Splash: Underwater Photo in Cebu Kicks Off

The 4th Splash-NUDI Underwater Photo Shootout (SNUPS) Cebu Leg kicked off Friday (May 2) to finish on May 5.

The photo competition aims to promote tourism industry through underwater photography and videography. This also supports the conservation and protection of marine lives and other marine biodiversity.

This is an amateur competition categorized into three classes the: beginner, compact and open classes and this is open to local and foreign individuals skilled and has the capability of taking underwater photos.

The event is mainly organized by Splash Underwater Imaging Inc., in cooperation with Network of Underwater Digital Imagers (NUDI).

Here in Cebu the initiative is supported by the Provincial Government of Cebu through the office of the Governor, Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Scuba Diving Community and ABS-CBN-Choose Philippines.

“Underwater competition basically aims to promote tourism industry, marine environmental awareness, we also uplift the capability of Filipinos of underwater photography for us to meet the global standard of it,” Jovic Santos of Splash said.

Santos also clarified that “this is not a money making event its for tourism.”

Hotels and resorts are also encourage to post photos from the competition to further promote the tourism of the country being one of the best diving and recreational scuba diving destinations in the world.

The Cebu leg identified four diving destinations for divers to take underwater photos this include: Malapascua in Bantayan, Moalboal and Oslob in south Cebu and Mactan Cebu.

Santos said that Cebu is chosen to be one of the venues for this year’s competition being one of the biggest markets in terms of tourism and Cebu has the capability to offer best diving destinations.

Ports of the province are also capable of bringing tourists from one area to another in which some of these ports serve as entry to other tourist destinations outside the province.

Registered participants should personally submit their actual entries before 5:00 PM on May 5.

Following the Cebu leg of the Underwater Photo Competition will be the Batangas Leg set from May 9-12.

Awarding ceremonies of the competition will be at the end of May or first week of June. Awards waiting for the winners reached to over USD $20,000.00 worth of prizes.