FOTOSUB COLONY 2010

International Underwater Photo Competition

2010 February 15-20

Colony International Scuba-Diving Center

Punta Francés National Park and Los Indios

Isla de la Juventud, Cuba

The sea is one of the most treasured natural resources of the Cuban archipelago.  The seabed has been well preserved and is free of contamination.  Its exceptional quality makes it an important scuba-diving destination and enables us to offer underwater photo buffs from all over the world an excellent product.

Through our Travel Agency and in coordination with Cubatur S.A., the Marlin S.A., Marinas and Water Sports Business Group and the Gran Caribe Hotel Group and with the guidance of the Cuban Federation of Underwater Activities (FCAS), the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba is inviting all photographers and models to register for and take part in the 2010 Colony Fotosub International Underwater Photo Competition, that will be held between the Punta Francés National Park area and Los Indios, on the Isla de la Juventud.

The 2010 Colony Fotosub International Underwater Photo Competition will be of an open nature.  It will be held at the Colony Hotel, the habitual site of the Fotosub and other international competitions linked to underwater activities.

Program of the 2010 Colony Open Fotosub International Underwater Photo Competition

February 15 — Arrival at the Nueva Gerona airport.  Transfer to the Colony Hotel.  Registration and check-in.  Welcome cocktail.  Briefing for competitors on the contest’s regulations.  Training dive (familiarization).  Inaugural ceremony and presentations: Cuba’s Potential as a Scuba-Diving Destination, Cuba’s Water Sports Offers and the Isle of Youth as a Scuba-Diving Destination.  Welcome dinner in the restaurant of the Colony Hotel.

February 16. - Beginning of the competition. Professional activities and two competition dives.

February 17. - Continuation of professional activities and two competition dives.

February 18. - Continuation of professional activities and two competition dives.

 

February 19. - Selection of the jury and submission of the competing photos to the jury.  Closing Dinner and awards Ceremony.

February 20. - Departure for Havana.

 

REGULATION

Prices

2010 Colony Fotosub will be a digital photo contest that will award 14 prizes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for each of the five categories in the competition and two grand prizes: one for the person who has accumulated the most points in the various categories (who will be named Absolute Champion of the competition) and one for the best model.

A single contestant may win several prizes, including that of Absolute Champion.

A Silver Medusa, a valuable original work by Cuban virtuoso artist Raúl Valladares, will be awarded to the absolute champion.

Categories in the contest

Fish (excluding turtles, octopuses and squid)

Scenery without model (underwater flora and fauna)

Scenery  with model (photos using color filters, flashlights and slave flashes and photos that are half water and half land will be valid in this category)

Macros

 

Registration

Every participant must be a member of and have a two-star diploma from the RSTC or World Underwater Federation (CMAS), present a doctor’s certificate stating that he has passed a medical checkup recently and sign a document freeing Cuba of all responsibility in case of accident (and turn it in when getting his credentials as a participant).

All participants must pledge to obey the safety norms in effect for scuba diving and the limitations established for the levels of the diplomas they have.

Participants must register to us individually.  They may do so at least up to 45 days before the competition begins.

 

Photo selection and conditions for their use

Each photographer may submit one photo in each category and is responsible for choosing which photos he submits.  The maximum time for making this selection is 40 minutes.

The jury’s decision is final.  If there are any objections concerning classification, they should be limited to possible mistakes in adding, the transcription of the points awarded or violations of the established regulations.  If anyone wishes to present an objection, he should go directly to the head of the jury.

The photos selected by the competitors will belong to the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba and the Cuban Federation of Underwater Activities, which will have no rights over the other photographs that have been taken during the competition.  The photos may be used to promote underwater tourism activities in Cuba, with credit given to the photographer.

The photographers will retain copyrights over their photos and may use the photos they took during the contest for nonprofit purposes in exhibits, personal publications and web sites.

 

Schedule of dives

There will be a total of seven dives: one training and six competition ones.  Each photographer and model will receive the weights needed and one 12-liter tank of air with at least 170 bars of pressure.  The tank will be the same for all participants.

The maximum depth allowed is 30 meters, and all participants

—photographers, models and helpers—will be allowed a maximum of one and a half hours per competition dive.

Participants who need scuba-diving equipment may rent it at the international scuba-diving center Colony.  They will have 30 minutes to get into their diving suits before arriving at the scuba-diving site and 15 minutes for preparing to enter the water.

The competition will begin when all of the participants are in the water and the judge gives the starting signal; it will end when the competitors arrive at the vessel.

Photographers and models may return to the vessel during the competition to change lenses and/or cards and to solve any problems that may have arisen with their photographic or scuba-diving equipment if they do this in the presence of a competition official, after which they may return to the water to continue in the competition if they still have time to do so.

2010 Colony Fotosub is competitive. Its main purpose is to select and submit photos of flora and fauna in the waters surrounding Cuba that are taken for that purpose during the days of the competition.  The following regulations will be in effect:

Any model of sealed digital camera may be used.  The Organizing Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any model of camera or casing that can be manipulated.

The photos that are taken may not be modified or manipulated in any way that is not supported by and from the sealed camera.  Lighting equipment, filters and masks may be used.

Both photographers and models should use SCUBA scuba-diving equipment.  Pressure gauges, depth meters and compensating life vests are obligatory.  No models may engage in apnea.

During the competition, each photographer may take a maximum of 250 photos.  Only JPG-format photos will be accepted in the contest.  Photographers may take picture in TIF or RAW as long as their cameras allow for taking photos in these formats at the same time. When unloading cards, only JPG-format images may be taken.

 

Environmental protection

During the competition, the judges will take measures to control violations, disqualifying any participants who are found to be engaging in such activities.

Photographers and models may not damage any of the marine flora and/or fauna.  Participants may not

touch any flora and/or fauna;

move any of the flora and/or fauna from one place to another;

disturb the seabed and/or create any contamination intentionally;

take photos of flora and/or fauna outside of their natural environment;

make air bubbles in caves in order to take photos of them later;

pull up algae, black coral, mollusks, etc.;

capture crabs, shrimps, spiny lobsters or the members of any other species; and/or

use elements that are not a part of the marine environment.

 

Price Package per Person in EURO:

Double Room: 450,00 EURO

Single Room: 480,00 EURO

PACKAGE Includes

In/out transfers between Havana’s José Martí Airport and your hotel in Havana or transfer to Terminal 1 for a domestic flight to Nueva Gerona, on the Isle of Youth, either from the international airport or from your hotel in Havana.

Assistance in the Havana and Nueva Gerona airports.

Round-trip Havana–Nueva Gerona plane ticket.

Round-trip transfers between the Nueva Gerona airport and the Colony Hotel.

Welcome cocktail.

Accommodations in the Colony Hotel from February 15 through 20, including all meals.

Eight dives, including use of a vessel, air cylinders, life vests, lead weights and a scuba-diving instructor.

Official closing dinner for the competition.

 

Ask us for all other Travel  Services in Cuba, like Hotel, Beach, other Dive destinations, Liverboards, Roundtrip a.o.. We offer you special price Packages!!

 

REGISTRATION REQUESTS

To request registration forms or obtain more information, contact Cuba-Diving, handling agency for the 2010 Colony Fotosub Competition.

CUBA-DIVING
Fahrstr. 7, D-91054 Erlangen - Germany
Tel.: ++49 -(0)9131-9706 771, Fax: ++49 -(0)9131-9706 773
Email:
cuba4travel@t-online.de
cuba-diving@web.de

 

Cuba-Diving
Fotosub Colony 2010