Port Elizabeth: MyPE - The Vanishing World of our Oceans

www.MyPE.co.za: One of the worlds leading underwater cameramen, Gil Arbel and his Israeli film crew, are presently filming, The Vanishing World of our Oceans, in Algoa Bay.

The Vanishing World of our Oceans is predominantly an underwater film production which will show natural events and specialties which are about to disappear due to man's influence on nature. We asked Tel Aviv, Israel based Gil Arbel why he chose to film in Port Elizabeth?

“I came to PE after I realized that major productions such as National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Galatée Films produced important cinema topic films in Port Elizabeth. This convinced me that this area is very special in terms of the marine environment. In Rainer Schimpf, from Dive Expert-Tours, who catered to all before mentioned crews, I found the best organized and only legal MCM operator in Port Elizabeth, which can offer the filming of the Sardine Run and guarantee success".

Key to a successful production and from day one Gil found not only Sardines, which he followed all day through all weather and sea conditions, but also was able to capture amazing slow motion images of penguins working on a baitball as well as dolphins following the activities. "Up to 1 000 Common Dolphins in one frame is something I have not seen before and I can vouch that the Algoa Bay marine life will disappear if it is not protected properly. In this regard NGO's such as Ocean Messengers play a vital part."

Asked if he would return to Port Elizabeth after this production, Gil said; "Yes, definitely, I am now able to sell more stories than ever, from Sunfish to Great White Shark, from Brydes whale to Orcas - all important natural occurrences of international recognition that seem to happen in one spot, here in Algoa Bay."

The Vanishing World of our Oceans will be out in 2011 and hopefully available for South African viewers as well.

In 2004, Gil Arbel won the Italian underwater video trophy for his film "Tonga's Gentle Giants" featuring Humpback whales in Tonga.

Specializing in underwater camerawork, Gil’s dives have taken him to locations from the Red Sea to Tonga and Thailand to Australia and New Zealand. Credits include "Harmless Giants" on whale sharks in Thailand," Broken Code", a study of underwater archeology in Israel and "The Elusive Dugong" about dolphins and dugongs in Shark Bay, West Australia.

From 2003 to 2005, Gil worked with the BBC NHU on their mega series "Planet Earth".

In 2007, Gil filmed "A journey to the world of sharks" for the underwater observatory in Eilat Israel. A 2008 project was to film Humpback Whales for Channel 10 in Israel.

Gil Arbel Web Site.