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Press Release from the Underwater Images competition. Its a good competition for a good cause so check it out.  

Press Release 

April 1, 2009 is the deadline for entries in the 12th annual Underwater Images Photo/Video competition.  Underwater Images is a non-profit corporation registered in the State of Ohio with all proceeds from this competition going to marine conservation, educational, and scholarship purposes.  For complete details on eligibility, rules, and entry forms visit the official competition website at  HYPERLINK "http://www.UWIMAGES.org" www.UWIMAGES.org.   

Categories include Conservation, Majestic, Togetherness, Macro (Open & Novice), Wide Angle (Open & Novice), and two video categories.  One of the two video categories is for a documentary focusing on the oceans.  This category is a cooperative venture with the Imaging Foundation.

 
Although based in Ohio, the Underwater Images Competition is international and the prizes reflect an international flare.  Included among them is the Best of Show prize sponsored for the 12th year in a row by FeBrina and Walindi Plantation in Papua New Guinea.  First Prize awards also include dive trips to other resorts in Papua New Guinea, Honduras, the Solomon Islands, the Cayman Islands, Bonaire, Hawaii and Indonesia.  In addition, there are numerous awards of diving equipment and gift certificates from sponsors.

The major international charities that the Underwater Images Competition has supported for over a decade include Mahonia Na Dari and Pro Peninsula.  Since 1998, Underwater Images has contributed significantly to each of these organizations.  The third beneficiary, which was added in 2008, is DiveHeart, a not-for-profit organization that facilitates scuba training for physically challenged children and adults.

At DEMA 2008, Roger Roth and Carol Kender, directors of Underwater Images, presented a check for $4000 to Mahonia Na Dari. Max Benjamin, of FeBrina and Walindi Plantation, accepted the check on behalf of the non-profit group.  Mahonia Na Dari (“Guardians of the Sea”) is a Nature Conservancy, which has been working to protect Papua New Guinea's abundant biodiversity by teaching their own instructors and students the importance of sustainability of the country’s natural resources through hands-on experiences.  

Pro Peninsula is a conservation organization dedicated to empowering communities in Baja California, Mexico to protect and preserve their environment, with their main focus being a Sea Turtle Conservation Network that has gained international attention.  

Commenting on the new video category that Imaging Foundation is co-sponsoring, Georgienne Bradley, director of the foundation said, “We have an army of fantastic videographers and photographers patrolling our oceans everyday.  We want to harness that energy.  Divers can use their work to witness the state of our oceans.”

Georgienne Bradley and Jay Ireland of the Imaging Foundation will be judging chairs of the 2009 Underwater Images Competition.

A partial list of other prize sponsors in the photo and video competition includes: Bilikiki Cruises Ltd. in the Solomon Islands, Tufi Dive Resort and Loloata Island Resort in PNG, Anthony's Key / Bahia Tours in the Bay Islands of Honduras, Captain Don’s Habitat in Bonaire, Divi Flamingo Dive Resort in Bonaire, , Provo Turtle Divers, DiveTech and Cobalt Coast Resort of Grand Cayman, Nekton Cruises, Stuart Cove’s in the Bahamas, Wakatobi and Pelagian Dive Resort, Matava Ecoo-Adventures Resort in Fiji, Kungkungan Bay Resort and Tasik Ria Resort in North Sulawesi, SMY Ondina, Kararu, Maluku Dive Resort and Archipelago Resorts & Fleet in Indonesia.  

Manufacturers who have consistently supported Underwater Images include, Ikelite, Ultralight Control Systems, Diving Unlimited International, ReefNet, Sherwood/Akona, Exploration Design, Omega Aquatics, Gates Video Housings and Pinnacle Aquatics.