SECRET HOLLYWOOD FOOTAGE TAKEN
Startlingly clear images of the interior of the sunken Titanic, filmed in secret by Canada's most successful movie director, will be shown for the first time in this country at Underwater Canada '96. North America's largest consumer scuba exhibition will hold its 25th annual show March 29 to 31, 1996 at the Regal Constellation Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.
Niagara Falls, Ontario native James Cameron (Terminator, Abyss, Lethal Weapons) conducted a top-secret expedition in August to view the remains of the Titanic. Using leased Russian Mir submarines and state-of-the-art lighting equipment, Cameron and his cinematographer, Al Giddings (Jaws, Abyss, Lethal Weapons) are reported to have captured the best film images of the shipwreck to date. A Mir submarine was able to actually get Cameron's large format cameras inside the breached hull of the 82 year old luxury liner.
Ralph White, an associate of Robert Cameron, will be presenting the film "Titanic '95 - An Inside View" at Underwater Canada 96's Gala International Film Festival, the evening of March 30th. The short movie will include footage that is to be part of a new, 20th Century Fox feature film that is currently being produced by James Cameron. "This is a milestone year for Underwater Canada and it is only fitting that we do something very special to mark our 25th show," said chairman Marian Peirce. "The Cameron footage will have people agog in their seats. And, that is just one part of a blockbuster evening."
The Titanic presentation is one of eight films that will be shown Saturday night. Included in the line-up is another Canadian premier of a visit to a world famous shipwreck! National Geographic Magazine's Emory Kristoff will be in Toronto to introduce "Great Lakes Adventure ... The Edmund Fitzgerald". He will be showing pictures and videos that he took in August while on board the Canadian Research ship HMCS Cormorant. Kristoff used the CORMORANT's mini-subs and a Newt Suit to get on board the Lake Superior shipwreck.
Also scheduled to present new films at the Festival are: Dr. Joe MacInnis, Free Willy cinematographer Bob Talbot, Michel Gilbert and Danielle Alliene, Sport Diver TV's Jim Kozmik and John McKinney. John McKinney is the son of one of Canada's first underwater filmmakers, the late Jack McKinney.
"We actually have three separate film festivals," continued Ms. Pierce. "We are premiering dive movies on both Friday and Saturday night. Sunday's Matinee Film Show is meant for the whole family. Of course Underwater Canada is more than just films, we have our exhibit hall, there are free scuba lessons in the pool, incredible lectures, training sessions and a BIG dance."
Almost a thousand people are expected to attend the Saturday Film Festival. A further 7,000 people are expected to visit Underwater Canada's 20,000 square foot exhibit hall. Combining exciting Travel, Ecology and Equipment exhibits the dive show draws attendees from around the globe.
Underwater Canada '96 is organized and run by the volunteers. The show itself is owned by the Ontario Underwater Council (OUC). The non-profit OUC is the governing body for the sport of scuba diving in the province. For ticket information contact the Underwater Council at (416) 426-7033.

The year of the Titanic
Underwater Canada is not the only Toronto show that is planning Titanic events in 1996. The Toronto International Boat Show (January 13 - 21,1996) has set aside part of the Exhibition Place's Coliseum for the Treasures of the Titanic exhibit.
"This is a Canadian collection," explained Boat Show Manager Carol Bell. "There are more than 60 items relating to the Titanic that will be shown, most for the first time, here in Toronto. It is important to note that these things were not removed from the wreck - the deck chair and luggage was recovered in 1913 and 1914 along Canada's east coast."
The International Boat Show brings thousands of boats, motors and accessories to the city of Toronto. ÊAdmittance to the Titanic is included in the price of admission. For information contact the boat show office at (416) 591-6772.

St. Catharines, Ontario wreck festival
And the wreck shows continue. . . the Niagara Divers' Association based in St. Catharines, Ontario will be presenting their second annual Shipwreck Festival on Saturday, March 2nd, 1996. The one-day event will be held at the Laura Secord School, 349 Niagara Street in St. Catharines. Jim Grice, the Chair of Shipwrecks/96 writes that this year "we are back with a larger location, new and returning speakers, and the determination to provide our attendees with a great day at a reasonable price! Highlight of the day will be a lecture given by Gary Gentile. Mr. Gentile was a member of a recent Liusitania expedition! For further information contact Jim at: (905) 356-7337.

STAYING WET THIS WINTER IN TORONTO:
When snow begins to fall in Ontario, most scuba divers put away their gear for the season. The Toronto dive shop, Waterlines, wants to reverse that trend, and has once again instituted its popular Sunday Splash!
Every Sunday throughout the winter divers can bring their equipment to the Wexford Collegiate Pool in Toronto and get wet. The shop offers Sunday scuba training programs, refresher courses and the Discover Scuba and Snorkelling classes. Sunday Splash runs 4-6pm at the pool. Use of the pool is free for members of the Waterline's Dive Club, there is a nominal charge for non-members. For information about the Sunday Splash and the Waterline's Dive Club call 416-488-6000.

CANADA'S UNDERWATER WORLD PART OF A NEW CD ROM:
Earlier this fall, the McClelland & Stewart Publishing House began promoting the Canadian Encyclopaedia Plus (TCE+). Released 10 years after the original print version of the Canadian Encyclopaedia became available, this is the first ever Multi-media reference CD-ROM that is specifically designed for Canadian users.
And while this home-grown CD-ROM will be in demand by students because it contains over 10,000 articles, 3,5000 illustrations, 600 maps and a myriad of animations, videos and audio clips, this new release will also be of interest to scuba divers. TCE+ actually contains items about Canada's underwater world. Included amongst the 17 million words on this CD ROM, There are entries about shipwrecks, biographies about famous Canadian divers and there are charts and pictures about fish and aquatic animals.
The Canadian Encyclopaedia Plus goes beyond the original book - it has been totally revised and new entries have been added. The latest version now has close to 300 items on Canadian sports and it has descriptions and brief histories of almost of almost 100 sporting activities from canoeing to scuba. However, when it comes to diving there are a few changes that still have to take place ( for example PADI Canada is the number one certifying agency in Canada, not NAUI ) and new additions should be made (there is no mention of the Quebec Scuba Federation or Hyperbaric medicine).
The new CD ROM is both Macintosh and Windows compatible on the same disk. Included on each disk of the Encyclopaedia is the Gage Canadian Dictionary and a Canadian Thesaurus. Now available in stores across the country, TCE+ retails at an introductory price of $99.95.