"The Olympics of Underwater Photography"

May through September, 1997
TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS British West Indies

Information Awards & Prizes Contact persons

ENERSBASE
Diving in Norway

Information The First World Open Underwater Photographic Competition
will be held in 1997 - The International Year of the Reef - in the Turks & Caicos Islands, a chain of 40 Islands and cays in the Caribbean immediatly south of the Bahamas.

These Islands were chosen as the Site of the Competiton because of their pristine, tropical waters, up to 200' underwater visibility, limitless marine life, enlightened government policies that protect their 500 miles of virgin coral reefs through a system of underwater parks and daily access by commercial jet service through Miami, Florida and various charter services including Toronto, Canada and Milan, Italy.

The Competiton is open to both amateur and professional underwater diver-photographers, although the two groups will not be competing against one another. Underwater photographers may compete as individuals or as members of a team, either local or national, and all entries will be judged by an international panel of Judges. From revenue raised by this Event the Competition will be providing grants to non-profit organizations whose primary purpose is either
(a) to protect the world's coral reefs and marine ecosystems or
(b) to assist the handicapped to participate fully in underwater photography.

The Competition will take place in a different Host Country each year and negotiations are currently underway to identify appropriate Host Countries for the next several years which will include Australia in 2000.

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Awards & Prizes PRIZES (Value exceeding $60,000 US)

The 8 winning photographs will be issued by the Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands as a set of commemorative postages stamps, each stamp bearing the name, country of origin and national flag of the photographer who took the picture. The next best 12 photographs will be classified as Honorable Mentions. These photographs will be published as a Commemorative Calendar presenting excellence in underwater photography.

The Competiton also offers winners $10,000 U.S. in cash awards and up to $50,000 U.S. in additional prizes including international dive travel, equipment and diving services. The Competition also provides opportunities for participating photographers to achieve a higher personal creative profile and generate revenue from sale and licencing of photographs taken during the Competition.

American Airlines is the official carrier of the Event, offering their lowest available rates without restrictions from all cities world wide that are serviced by American Airlines.

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Contact persons For an information package contact:

World Open Underwater Photographic Competition

In Canada
57 Thirty Sixth Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M8W 3L1
Ian A. Stuart or David Sweeney
Telephone: 416-252-6721 or 416-253-6863 Fax: 416-620-5392 {Attn: A. Curtis}
E-mail: undercphoto@terraport.net

In The United States
112 Lohengrin Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15209 Patricia Manco
Telephone: 412-487-1375 Fax: 412-487-1376
E-mail: IDMintl@aol.com

In The Turks & Caicos Islands
Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, toll free # 800-241-0824
Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies
Ralph L. Higgs
Telephone: 809-946-2321 Fax: 809-946-2733

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