The "Dive Dry with Dr. Bill" video series will consist of 16 to 20 thirty minute educational video programs on various aspects of kelp forest ecology, as well as videos on the marine ecology of other bioregions including the Sea of Cortez, Belize-Honduras, SE Asia and the South Pacific. The kelp forest video series is based on underwater footage acquired by Dr. Bill Bushing over the course of more than 1,000 dives in southern California waters.

The first commercial product includes footage from Catalina's world famous Casino Point Dive Park and other SoCal sites and is titled "Munching and Mating in the Macrocystis." This DVD focuses on the principal activities of all species: feeding, avoiding being eaten and reproduction. It is intended to give divers, especially in OW and AOW courses visiting the Dive Park, an idea of what can be seen there if one takes some time to stop and smell the rose anemones. Non-divers also enjoy this look into the underwater world off Catalina and enjoy "diving dry" with Dr. Bill. Insomniacs from both groups find it an excellent cure for their malady.

This one hour video includes footage of male sheephead fighting, the feeding patterns of many different fish and invertebrates, cleaning behavior, how animals defend against being "munched" by predators, black sea bass and many other species courting, sheep crabs mating, etc. Despite its G/PG rating, it has all the sex and violence you've come to expect from this master of underwater videography. Bonus footage includes a 10+ minute segment of an encounter with a partially blind bat ray.

Of course we all know such a product is "priceless." The estimated cost of this DVD is $60... er, $50... ah, $40... OK, maybe just a measly $30 in hard cold cash, coin of the realm. Once available, it can be purchased directly from StarThrower Educational Multimedia, or through Catalina SCUBA Luv, the Catalina Island Museum, The Steamer Trunk, and other outlets to be announced. Please direct all correspondence regarding this product to Dr. Bill Bushing until the actual product release has been announced. Note: this video is produced on DVD+R media which is playable on 80-90% of home DVD players. Verify that your player can play this format before purchase. In the near future DVD-R and standard DVD products will be available.

The following comments were made by divers who have viewed this DVD with a live narration by Dr. Bill Bushing at dive club or Dive Con meetings:

• "[Dr. Bill] was a huge hit! [His presentation] was very informative, well put together and everyone totally enjoyed his presentation. We can't wait to have him return next year. [To] anyone looking for a guest speaker I would highly recommend Dr. Bill." - K.M. and A.M., SSI Dive Con
  
  
• "[Dr. Bill] was amazing! One of (if not the) most well-received speakers we've had. A group of us who were there to hear him actually spent this past weekend diving in Avalon. His presentations were one of the main topics of conversation, especially as we saw some of the creatures and behaviors he pointed out in the videos he showed. I can't wait for him to come back and do another lecture on the other topics he presents on. He truly is one of our great diving resources here in So Cal! - Stacy Friedow, Shark Bait Dive Club
  
  
• "Great presentation. It's really fantastic to see this sort of footage for local diving." - Anastasia Laity, Sole Searcher's Dive Club
  
  
• "I was blown away by [Dr. Bill's] presentation. I personally enjoyed the behavior segments because I've never seen these things before, and they taught me more about the behavior of these species." - Mark Kampe, PADI instructor, Sole Searcher's Dive Club
  
  
• "Dr. Bill's video... was amazing! I never knew some of the behaviors of commonly seen animals... The footage he had was some of the best representation of our local marine life I've seen!" Kaz Aizawa, President, Sole Searcher's Dive Club
  
  
• "My cats come running to the TV every time they hear the sound of Dr. Bill's regulator. "Dive Dry with Dr. Bill" is their favorite TV show. They just love to watch the fishes and lick their whiskers. - R.G., Avalon
  
  

This web page last updated November 24, 2004

This document maintained by Dr. Bill Bushing.
Material © 2004 Star Thrower Educational Multimedia