Byron Underwater Festival - Byron Bay

Neville Coleman is a multi-award winning photographer, naturalist and author of over 50 books on marine natural history and diving.

We are proud to have this underwater pioneer and one of the most passionate diver you will ever meet as one of the major supporters of the Byron Underwater Festival since its inception. This year Neville will conduct a full Underwater Naturalist course on 27 and 28 of April 2009. He will also dive, identify critters and give a series of other presentations. He will also do book signings and sales during the festival.

Mathieu Meur is an underwater photographer based in Singapore. He authored a PADI Underwater Digital Photographer Distinctive Specialty in 2001, co-authored An Essential Guide to Digital Underwater Photography in 2004, as well as its sequel An Advanced Guide to Digital Underwater Photography in 2007. Mathieu is a regular contributor to international diving publications, and has been a speaker or judge at numerous international underwater photography events. Mathieu is always happy in the water, be it capturing the beauty of large reef denizens, majestic wrecks, or the tiniest of subjects.

Mathieu will dive and photograph and give a series of presentations including a special intensive clinic for advanced underwater photographers. He will sign his books after his presentations during the festival and give us a sneak peak of his new comprehensive underwater photography book coming out mid 2009.

Dave Harasti is a marine scientist based in Nelson Bay, Australia who started diving in 1996. For the past 12 years, Dave has worked on the conservation of threatened marine species (such as grey nurse sharks and seahorses) for the NSW and Federal Government and has recently commenced work as a research scientist for the NSW Marine Parks Authority.

Dave will give a series of presentations and is one of the judges of the photo & video shootout competition.

Professor Karen G. Haines is the currently the Director of the Western Australian Supercomputer Program (WASP) at the University of Western Australia in Perth. Prof. Haines is combining her knowledge of software programming, digital modelling and underwater photography to create 3D models with underwater texturing.