Prince Albert II meets winners of underwater photography competition at Oceanographic Museum
Shannon Tissot
The Monaco Underwater Exploration Club (CESMM) has announced the results of its prestigious annual competitions, which include some excellent performances from Monegasque participants on the international stage.
The fins beat the water in a disciplined ballet. On Friday morning, as the first golden light touched the Mediterranean, nine teams of professional divers left Port de Fontvieille to explore the seabed along the Monegasque coast. Before the weekend’s first dive, the CESMM gave the signal to open the competition, launching the second international challenge. Four themes were judged by a professional panel: fish, atmosphere, macro photography and – new for this year – creativity featuring bubbles.
Equipment checked, tanks strapped, lenses carefully protected from moisture. On board the Pirate des abysses – the Académie de la Mer’s boat – the scent of salt mingled with the hushed concentration of preparation. Bassem Jammour, a Monegasque resident of Lebanese-Canadian origin, finished pulling on his wetsuit after checking the waterproof casing of his camera, before resurfacing twice to change lenses.
Diving into clear waters
Some competitors murmured, others joked, or withdrew behind their masks like athletes before a race. Underwater, it’s not just a matter of diving, but of seeing, framing and bearing witness to an invisible world. “A few metres down, the light shifts. The cameras, weighted with floats, no longer seem to weigh their 15 kilos and become very easy to handle,” explained Denis Chaboud, technical diving director and head of safety for the CESMM.
At the starting signal, given by a boat’s horn, the photographers disappeared beneath the surface. Watching the calm sea, you imagine the underwater shots already firing – capturing the hesitant dance of a school of salema porgies, coral clinging to the rock, or the shimmering play of multicoloured water. The challenge requires both patience and instinct: waiting for life to appear, triggering the shutter at the exact moment when the desired composition is achieved in the frame.
A suspended moment
The Monegasque Mediterranean, a delicate showcase of biodiversity, revealed its contrasts. Suspended in the water column, the photographers became both observers and witnesses, their competition an exercise in attentiveness where art meets the beauty of the marine world.
“The water is very blue along this coastline, the light reaches several metres beneath the surface. There was also a current, which is essential for capturing movement and the passage of fish,” said Peter, a German diver and photographer of thirty years, freshly back at the surface after competing here for the first time. Like him, many photographers looked focused, discussing their shots, already considering what to present to the jury. “I usually scroll through my photos and instinctively choose the one that gives me the strongest gut feeling […] We photographers will always find small flaws in our images, that’s why I really focus on the emotion they convey. I’m not looking to win, but first to create a photo that I love,” Peter said passionately.
The organisers kept track of dive times. The day continued with a night dive – “a world first for an international competition. The light, the diving conditions, everything is different,” noted Denis from the CESMM. In the blue silence of the depths, a fleeting instant was transformed into a lasting image.
Winners awarded
On Sunday, in the presence of CESMM president Roger Mullot and Prince Albert II, the jury revealed the results of the 20th anniversary edition of the national contest and the international competition. Monaco secured an honourable second place overall in the international challenge, between France, the winner, and Italy, in third. The competition, which brings together Europe’s best underwater photographers, also saw Monegasque participants Bassem Jammour and Anne Rodelato win the special “fish” prize.
20th national contest reveals new talent
At the same time, the 20th national edition crowned several duos in different categories. Philippe Lecomte and Christine Cazal triumphed in the non-interchangeable lens category, while David Roger and Eric Dalmas won with interchangeable lenses.
National competition results
- Fish prize: Florence Roux and Béatrice Landreau
- Atmosphere prize: Véronique Wurmli-Baudot and Wendy Peyret
- Macro prize: Philippe Lecomte and Christine Cazal
- Artistic creativity with bubbles: Frédéric Bernard and Justine Brun d’Espagne
- Jury’s special mention: Véronique Wurmli-Baudot and Wendy Peyret
The children’s contest ‘Regards sous la mer’/’Underwater Perspectives’ highlighted the talent of the next generation, with Charlene Barois receiving the jury’s special mention and Shannon Tissot winning in the “Seahorses” category.
