Luke - Sharks Don't Scare Me!

Just got this in the mail.

Happy 2015! 
Help me launch my first children's book series

G'day!! 
Looking into 2015 I'm very excited as I'm launching my first children's book series!

As you know, I've spent most of my life traveling and working on the ocean as a scientist and TV presenter. Sharks have always been a huge part of my career as has promoting education and science to children so the first book, 'Shark Don't Scare Me', seemed an appropriate place to launch my series.

Pre-order now at over 15 % off list price

The 'Aquatic Aussie' is an adventurous character that will introduce children to his amazing world while making friends along the way. Beautifully illustrated, the series is written for children of all ages and promotes a healthy fascination for the ocean, its animals and the scientists that commit their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and conservation.

Now, as you know, the publishing world can be tough, so for this book to be successful I need your help.
Please click on the provided "Buy from Amazon" link to pre-order your copy at a heavily discounted price. I would also be grateful if you would share this email with your friends.


By supporting my dream I will in turn make the commitment to continue to create educational and fun literature for your children and the young at heart. Thank you so much for your support, I wish you a happy and successful 2015!

Sincerely
Luke Tipple

Pre-order now at over 15 % off list price
Outside USA? Pre-ordering is currently not available outside US, please purchase on Jan 7th as first day sales are critical to a books success!

I say, buy buy buy!

Thank you!

Diving das Auto!

Story here.

Freakin' Laser - deux!

Wow wow wow!
Looks like some people didn't quite get it.

So there: my last post was totally tongue-in-cheek!
For the record, I am actually deeply impressed by Luke and Patric's innovative marketing campaign - by the concept, by the execution and by the simply stellar roll-out across the media.
Simply brilliant - the laser and the campaign, and bravo Luke!

And what about the Shark?
Totally OK! As anybody who has clamped a Go Pro to a Lemon can confirm, the animals are totally unfazed and will continue to swim their rounds until somebody relieves them of the gizmo, exactly like the one in the video. When Patric writes that No sharks were harmed, inconvenienced, delayed, disrespected, and or annoyed in the making of this video. As it turns out Mr.Biggelsworth has a bit of a thing for our buddy Luke Tipple, it is nothing but the truth.
Disrespectful? How about directing the outrage against the folks who continue to abuse Sharks as underwater scooters - now that's inconveniencing!

Plus, I have high hopes for that clip.
If it can be engineered to fall off at predetermined times, it is the ideal platform for attaching a whole variety of tags and instruments for short-term research projects of one or two weeks. Should you be interested, you can read the details here - I certainly am and have already ordered a few.

So once again, check out the evidence.
Enjoy!

Freakin' Shark with freakin' Laser - epic Fail!

Way to go: this is totally respectful and totally necessary!

Listen carefully.



One would think that the simple request is pretty much unequivocal - or not?
So which part, exactly, did they not get about the freakin' lasers being attached (caps lock) TO THEIR HEADS?

I guess it must be that freakin' Tipple.
He's way too talented and way too, I hear, good looking (and his accent, way too absurd) for him not to be a cyborg - so let's put it down to some freakin' programming error. So once again, let me cite myself, ad nauseam like a freakin' broken record: fix the freakin' gizmo!

And other than that?
Apart from the fact that they totally frigged up the most important detail, and that the whole exercise is nothing but a freakin' lot of hot air and media frothiness aimed at marketing a freakin' laser that in all likelihood isn't even water proof?
You tell me!

Did I hear, the clip?
There's really nothing to be said about that thing other than it being disrespectful and causing unnecessary stress - and I may add, much to the contrary of the clip depicted at the top!
Plus, it is way too cheap! Should it ever, god forbid, turn out to be useful for research, it would lead to a catastrophic drop in sales of drills and titanium bolts and further depress the economy - and forever condemn nine (!!!) intrepid sharktivists to a shallow cause-less existence!

I say, enough is enough!
We must stop this now before it is too late.
Let's use the momentum of the current global wave of outrage and spam their freakin' Facebook and Twitter pages and hack their freakin' webpage. And tell ya' what: since we're at it, let's ask the couch farting fireman to start us another anti petition!

Evidence here!
And before you start getting agitated - read this!

CNN and the Shark Free Marinas!

Cool!
Stories here, here and here!
Enjoy!

Shark Free Marinas PSAs!

Excellent stuff!
We've obviously been big fans of the SFMI since day one, and Fiji continues to be one of the initiative's principal supporters.

Ever since Guy Harvey and the Humane Society have decided to support the concept, Luke has been assisted by a growing number of Board members, Celebrities and yes, certainly not leastly, by the influx of much needed funds that are being spent on promotional and support materials but also, on excellent PSAs.

