SCUBA DIVING ARTICLES
NEWS - CUBA
UNDERWATER
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION (FOTOSUB) AT THE ISLE OF YOUTH – APRIL 2011
The Isle of Youth, 100km off Cuba’s southern coast, was the
venue for Cuba’s 2011 Fotosub (Underwater
Photographic Competition). One of Cuba’s top dive spots, this area is known for its stunning underwater environment, with
plummeting and vibrant walls, gullies filled with tarpon and a plethora of
other fish life.
The competition opened on the 10th April at the Hotel Colony.
Coming from Chile, Spain, Russia, Switzerland and Cuba the photographers were
faced with the task of obtaining four superb underwater pictures within the
categories of: Fish, Environment The Environment with
a Model and Macro. The conditions for the photographers over the next three
days were good. The sea was generally calm and the hot sunny days brought a lot
of light into the water.
The journalists covering the event were also treated
to the Isle of Youth’s underwater delights, including diving on two very
colourful and lively wrecks (the Jibacoa and the
Sparta) in shallow water. The mode of transport to these sites was in a large
catamaran run by a company called Amazing Fleet. Normally used as a liveaboard
operating in Cuba’s south-western waters, this
comfortable and handsome looking catamaran was a perfect, if not decadent, way
to visit the dive sites.
By 11am on the fifth day of the Fotosub, the
judges from Argentina, Italy, Spain and Cuba were ready to announce the
winners. The atmosphere was electric. After some preliminary videos and
speeches, including an address by Deborah Andollo –
Cuba’s famous free diver, it was soon clear who the absolute champion was going
to be. The name Fernando Olivares was announced for
two first places in relation to the Macro and Fish category, with his pictures
of a soft coral and a rock hind, as well as a second place for Environment with
a Model. He had to have the most points. By the time he was
declared absolute champion, he had secured a plethora of prizes -
including diving kit.
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Absolute Champion – Fernando
Olivares |
Ist prize – Fish Category –
Fernando Olivares |
1st – Macro, F.
Olivares |
Ist prize – Environment - Javier Gascón |
1stEn with model, Julio Santos |
Daniel G Perez of Cuba had also fared well, securing two
second places in relation to the Macro and Fish categories, as well as a
third place in the Environment with a Model section.
The winner in the Environment category was Javier Gascón of Spain, with his picture
of gorgonians and blue-striped grunts. Gascón also obtained third place
in the Macro category.
Julio Santos of Cuba obtained first place in the Environment with a
Model section and a third place for his Environment picture.
Etel Von Muhler of Chile received a second place
in the Environment category, and Eduardo Menares, also from Chile, obtained a third place with his Fish
picture.
There was also a prize for the best model, and this was
given to Themis Garcia Ojeda of Cuba.
In true Cuban style, the Fotosub competion ended with some elaborate entertainment. Holding
ribbons, dancers in brightly coloured dress, wove and whirled their way
skilfully around a centre pole.
In the final address, the Delegate of the Ministry of Tourism in the Isle
of Youth - Mayda García Pérez - thanked
all the competitors and journalists for attending, reminding them of an
important date to put in their diary - The CMAS Underwater Photography World
Championship in Cayo Largo (Cuba) May 2013.
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2nd Place – Fish Category - Daniel G
Perez |
2nd Place – Macro – Daniel G Perez |
3rd
E & Model D. G. Perez |
3rd Place – Fish Category – Eduardo Menares |
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2nd Place – Environment – Etel Von Muhler |
3rd Place – Macro - Javier Gascón |
2nd
E & Model F. Olivares |
3rd Environ J. Santos |
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Amazing Fleet catamaran |
Dancing at the Closing Ceremony |
