I'm almost ready for it ... at least I think so. Tomorrow I am leaving to Tenerife with my buddy Ron Offermans to participate in the Underwater Photography World Championship. We first planned a few practice days to explore the conditions in Tenerife. The World Championship starts on Tuesday, September 17. Exciting again!

CMAS Underwater Photo and Video World Championship

Teams from 21 countries will participate in the World Championship this year. Three teams from the Netherlands will travel to Tenerife. René Weterings and I (Marco Heesbeen) participate in the photography championship with our own buddy. Ronald Faber will compete with his buddy for the most beautiful underwater video in the videocompetition. The participants in the Underwater Photography World Championship take photos in 5 different categories:

• Fish
• Close up
• Theme: this year Cartilaginous fish
• Wide angle with diver / model
• Wide angle

I have studied the strict rules. Violation of a small rule can already result in a disqualification. The cameras are under strict surveillance during match days. The camera housings are sealed and cannot be opened again just like that. For example, changing a lens may only be done under supervision at a designated place. So we have to prepare the match days well on that point too! An ill-considered action can result in a disqualification.

The program

The official World Cup program starts on Tuesday 17 September with the presentation of the teams, the opening ceremony and the technical meeting.
On Wednesday, September 18, we will depart at 8 am by the boat to the dive sites for the practice dives.
The two competition days are planned for Thursday and Friday (September 19 and 20). The teams are distributed among the boats and are allowed to dive for a maximum of 3 hours per day at the official dive sites. On Friday evening we have to choose which 5 photos we want to submit for the different categories.
On Saturday, September 21: time for the jury to judge all photos. In the evening at 7 pm the award ceremony starts. A gold, silver and bronze medal are awarded in each category. In total there are 15 medals for the categories. The overall winners with the most points will be announced at the end of the ceremony. 

I get nervous again when I think about that! That is so exciting! I have been able to experience it three times before during my participation in earlier World Championships in Cuba, the Netherlands and Mexico. At the World Championships in Cuba and the Netherlands I received a silver and gold medal on the podium. My buddy Ron Offermans and I want to win metal again of course. We will only know if this will succeed on Saturday evening, 21 September. Until then we will do our utmost!

The preparations

Ron and I have just returned from a week of diving on Bonaire. We have tested many new products for UWCameraStore.com, but also talked a lot about our approach during the World Cup. We have discussed ideas and practiced techniques.

This week we were unlucky that the second week of the Dutch Championship was planned just before the World Cup. Last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday we went to Zeeland for the Dutch Championship. Different rules apply and that really requires a different approach. Today I can fortunately finish my last work at UWCameraStore.com before the World Cup starts. My equipment has time to dry a day, before I pack it up again for the World Cup. Thursday we fly from Brussels to Tenerife.