Ministry of Tourism has launched an underwater photo competition as part of the year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the tourism industry in the Maldives.
The ceremony to inaugurate the competition was held virtually on Zoom. Renowned diver Hussain Rasheed (Sandy) began the registration for the event, which is being held in collaboration with Ocean Geographic and Maldives Alliance for Dive Operators (MADO).
During the competition, the ministry will be accepting photos of 50 dive spots in the Maldives until September 27. Each registered participant will be able to submit a maximum of five photos and the ministry will be choosing the 50 best sites that showcase the natural beauty of the Maldivian coral reefs. A special panel will be judging the submissions and announcing the winners on October 5.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom said that the Maldives is known for its dive sites and emphasised the importance of preserving the coral reefs. He said that the photo competition will be held every year and will focus on the need to preserve the coral reefs. He noted that photos can highlight the drastic changes being made to the reefs and the competition is important for sustainable tourism.
Also at the ceremony, Founder of Ocean Geographic Michael AW said that these types of events are crucial for the preservation of coral reefs and he expressed gratitude for being able to contribute to the efforts.