Press release of the 9th Edition is the special theme of the Ninth International Underwater Photography Biennial from 30 January - 1 February 2003 - The Lugano Congress Hall In ancient times water and the sea were entities shrouded in mystery and hidden in their depths were unknown creatures, celestial or monstrous and almost always frightening. People imagined the sea as the domain of fascinating, sometimes cruel deities, while sea creatures were the expression of monstrous evil forces to be fought and overcome with cunning. The mythology of many civilisations is full of similar legends and heroes seduced by promise of adventure and the desire for knowledge. Despite the progress made by science, our knowledge of the ocean is still limited and we only partially understand the complex mechanisms of the different seas. But we now know that the sea is life. Men who have since become legends have visited the many great depths of the oceans. We know that in the depths monstrous animals really exist, although we still have difficulty distinguishing the fearsome from the harmless. Nevertheless, something in us seems to yearn the mystery, and so we like to imagine that somewhere, in the blue of the sea or the green of the lakes, fantastic creatures still exist... Conferences The conferences for the public will be held on Thursday evening at 20.30hrs, in sala B. Depths in shallow water: affinities and parallels between underwater caves and deep environs. Speaker Dr. Carlo Nike Bianchi Marine Biologist, ecology professor at the Genoa University. 1981 CLEM award winner for Marine Biology. Scientific diver, member of the Control Board of the International School for Scientific Diving and lecturer at training courses for Underwater Scientific Research. Member of several Italian and international scientific societies, as well as the International Society for Reef Studies. Member of the Underwater Association for scientific research. Life member of the Coastal Sciences Association. Member of the Management Committee "Management and enhancement of the coastal belt" of the Società Italiana di Biologia Marina. Secretary of the Presidential Council of the Associazione Italiana di Oceanologia e Limnologia. Scientific advisor for "Naturalist Diver". Specialist in bionomy, cartography and biogeography of marine benthos and composite, structural and functional analysis of marine ecosystems. Expert in underwater bionomic survey techniques, of sample collection theories and quali-quantitative numerical analysis. He has carried out underwater and oceanographic cruise research campaigns in the West Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Eastern Atlantic (boreal, temperate and tropical) the English Channel, the Caribbean Sea, the eastern Pacific Ocean and Cortez Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. He teaches in the field of ecology in university and post-university courses. A collaborator on national and international scientific magazines. Author of over 200 publications, many of these on international periodicals, and of several books. Sea Monsters, on the trail of the great sea snake and the giant octopus, between legend and reality. Speaker: Dr. Maurizio Mosca Born in Milan on 2nd December 1954, he obtained his degree in veterinary medicine in 1980 in Milan and works freelance from his private studios. He has worked for the past twenty years on themes related to the existence (proven or not) of animal species unknown to man (Cryptozoology). He is the author of two books on this theme, edited by Mursia: Monsters of the Sea written with Giancarlo Costa in 1999 and Monsters of the Lake, published in 2000. He is currently completing a book on Cryptozoological cases in Italian lakes and seas. He cooperates with the Italian Cryptozoological Group, with the International Society of Cryptozoology and has contacts with the recently established Lucerne Department of Cryptozoology. He has published several articles in newspaper, magazine and prestigious journals (including the Maritime Magazine, run by the Italian Navy) and he has taken part in many radio and television programmes. He edited the texts for the Mostri in Mostra exhibition held at the Milan Aquarium in 1999, which can also be seen at the 9th edition of the Lugano Biennial. He has been a speaker at numerous conferences throughout Italy. Among his best known research expeditions are: two in Loch Ness and the recent (2001) exploration in the swamps of Bangwelu in Central Africa. Honor Guest MIKE VALENTINE - UK Director/Cameraman Mike Valentine B.S.C. has been revealing to audience the hidden beauty of the underwater world for over 20 years. He will be the guest of honour at the Biennale of Lugano (Switzerland) and he will take you behind the scenes of some of the many productions Mike has worked on, as Indiana Jones, Shakespeare in love, James Bond, The Beach... He will also tell you about equipment and techniques of shooting underwater. Projections Ample space is given to the Diaporamas (slide shows), which make up the main part of the event and allow the spectators to enter many diverse marine environments, giving free reign to their fantasies and emotions. The diaporamas use several projectors, with a cross disolvency technique. The result is very effective and fascinates the public not only for its content, but for the beautiful images. The authors invited will present works considered by the organisers to be of high quality and of particular interest. - Mike Valentine Video-show - Pozzoli Tally When whales meets man - Pozzoli Lionel Sharks - Pfeiffer Guido Mediterraneo - Honsbeek Angelika Egypt in "trivision" - Duchesne Steve Une goutte dans l'amère - Dilenge Pierfranco e Renza Magic UW Caves Sea vagabond - Bortoletto Fulvia e Pierluigi Mediterranean Nature     Dreamtime - Bernasconi - Sahunquet The song of the water - Bernasconi Mauro e Franca The wave and her star     The wonderful story of Nicolas Friday: Programme for Schools and Public | Sala A 09.15 - 10.30 Show for the primary Schools 14.00 - 16.00 Programme for High Schools 16.30 - 18.30 Programme for the Public Competition for slide-show and video 20.30 - 23.00 Slide-show Video show with Mike Valentine Enterview with Deep Sea Divers Saturday: Programme for the Public | Sala A 09.00 - 11.00 Competition for slide-show and video 11.00 - 12.00 Film BBC: Blue Planet - The Deep 14.00 - 15.00 Slide-Show 15.00 - 16.30 Video-show with Mike Valentine 16.30 - 18.30 Awards and projection of the awarded works 20.30 - 23.00 Slide-show Video show with Mike Valentine Enterview with Deep Sea Divers Exhibitions | Friday and Saturday from 9.00 to 23.00 "Myths and Marine Monsters" is the exhibition route which show us the mysterious creatures of the depths, those which sometimes appear so "monstrous" and so different from the creatures which we usually meet in the sea. Many of these creatures, because of their size or their behaviour, have over time become real legends. Others, borne of the imaginations of different peoples, already contributed long ago to feed stories and legends bordering on the fantastic and the real, the human and the divine, helping them to become mythical creatures. The exhibition will take place thanks to the Genoa Aquarium, the Milan Aquarium, and in collaboration with the Lugano Cantonal Natural History Museum, where the exhibition may be visited immediately after the Biennial. "The Ancient History of the Sea" through objects which have the smell of relics, and which will evoke the fearless deeds of courageous men, will illustrate the story, now legend, of the origins of underwater activity, the story of the Deep Sea Diver. The exhibition of underwater marine photography, the beauty of unrepeatable moments, will give prominence to the valuable works of Jean Claude Tarlé, France Mario Marzorati, Italy The ONU has taken the decision to announce 2003 "Freshwater Year" The freshwater photography exhibition, pictures of en extraordinary world, by Matthias Blättler, Switzerland Mauro Bernasconi, Switzerland will underline and illustrate the decision of the ONU FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SUBJECT: Helvetas The Swiss Association for international co-operation was founded in 1955. Engaged in helping disadvantaged populations in Asia, Africa and Latin America, it supports and promotes self-help in the long-term management of natural resources, of infrastructure in rural areas and in cultural and teaching fields. "Acqua per tutti" is one of the projects currently underway, working to guarantee fresh water to every human being. Gruppo HADES Led by Prof. Weingartner, the HADES group from the Berne University Hydrology Institute compiles and updates the Swiss Hydrologic Atlas. The aim of the atlas is to make accessible to the general public, in cartographic form, the knowledge collected here; these are technical notions reached over the past decades, through observation, analysis and research made in Switzerland. The publication is aimed at hydrologists at work and in research, experts in hydraulic construction and hydro economics, politicians, authorities, teachers and students, and everyone who cares about water-linked problems. Special Event: Genoa Deep Sea Divers The Ancient History of the Sea is a cultural association established in Genoa in 1995 to study, conserve, keep alive and pass on the knowledge of ancient diving, intervention and underwater work techniques. The first information regarding dive exploration of the sea, utilising a "bell", dates back to 332 a.C. This legendary deed is attributed to Alessandro Magno. In 360 a.C. Aristotle also spoke of sponge fishermen who managed to breathe underwater thanks to a "bell". The passage from bell to open helmet was made in 1690 thanks to Edmund Halley, better known for his discoveries in the field of astronomy. In 1823 the Englishman Charles Deane patented a helmet connected to suit and equipment. The first diving suit, attributed to A.Siebe, was created in 1834 thanks also to technical contribution from the Deane brothers. In 1838 William Newton requested a patent in England for the production of a system capable of distributing acclimatised and pressurised air, taken from a supply of compressed air from the surface. Only many years later, in 1879, did the first diver with an autonomous suit make an appearance, thanks to Henry A.Fleuss, with the introduction of the aqualung linked to the diving suit, using oxygen from a closed circuit. During the Biennial 6 Diving Instructors from the " The Ancient History of the Sea" will be in Lugano to help us relive the glories and emotions of the legendary past, through the dressing and immersion in a deep sea dive suit. Giovanni Battistone, a living legend and the last descendent of a dynasty of deep-sea divers, will be joining us. The show will take place on friday 31st January and saturday 1st February: from 10AM to 4PM. Those not able to dive will have the chance to see the various objects which make up the divers heavy clothing, and an opportunity to talk to the experts. Stand The following organisations will present their activities to the public: - The Genoa Aquarium - The Milan Aquarium - The Papua New Giunea divers Association, who return to Lugano for the third time - FIAS, the Italian divers Federation - FSSS, the Swiss divers Federation - The Ancient History of the Sea of Genoa - Helvetas a Swiss Association for international co-operation - HADES of the Hydrology Institute of Bern University In addition books, magazines, holidays and diving equipment will be presented. Competitions The "Hermann Heberlein" award, in honour of the memory of the great Swiss pioneer of underwater photography and research. The following competitions will be organised: - International Underwater Photography Competition - International Underwater Diaporama Competition - International Underwater Video Competition Jury Slides : Enzo Bandera (I), Margrith Pünter (CH), Giovanni Evalli (I) Slide-shows : Angelo Mojetta (I), Renza Dilenge (I), Eli Riva (CH) Videos : Roberto Pomari (CH), Adriano Schrade (CH), Fabio Ferioli (I) The awards ceremony will take place during the Biennial.