IN MONTRÉAL:

SCREENING OF THE FESTIVAL MONDIAL DE L'IMAGE SOUS-MARINE

The Antibes Juan-les-Pins (France) international underwater film festival, Festival Mondial de l'Image Sous-marine, was founded 23 years ago by Spondyle Club president Daniel Mercier. This annual fall event attracts tens of thousands on the French Riviera in late October or early November. Underwater image creators of all major countries use this platform to promote their latest work. Meetings with producers, distributors, sponsors and many event promoters are held during the bustling week equivalent to the Cannes Film Festival for the underwater oriented A/V trade. Competition covers numerous categories such as film, video, slides and photos. The 1996 edition created a new prize for underwater CD-ROM and recognized the use of underwater images in major international advertising productions.

Screenings of the best 1996 entries at this major diving film festival will be featured in Montreal early May 1997. John Paul, 1996 Festival jury member and president of the Montreal organizing committee, plans two public film nights (Dates were still to be confirmed at time of writing). World underwater film festival founding president Daniel Mercier and executive director Pierre Coton will meet with media and public during a planned five day international visit aimed at launching the 1998 Montreal film festival version.

ESCOUMINS GOES UNDERWATER WITH TV

The Centre des Loisirs Marins (Les Escoumins) will give visiting non-divers a comfortable view of the adjacent underwater dive sites by means of live underwater video coverage. The surface to diver link will enhance an already popular interpretative program. Together with exhibits and 3D showcases explaining topography, fauna and flora of this unique underwater habitat, the new TV system will create a better hands-on impression. Rated one of the three most popular dive destinations in Canada, Les Escoumins facilities offer one of the easiest accesses to the St-Lawrence river estuary sub-arctic diving. Your contact: Laurie Levasseur (418) 233-2860 Fax (418) 233-2727.

ON THE MOVE

In Sherbrooke, Luc Boissonneault, owner of Plongée Nepteau Estrie dive shop, moved his business to larger premises on the corner of King Street West and Kate Street. The new address is 45 Kate Street, Sherbrooke, QC, J1J 2N9 (819) 564-2929.

Le Coin de la Plongée, owner Sylvain Bourque, also moved to 5759 Jean-Talon East in Saint-Léonard, a northern suburb of Montreal, H1S 1M3 (514) 899-0064.

Aqua Futur, in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, is responsible for NAUI leadership courses and contacts. Pierre Lavigne and Michel Couture are key personnel for instructor trainer workshops, instructor training and cross-overs.

In the Quebec City area, a new dive shop opened a few months ago. Plongée 21 can be found at 3431 Père-Jogues Street in Sainte-Foy.

Richard Nantais, head instructor of École de plongée sous-marine du Capitaine, is an eager internet enthusiast. He handles a site at www.pubnix.net/~rick. Laval area divers use this web link to promote group activities and field current information. Richard also contributes to Le Mensuel Voyages, a Laval based tabloid magazine type travel monthly.