Here are two of the most recent ones.
The first contains the endorsements by actor Kelly Perine, singer/songwriter Aria Johnson , celebrity photographer Nigel Barker, actress Lisa Edelstein, guitar legend Slash, the Dr Guy Harvey, American football legend Steve Bartkowski and the SFMI's Director Luke Tipple.
The second features the unequaled Guy and specifically targets the marinas in Florida - and I sure hope that there will be more targeting the other coastal states where pro-Shark activities have so far been dismal!
And, let's not forget this one! :)

Enjoy!

Shark Diver - the Movie

From Luke Tipple’s Producer’s notes.

I'd never thought to make a film like this.
For so long I've been stuck in the documentary and reality TV mind-set that the entire realm of dramatic programming was a completely foreign concept. Added to that, I've never thought of myself as an actor!

Well, he has done it and I must say that I really, really liked the result!
A long time ago, I used to run dive expeditions to remote locations and more recently, I spent 13 months on a continuous dive cruise across Micronesia and Melanesia. Being stuck on a boat like that was really like being in a prison, with the added risk of drowning as we used to quip. I can thus totally relate to Luke’s portrayal of the monotonous job of a dive guide taking clients Shark diving, the sense of frustration and loneliness that goes with it and the desire to break out and for once do something private, personally rewarding and useful – as the real Luke has done with this movie pilot!

Thing is, I really like the guy.
We’ve actually never met but we’ve interacted a lot in connection with the roll-out of the Shark Free Marinas Initiative, and I’ve found him to be highly professional and committed, and totally dependable – actually very much not like your usual diving jock, let alone your quintessential ozzie macho!
Must be the karmic influence of Patric’s chai coffee!

Case in point, this production.
From a stellar website to the great plot and the unusual filming technique, and yes, the acting, this is a testimony to the talent but above all, to the outright tenacity of the Tipple clan who have delivered a great product against all the odds of having had to go the fully independent and fully self funded route. Kudos to them and kudos to the sponsors and people like Richard and Scott Cassell who believed in the project and added their energy and time pro bono.

As to future episodes of what is meant to be a 6-part series, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Considering the continued economic slump, it’s not gonna be easy finding the funding – but then again, this really is top notch material!
Having asked Luke about where he stands, here’s what he wrote back.

If there's a message to be told it's that there's more to the ocean and sharks than the depths and jaws.
There's real people who daily make a bargain with themselves and the sea that today I dive with you and acccept that that's where I may stay. It's also about how we represent our idols and our fears. The constant negativity towards sharks as portrayed by the typical shark porn centric show is simply juvenile masturbation. It comes from no knowledge or respect for how the job is done and ends in an unsatisfying and lackluster climax.

What do I want from this?
The means to make the next episode. Whether from private or corporate investment I have story to be told and it will be said. As far as a conservation message there's enough beaters knocking on that door.
I just want to make a predator beautiful.

Lean back, relax and enjoy Mark and Luke’s film.
Oh and if you feel so inclined - you can help them as well!

Twenty!

Check out the list of Shark-Free Marinas!

Yes, that's twenty Fijian operators that have made a commitment for Shark conservation by pledging not to allow any dead Sharks to be landed at their dock. And I just hear that one more has agreed to sign up - and counting!
Is that cool - or what!

This is foremost the direct personal success of Stuart and Matava who have taken the initiative, done most of the leg work and tirelessly promoted the concept.

But this is also a testimony to how much Fiji cares about Nature in general and Sharks in particular.
This is a country that thanks to a visionary network of locally managed MPAs, is well on its way to protecting 30% of its reefs and that has declared all of its waters to be a Whale Sanctuary - and may hopefully once do the same for Sharks.
This is the country that has embraced the International Year of the Shark, with the who's who of conservation, diving and tourism signing up to its local initiative, the Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project. This is where local television and the main media support Sharks and where a locally produced pro-Shark PSA has been a roaring success among the indigenous population, many of which revere Sharks as Gods and Guardian Spirits.

And finally, our thanks need to go to Patric and Luke who have come up with this brilliant initiative and have invested their time, energy and money into what is a fabulous example of smart and inclusive conservation!

Stuart tells me that thanks to a generous grant by PADI Project Aware, the signage is being printed and that it will be distributed within the next two weeks.

A big Vinaka Vakalevu to everyone involved!
I'm sure that Dakuwaqa is smiling!

Totally agree!

Luke is spot on.

We've never met nor talked, but I hear that he's one of the up-and-coming young guns in the Shark film and TV game and if this post is any indication, that is very good news indeed! About time somebody with experience and a brain hosted one of those productions!

Back to his post, it reflects much of what we have repeatedly asserted all along: Great Whites, Tigers, Bulls and all the other macros are first and foremost Apex Predators and need to be treated accordingly. Acting otherwise is a fool's bet and has no place in responsible Shark diving, especially when it is done commercially - the more as there are excellent guidelines about how to engage in this activity.

For once, no complaints: read Luke's post!