Sudden Science Centre closing sad news for local photographer

With the sudden announcement of the closing of the Ontario Science Centre, I’m left with mixed feelings. It’s been such a world-class centre that I’ve visited a number of times with both family as well as school groups over the years.

It was disturbing to learn the province is citing an engineering report that says the roof is unsafe for the closure, even though another firm has offered to repair it free of charge.

Some time ago, (early 1990s) I was asked to provide the centre with some photographs depicting life on a Coral Reef. They were to be incorporated into a new exhibit being set up at that time, called The Living Earth. I had just completed some diving in Cozumel, Mexico and had a nice selection of photographs taken while on that trip.

The photos were taken with a 35 mm Nikonis V camera, which was a great compact underwater camera to use. It had a selection of lenses for underwater use and, at that time,  was a mainstay for underwater photography.

In those days, I had found that one of the best ways to produce prints form 35 mm slides was the Cibachrome process. These prints had astounding colour qualities and could withstand long periods of time under lighting, which made them a good fit for long periods of display.

There was a gentleman in Niagara Falls who did a wonderful job producing a selection of the photos taken in Cozumel. These were suitably matted and framed and after delivery to the Ontario Science Centre were displayed on a wall opposite a large aquarium that displayed life on a coral reef.

Later, the prints were incorporated into a wall panel which actually looked better than in the frames, and the panel was displayed next to the aquarium. I was quite pleased when someone would say, over the years, “I saw your photos at the Science Centre.”

Since that first trip to Cozumel, I’ve returned a few  times and am always thrilled to be diving there again. With the constant movement of water past the one side of the island, the reefs are spectacular in colour and variety of marine life.

The Palancar Reef system is regarded as one of the best in the Caribbean. Jacques Cousteau, many years ago, claimed it as one of the best in the world! On most dives a gentle current can move you slowly along and there is an amazing abundance of associated marine life. The area offers a never-ending variety of subjects for an underwater photographer.

The reefs stand several storeys high in some areas, with amazing growths of colourful sponges and corals. The coral system also provides a number of caves and swim-throughs in several areas, which are interesting to explore.

It’s the critters that hold interest for me, and there is no shortage of fish species, single and in schools. Lots of invertebrate species from anemones, crabs and varieties of coral add much flavour to the dive.

It will remain a favourite diving spot for me!