Winner of the Underwater Photography and Underwater Video World Cup awarded in Varadero
Photo: KR
The XIX. World Underwater Photography Championship and the 5th World Underwater Video Championship ended this Saturday in the resort town of Varadero. Spain, Italy, Turkey, France, Belgium, Portugal, Chile and Cuba took the titles in both disciplines.
Italy won three awards in the documentary video, creative photography and wide angle model categories. Cristina Condemi, a member of the team that took second place in the last of these competitions, took part in the World Championships for the first time.
Cristina Condemi, far left. Photo: DSA.
“It was a mix of emotions, I was a little scared because I didn’t do things the way the photographers wanted, but in the end it went very well.” It was very exciting. “It’s my first time in Cuba and I loved it, it’s an incredible place, the people, the sea under the sea, the corals are beautiful.”
Spaniards Jorge Candan and María del Pilar Barrios achieved gold in the “Theme in Photography” category, as well as additional awards in several other award categories.
Winning wide angle photo. Photo: DSA/PL
Meanwhile, Cubans Fabián Álvarez and Yaroyg Oñoz took first place and received the top title for their wide-angle photography work.
“This is the result of years and hours of work together to show the work of Cuba and especially the work we are developing in photography,” expressed Álvarez with emotion.
“Both the award and the family’s joy become an immense satisfaction that rewards commitment to an activity like underwater photography. We came to the World Championships to fight for a good result and we won gold, which positions the Greater Antilles in the world of lenses.” “
His teammate explained that Fabián does the clip on camera and is responsible for the support logistics to ensure every detail. “We constantly talk and develop ideas and projects before we do the dives. Every snapshot is the result of teamwork.”
The winners. Photo: KR.
For the Minister of Tourism of the Greater Antilles, Juan Carlos García Granda, there were other possible venues to organize the competition due to the quality and preservation of the Cuban seabed, but “the event also shows that Varadero is much more than sun and sand.” It is our main spa and tourist center, also consolidated to hold events.”
The competition was attended by 80 participants from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Slovenia, Germany, Chile, Brazil, Japan, Denmark, Holland, Turkey and Cuba under the auspices of the World Confederation of Underwater Photography, an institution that includes 170 countries and millions of followers around the world.
According to Pilar Álvarez Arce, marketing director of the Cuban Ministry of Tourism, more than 1,500 dives have taken place since the participants arrived, a historical record for the competition.
The awards day took place at the Meliá Internacional Hotel in Varadero.