo (CINDAQ) have aided Olmo in any way possible with his research. Just this week (April 21st-22nd, 2009), I had the opportunity to take Olmo deep into the heart of the Ox Bel Ha cave system to an area that we are actively exploring. The fact that Ox Bel Ha is the 8th longest cave on Earth is not enough to save it from development.
It is the shared vision of MCEP, CINDAQ and scientists like Olmo that scientific research will ultimately give us the foundation to conserve area caves for future generations. On each of the 4 dives we did this week Olmo emerged from the crystal clear water speechless from the beauty but full of ideas and hypothesis for further study. My favorite moment was seeing Olmo hypnotized by a blind fish (Typhliasina pearsei) floating in the crack of a fractured column. Olmo has proven he has a gift for science and an ability to communicate his findings in a way that stakeholders and decision makers can understand. Those two qualities make him a key player in the future of cave conservation in our area.So that he can continue his important work and for the future of the caves of this area I hope you will consider Olmo as a strong candidate for the Halcyon makeover. Over the years, our support has included the loan of dive equipment so that Olmo can pursue his studies and conservation goals. While Olmo has several key components of his cave diving gear, he is missing pretty much every single item that this contest is offering. I can think of no one that deserves to have his own gear more than Olmo.
Sincerely,
Sam Meacham
Recreational MakeOver Winner
Submission from: Brandon Hill
Divebuddy: Tracy Lau
Halcyon dealer: International Dive Centre
Location: Vancouver, BC
Motivation: I first met Tracy a few months ago when I did the check out dives for her open water class. After the dives were over she approached me and asked if it was possible to hire a DM or instructor to take her out on additional dives as she did not feel comfortable going out on her own. Throughout the weekend Tracy had impressed me with her irrepressible positive attitude and her desire to learn proper diving techniques so I told her I would take her out diving at no charge, all she had to do was let me know when she wanted to go. Since then Tracy has quickly become one of my favourite dive buddies. Being both a graduate student at the University of British Columbia and an employee of the Vancouver Aquarium she has opened my eyes to a new world underwater, teaching and showing me new things about creatures I have seen hundreds of times before. I will never forget the moment when Tracy gestured towards a pink sea star and then flipped it upside down, exposing it’s extruded stomach. I had no idea that was how they fed. There is never a bad dive with Tracy, rain or shine, clear waters or mud diving she always has something interesting and happy to say about the dive.
Tracy’s passion lies in marine conservation and she has several international projects and expeditions that she would like to become involved with. On top of that list is project seahorse, an international organization committed to the conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems. She realises however that there is not much point in joining such an organization if she’s going to be scraping her fins across the reefs so we have been going out as much as possible, honing her diving skills and enjoying the underwater world. A Halcyon makeover would allow Tracy to get out diving more and help her on her way to a career in marine conservation. Tracy deserves a Halcyon makeover not only because of her honourable goals in diving but also because of her positive attitude and her desire to learn how to dive rather than to just have a card that says she can. Also, the bright pink rental markings on her gear make her sad, let’s fix that.