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- 2024 coral reef horizons
- guest speaker
- photo competition
2024 coral reef horizons
CCMI’s annual gala in 2024 looked toward horizon, the future, and what it means for coral reefs. The heating and disease events of the previous summer (2023) suggest that the impacts of climate change on coral reefs are intensifying. We still have hope for a future for coral reefs, but there is a growing sense of urgency and immediate action required if we are to make the necessary impact. CCMI’s work in research, conservation, and education has never been more important, and your support is needed now more than ever.
This black tie & coral colourful gala took place Saturday 16th November 2024 at the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa. We were fortunate to have guest speaker Doug Allan at the gala; he is an award-winning Blue Planet and Planet Earth cameraman with a million amazing stories to share about his life behind the camera lens.
In addition, we had a live auction of three amazing items – from travel to one-of-a-kind experiences – which made for an entertaining experience for all. We are grateful to all who donated to CCMI through our ‘Teamwork Makes the Dream Work’ pledge, which will support the Coral Fund capital campaign to expand CCMI’s facilities in Little Cayman. Our new 11,000 sq ft facility will significantly increase our impact for coral reefs. After a fun evening bidding in the online silent auction, getting portraits drawn by live artist John Broad, and an amazing raffle, the gala ended with an energetic performance by LionFish, who provided another fantastic performance to ensure we all took a turn on the dance floor! More than 250 guests joined in the fun, helping us raise more than $240,000 to support CCMI’s projects and programmes.
2024 sponsors
guest speaker : Doug Allan, OBE
During 35 years of filming, Doug captured some of the most iconic wildlife scenes on television. He has worked on more than 65 films, making more than 25 trips to the Antarctic and 30 across the Arctic, while working for the BBC, Discovery, and National Geographic among others. His credits include Frozen Planet, Human Planet, Life, Planet Earth, The Blue Planet, Life in the Freezer, Hostile Planet, Forces of Nature, Operation Iceberg, and Ocean Giants. Doug was also one of the cameramen for, and appeared in, the award-winning documentary A Plastic Ocean.
Doug’s photographic awards include eight Emmys, five BAFTAs, and five Wildscreen Pandas. He twice won the underwater category in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He has three Honorary Doctorates in recognition of his camerawork and is an Honorary Fellow of the prestigious Royal Photographic Society and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographic Society.
Doug’s dive experience includes more than 5,000 hours underwater with over 650 dives under ice. He’s even been hugged by a walrus and made friends with a narwhal!
Many thanks to Dart for sponsoring Doug Allan as our featured speaker this year.
photo competition
CCMI held a photography competition share vivid imagery of coral reefs as it related to the gala theme, Coral Reef Horizons, to help communicate the beauty, value, and importance of coral reefs to the Cayman Islands and people who live and visit the islands. More than 65 photos were submitted in the three categories:
HORIZONS: Show the land/sea interface and connections of the reef to those who depend on and/or enjoy coral reefs. These images will be judged on beauty, composition, and lighting.
CORAL: Coral animals and the inhabitants found in and around coral reefs should be the dominant subject/s of photos entered in this category, with a focus on macro images (the subject size for this category is around 10 inches on the longest side.) Beauty, focus, lighting and composition are more important than rarity of subject in this category.
REEF: Photos that show the beauty of the living reef. It can include fish/large animals around the reef and divers, but these should not be the dominant/only subject of the image. Images in this category should be primary underwater. Beauty, composition, lighting, and sharpness are the criterial for judging in this category.
Photos were judged in two rounds: the first was by a panel of professional photographers to determine the top three images in each category. Final judging to determine first, second, and honourable mentions was done by Doug Allan. Prizes were awarded to the winners at the Festival of Seas gala on 16 November. Winners for each were:
winners
CORAL
REEF
Honourable Mentions:
