Eilat Red Sea underwater photo competition eyes world record

One hundred and thirty divers from 16 countries participated in the Eilat Red Sea underwater photography competition last weekend, which this year focused on an attempt to break a world record for the largest underwater live-stream audience, event organizers said.

During the contest, which was live-streamed via social media website YouTube to tens of thousands of viewers around the world, the diver-photographers competed in various photography categories, including best five photos, fashion photos, fish of the year and amateur photography.


Credit: Reuters

The organizers said they still await information regarding the number of live-stream views in order to establish whether a world record has been set or not.

According to an official press release, Israeli diver-photographer Eyal Cohen won the best five photos category and Japanese photographer Yuzuru Masuda won the fashion category.

The general manager of Eilat Dolphin Reef, Nir Avni, said the strictest standards of safety and security were implemented during the competition.

"Dive down, sit around, smile to the camera. Enjoy the party. And we cover all this with an umbrella of safety," he said.

On the sidelines of the competition, 200 divers, some of them carrying Israel's flag, posed for a group photo near a sunken Israeli Navy boat that currently serves as a diving site, the organizers said.