19-22 February 2004

in the business-centre of "Radisson-Slavyanskaya" hotel will take place
The Second Moscow International Festival "DIVING 2004"

The Results of Diving 2003

The 2003 Moscow International Diving Festival
took place February 20-23, 2003
in the business center of the Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel

The Festival was held as part of the International Youth Social Forum "Shaping of the Healthy Way of Life of Young People is Society's First Priority" under the patronage of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Festival organizers
Association extension work of diving
Exhibition company "Global Expo"

The official sponsor
Company "NISSAN"

The official media sponsors
The Kommersant Publishing House
and Avtopilot magazine.

The official opening of the 2003 Moscow International Diving Festival was held on February 20, 2003. The ceremony was attended by famous athletes, public figures and politicians: Lev Boytsov, a member of the Federation Council, deputy chairman of the Commission of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia for Youth Affairs and Sports; Alexander Shchegortsov, a personnel chief of the Commission of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly for Youth Affairs and Sports; Yuri Barzykin, vice-governor of the Krasnodar Kray; Irina Rodnina, a many-time Olympic champion in figure skating, member of the Public Council for Sports under the President of the Russian Federation; Said Nofal, a tourism councilor at the Embassy of Egypt in Russia; Anna Arzhanova, president of the Russian Underwater Federation; Yelena Demidova, director general of Global Expo, the Festival's organizer; Nikolay Yermakov, a representative of NISSAN Europe S.A.S. in Russia; Alexander Levandovsky, one of the founders of the Association extension work of diving, director general of Tetis and others.

Over 50 companies took part in the Festival, including Russian and foreign manufacturers and suppliers of equipment and outfits for underwater diving and underwater hunting (spearfishing), equipment for photo- and video filming as well as firms providing services in underwater diving - from training systems to equipment hire. Among the many exhibitors at the Festival were companies, stores, underwater diving centers and schools, amateur underwater diving clubs, tourist companies, specialized printed media outlets, international and Russian public associations, photo- and video studios.

A separate exhibition display was devoted entirely to the World Festival of Underwater Pictures in Antibes (France).Everyone could talk to Mr. Daniel Mercier, president of the Antibes Festival, founder of the CEDIP school of underwater diving instructors, who himself has made several thousand dives.

One of the honorary guests of the Festival - Sergey Vladilenovich Kirienko - with great interest visited various stands and communicated with the company directors.

For four days underwater diving professionals and enthusiasts attended seminars, master classes and presentations organized by leading companies specializing in the manufacture of underwater diving equipment, such as Camaro, Technisub, Tusa, Scubapro, AquaLung, Sea&Sea, WaterProof.

A museum was set up in the hotel lobby tracing the history of underwater diving equipment, from the invention of the aqualung (scuba) to the latest novelties. One of the exhibition displays was devoted to various awards won at prestigious international competitions in water sports, underwater orienteering, speed swimming, etc.

In the framework of the 2003 Moscow International Diving Festival were also held the first Moscow International Festival of Underwater Films - "Black Pearl" - and the second All-Russian Open Festival of Underwater Photography.An open competition showing of "wet" films was held in one of the halls, and at night Festival guests and visitors could enjoy films-prizewinners at the Antibes Festival. Over 200 photos were presented by the Center of Underwater Photographers of Russia.

The official award ceremony was held February 22, 2003 in the conference hall of Radisson Slavyanskaya. It was presented by famous underwater divers and celebrities Leonid Yarmolnik and Valdis Pelshwho handed Festival awards to the best video operators and the masters of underwater photography.

Films participating in the "Black Pearl" Festival competed in two categories: short and long films. The first category was won by John Boyle (UK) with "Critters". The second category was won by Mayram Yusupova (Russia) with her "Galapagos: Mystery of Globe Overthrown".

In addition, a special prize established by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) "For Ecological Awareness" was awarded to Elena Shchedrina for her film "The Turtle".

Prizes were also awarded to Alexander Anisimov, "For The Most Technically Advanced WRECK Filming" in his film "The Frenchman"; Dmitry Volkov with his "Ordin Cave", for "The Most Romantic Underwater Film"; and a prize established by the Travelers' Club TV program went to Andrey Makarevich and Kirill Modylevsky for their "South Humpback Whales".

The prize of NISSAN Europe S.A.S., official sponsor of the Festival, was won by Dmitry Guselnikov with his film "Sunken Ships voices".

The Grand Prize was awarded to Vladimir Ryzhov for his "Lake Ladoga. Route N№ 101".

The audience sympathies prize of the second All-Russia Open Festival of Underwater Photography went to Oleg Vorotnikov - 328 participants and visitors voted for his work. Andrey Zamyatin won in the nomination "The Man and the Underwater World", Valery Darkin in the nomination "A Wide Angle"; Vadim Zverev was awarded a prize in the "Macro" category. Boris Tarasov was the best in the nomination "Creativity", and Mikhail Vedekhin in the category "Russian Waters". Mikhail Hoddab, "The youngest photographer", was awarded a prize by Neptune 21st Century magazine; Dommez Ricep received a prize in the "Fish" category from Aquatex company.

Valdis Pelsh's contribution did not go unnoticed - the best award ceremony presenter was awarded with an underwater suit.

The ceremony ended in a public auction of photographs presented by the Center of Underwater Photographers of Russia. The proceeds from the auction were transferred to children attending the "Gold Fish" sports club.

One of the visitors of the Festival became the proud owner of a Smart car provided by "Union Sport", one of the investors of the "Diving 2003" project.
Information and advertising support to the Festival was provided by the following magazines: Avtopilot, Octopus, Octopus-Pro, Underwater Club, Neptune 21st Century, Undersea Review, Russian Focus, Russian Entrepreneur, Aqua and newspapers The Nezavisimaya Gazeta, The Foreigner, as well as Russia's leading TV broadcasters and radio stations.