Final Call for Celebrate the Sea Photo Contest

March 19, 2008: Entries to the Celebrate the Sea Festival photo contest, the largest and richest underwater photography competition in the Asia-Pacific region, close on 10 May, 2008.

Now in its seventh year, the Celebrate the Sea Festival will run from the 13 to 15 June (inclusive) at the new Manila Ocean Park Oceanarium. It is supported by OceanNEnvironment Australia, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippines Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD). A large part of the festival will include imagery presentations and seminars by a panel of world renowned image makers and marine scientists such Peter Scoone, cinematographer of the BBC Blue Planet series, Dr Phil Nyutten, David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes and Emory Kristof of National Geographic and Dr Carden Wallace, coral scientist. Fred Buyle ø¢â‚¬” four times world free diving champion, Scott Tuason, author and underwater photographer and Daniel Mercier ø¢â‚¬” founder World Underwater Picture Festival will be on site to officiate the festival.

The photography competition puts up more than US$50,000 in cash and holiday prizes for underwater photographers. Open to anyone in the world, the competition will include special sections covering macro, wide angle and black and white photographs, digital images, short video and feature documentary films and books. Awards up for grab include the Outstanding Achievement Award, Merit of Excellence, Honour of Distinction and High Commendation for each category.

Visitors to the Philippines who stay with one of the participating resorts or dive with a participating operator will be eligible to enter the special WOW Award for the most outstanding image or video story. Medals, cash, equipment and holiday package prizes will be awarded for all categories and as well as for the WOW imagery competitors. Competition guidelines can be found at http://www.celebratethesea.oneocean.com/cts%20new%20site/2008files/competition08.htm