Kirill Modulevskiy - president of the festival of underwater films "Black Pearl"
"Determination of nominators and winners of the festival of underwater films happened at the jury's meeting, which lasted about 4 hours. The films-winners showed the trend in which the festival would develop, and the result of this development would be getting of qualitative underwater films.
Next year a film and photo festival will join into one festival of underwater art and, I think, it will exist many tens of years in such a format. And in commemoration of the festival "Black Pearl" we are going to leave only one nomination Grand-Prix, which will call "Black Pearl"."

A representative of the company "Akquatex"
"The firm operates sale and delivery of equipment for underwater hunting of famous firms of the world.
We are very glad that this festival was organized; we think there should be much more such actions."



A representative of the company "Mariman"
"The firm sells goods for all underwater sports.
The exhibition "Diving-2004" is the most important event in the diving world of Russia. This exhibition joins people who want not only to rest, but also to get a great pleasure. "


A representative of the company "Aquamarina"
"The company sews diving suits and operates accessories, made to order. In contrast to "Diving-2003" there were more exhibitors and more number of visitors came to the exhibition "Diving-2004". We expect new clients, new orders and new sales volumes from this exhibition."


Dmitriy Orlov - chairman of the directors' council of the companies' group "Underwater world"
"We publish the magazine "Underwater world" to make diving in Russia more extensive, better and more interesting. We express our thanks to organizers, who did the best, made an interesting program of seminars. The festival is a very important event and we will, of course, take part in such an action next year."

A representative of the regional Development Assistance Center of underwater activity "Black Sea Diver"
"The center is organized for coordination and effective work of dive-centers on the Black Sea coast.
We haven't expected that there would be such a great number of participants at the exhibition "Diving-2004" and so many people would visit it."

A representative of the Divers' Association Papua-New Guinea "We represent several trip operators, which organize safari and just diving on their resorts."






A representative of the dive-center "Akwamarin-Balaklava", which is situated in Crimea.
"This year a city Balaklava has been 2500 last birthday. This city is ancient, its bays are known for ages. We organize dives near the capes Aya and Fiolent, where a film "Man-Amphibia" was shot. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of interesting places both for beginners and professional divers in Crimea.
The Black Sea is not worse than other ones; it is just different. Our aim is to attract people to its coast, to our country and show that there are many advantages at the black sea."

Представитель страховой компании "Стандарт-Резерв"
"This is a first Russian company, developed the specialized programs on insurance of divers."






Директор мальтийского управления по туризму Энтони Каруана.
"We answer for development of tourism from Russia to Malta. Malta is attractive for diving, because, firstly, the water around Malta is the cleanest in the Mediterranean Sea, the underwater landscape is very interesting and the underwater world is very rich. There are a lot of ships there, sunken in times of the Second World War.
This year we expect a rather large number of divers to Malta."

Daniel Mercier - organizer of the festival of underwater art in Antibes, France; one of oldest divers.
My first dive I made in 1947, and in 1961 I took a track of a professional diver. I'm the organizer of the Antibes festival of underwater art in France, the founder and the president of CDIP, whose members are 15 countries of the world. Our instructors train in 46 countries.
Beginning from 1965 to 1970 I taught the youth - this period was difficult for diving's development. Then it was necessary to develop diving with help of promotion. That time diving was just swimming with a mask and a snorkel. But it wasn't enough. That's why I decided to make a festival in Antibes to show what was the underwater world and what was the sea.
This festival is open to everybody. Last year 55 countries took part in the festival.
My idea is to organize the same underwater festivals on every continent, in every country, as it promotes to develop diving and extend our knowledge about the sea. The festival is a place where new talents are revealed.
I hope, that the Russian Festival "Diving 2004" will help us in development of diving in the world.

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any reprint of materials is to be made only by administration's authority of web-site www.videodive.com

Inauguration of the festival
Press Conference of the festival
Interviews with participants of the festival
Interviews with visitors of the festival
Award Ceremony of the photo festival "Gold Dolphin"
Award Ceremony of the video festival "Black Pearl"
Photogallery of the festival
Results of the Second International Festival of underwater films "Black Pearl"
Results of the Third Open Festival of Underwater Photography