Lux Island Resorts To Host First Maldives UnderwaterFestival In May 2012

Photography enthusiasts will be able to dive beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean as LUX*Maldives launches the first Underwater Festival from 14th and 20th May, 2012.

Fans of diving and photography will be able to take part in a series of workshops, courses, andintroductory sessions during Maldives holidays. Award-winning photographers will run numerousunderwater courses that will allow visitors to experience free-diving and fluo night diving.

The General Manager of LUX* Maldives and avid free-diver, Dominik Ruhl, explained: This time itsall about water. We wanted to draw the curtains of the underwater world to our guests by givingthem the unique opportunity not only to dive some of the most beautiful dive sites on the planet, butalso to meet the experts of the sea and learn how to bring these treasures home.

The luxury resort recently opened a Marine Biology Centre on the island which is dedicated toprotecting whale sharks in the South Ari Atoll waters and this years festival allows tourists to learnmore about the underwater world throughout their holidays in the Maldives.

The festival will feature leading marine expertsincluding the French multi-award winning underwaterphotographer, Pascal Kobeh, who will take part in thefestival as a member of the judging panel and a coach.

Kobeh commented: I started shooting underwaterpictures while I was a diving instructor here in theMaldives; I havent stopped since then, and it becameby profession. It brought me here today with the samepassion I had ten years ago and I am very excited tojoin the festival.

While enjoying holidays to the Maldives at the resort, attendees will have the chance to take part ininteresting and informative workshops with LUX* Maldives resident marine biologist, ChiaraFumagalli.

There will also be documentaries about the oceans diverse marine life, underwater films, and newsabout the ongoing research on the whale sharks at the Marine Biology Centre.

The festival will also allow participants to try free diving sessions with Jean-Jacques Mayol, thefounder of the free-diving Team Mayol and son of free-diving legend Jacques Mayol.

Photographers booking Maldives holidays at the resort can experience the underwater world atnight by taking part in fluo-diving excursions. Divers use a set of special filters on their masks andtorches, which enhances a unique diving experience at night.

Festival-goers will have the chance to win severalprizes during the week-long event and the bestphotographs will be submitted to the judging panelwith a top prize including a five-night stay at one ofLUX* Islands Resorts Mauritius, La Reunion orMaldives hotels.

About the Author:

At present he is a travel news editor at The HolidayPlace a London-based UK tour operator specialisingin Cuba holidays and other exotic destinations in the Indian Ocean , Africa and the Caribbean. Now,I consider myself to be a true Middle-Eastern and African expert and the news that I write reflect mylove and keen interest on all things of this places.

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