Posted by Steffan Schulz on October 02, 2004 at 12:04:54:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scuba divers, travel aficionados encouraged to find next “destination” with new series on Public Television
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Destination Diving (www.destinationdiving.com), a 13-episode series that immerses viewers beneath the sea while offering cultural and educational fare about the Philippines, Fiji, and other exotic locales on shore, has made its national debut on Public Television. The series, produced by Dive In Depth, Inc., can currently be seen in nearly 20 markets nationwide, including Public Television stations in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and Louisville.
Viewers of Destination Diving, says producer and director Steffan Schulz, can expect an enjoyable and educational experience. “It’s a beautiful show,” he said, noting that the project was entirely self-funded by the series’ partners.
Destination Diving is appropriate for viewers of all ages and features stunning photography, breathtaking locations, and enriching cultural elements. To date, nine television industry awards have been bestowed on the series, which producers say should have a life span of up to seven years.
The long road that culminated in an award-winning television series began in 1999 with a modest idea for a straight-to-video “review show” strictly focused on scuba diving sites. But Schulz and industry partners Jerry Pentin, who served as Director of Photography, and Post Production Supervisor Chris Cusimano envisioned a grander project and developed a broader concept that Cusimano says was more “travelogue oriented, something that would appeal to divers and non-divers alike."
“The idea was that serious divers, would-be or recreational divers, and travel enthusiasts could all derive pleasure from this kind of series,” said Pentin. “Even couch potatoes just looking to escape to a tropical island can enjoy Destination Diving.”
The premiere episode examines some of the more unique destinations on the U.S. West Coast, from the kelp forest at Point Lobos State Park in northern California to the high altitude state parks at Emerald Bay / DL Bliss in Lake Tahoe. Viewers will also take a virtual tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, enjoy a wild ride down the Colorado River, and visit the concrete batch plants that were used to create the Hoover Dam now resting at 100 feet in Lake Mead, Nevada. Finally, a shark expedition off the coast of southern California’s Catalina Island gives viewers an intimate view of the beautiful Blue Shark.
In a later episode, viewers experience what Schulz calls “one of the most unique and interesting places we went to” – the North Pole. The Arctic Expedition shows divers braving minus-1 degree Celsius waters, where they explore glaciers and the frozen tundra where polar bears, reindeer, puffin, and bearded seals all make their home.
Other episodes feature segments from Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, British Columbia, and Oahu. In all, viewers can visit 25 different destinations from four continents.
Though the road was difficult, producers of the series look back on the project with pride. Enduring harsh weather, different time zones, numerous foreign languages and cultures, and bitter diving conditions wasn’t easy, they say, and the lack of funding from sponsors was another difficult pill to swallow. But the finished product represents the producers’ affinity to the oceans and an opportunity that may just be once in a lifetime.
Viewers interested in Destination Diving are encouraged to contact their local Public Television affiliates to find air times or to request that the series be included in their schedule. Video copies of the series are also available on the website: www.DestinationDiving.com.
Media contact:
Mike Janes
925/964-0441
mikejanes@comcast.net