For 3 days in June, the city of Hyères will become the capital of the underwater world. The festival Hyères International Festival of the Underwater World and Maritime Heritage will take advantage of the exceptional geographical location of the Hyères Rade as well as the richness of its underwater and historical maritime heritage. The entire team of Déclic Bleu Méditerranée, an association that has been dedicated for years to raising public awareness and protecting our underwater heritage through photo exhibitions, has gathered to organize this very first edition of the festival. In partnership with the Port-Cros National Park, other local associations (AREVPAM , 2,000 Eyes Under the Sea…), and professional structures from the maritime world, this event aims to become a reference for all marine world enthusiasts (amateur or professional photographers, the general public…). The sponsor of the festival is Stéphane Mifsud, a freediving champion and multi-world record holder. Several guests of honor will also be present, including the biologist-photographer Laurent Ballesta, the filmmaker Christian Pétron, the archaeologist Jean-Pierre Joncheray , and the sand collector Bernard Rémaud (a sand collector with over 2500 different samples).
Two photo competitions and one video competition• The international competition of underwater and maritime heritage reports is a free online competition open to beginner, amateur, and professional photographers that runs until May 15, 2016.
Five themes are offered :– Wide angle: 1 to 3 photos.
– Macro and super macro.
– Series of 3 macro, ambiance, fish, or candidate’s theme choice photos.
– Digital composition 1 to 3 photos.
– Marine heritage 1 to 3 photos.
You are completely free to participate in all the themes if you wish. For more information about the photo contest : http://festival-image-hyeres.com.
• The first live photo competition of the festival, will take place from May 21 to June 05, 2016. Photos will be taken during dives over the specified period covering the area from Cavalaire to Saint-Mandrier. The registration form must be obtained from the festival’s website. The results will be announced on June 11 during the award ceremony.For more information about the live photo contest : http://festival-image-hyeres.com.
• The 2016 video contest of the Hyères International Festival of the Underwater World and Maritime Heritage is an underwater video competition, open free to all videographers. Select your best video clips, taken anywhere at any time around the world, and present them in the video clips category. Registration for the contest is open until May 15, 2016.
For more information about the video contest : http://festival-image-hyeres.com.
The exhibitions– Expedition LENGGURU.
– Sharks of the world.
– History of diving.
– Sands of the world by Bernard Rémaud.
– Dive in the middle of a school of white sharks with Suboceana.
– Mireille Payre, painter and ambassador of Longitude 181 Nature.
– Signing space.Outdoor activities and conferences
On Friday, June 10
– 11 am-12 pm : « The Great White of Guadalupe », screening of the film by Christian Pétron and Boris Raim.
– 5 pm-6 pm : screening of the film « Coral Reefs » by Christian Pétron and Boris Raim.
– 2 pm-6 pm : heavy-foot baptism.
– 6 pm-7 pm : marine mammals in the Mediterranean, a conference hosted by Marion Peirache.On Saturday, June 11
– 11 am-12 pm : screening of the film « Mauritius and Rodrigues, Islands to Share » by René Heuzey.
– 2 pm-3 pm : conference « Cave diving » by Rémi Bouchard.
– 5 pm-6 pm : « Freediving », a conference by the festival’s sponsor Stéphane Mifsud.
– 2 pm-6 pm : discovery of the underwater archaeological trail of Olbia with AREVPAM.On Sunday, June 12
– 2 pm-3 pm : « Wrecks of Porquerolles », a conference hosted by Peggy Fournial.
– 3 pm-4 pm : conference « Marine protected areas and humans » by Sandrine Ruitton.
– 5 pm-6 pm : screening of the film « Portrait of Sandra Bessudo », by Christian Pétron and Yves Lefèbvre.
– 2 pm-6 pm : observation of birds in the Pesquiers salt marshes with the LPO.
For the complete program, visit the website.
Do not miss these three days of festivities under any circumstances, many other surprises await you…
Morgane CONSTANTIN