It is the second time in a month that a friend, actually present in a festival, informs me in real time about a prize won in the contest of the festival! So much better to hear it from a friend JIT than reading it later in a webpage or an e-mail!

A very good friend and also a passionate underwater photographer, Michel Lonfat, that was attending the 37th Festival mondial de l'image sous-marine at Palais du Pharo in Marseille informed me unofficially on Saturday that one of my photographs won a prize at the festival.

Super macro was the theme for Dive Photo Guide's September Monthly Contest so I looked in my collection from my recent trip to Lembeh Straights my selection was very easy.

The motive of receiving four awards at the 3rd Underwater Photography International Contest ''Citta di Venezia 2010'' was enough to leave behind my camera and diving gear for three days and plan a short trip to Venice.

The second part of my summer vacation was dedicated to search and found of gorgonians and corals. It started in Pelion where last year we discovered an underwater ''Garden of Eden'' full of thick fans of orange and purple gorgonians.

It took me three years to complete photo shooting the wrecks lying on and around Lefteris reef, a rock in the middle of a dangerous sea passage out of Pagasitikos gulf and between northern Evia and island Skiathos.

At the end of June and the first days of July was the 10th Marmara Festival. Last year I won the 3rd place in Macro Digital Category and this year I climbed up one position and won the second place for the same category.

I am very proud to announce that I am among the winners of the Underwater Images 2010, a non-profit international underwater photo and video competition and one of the most prestigious.

After two years of visiting Cyprus for Eastern Mediterranean Festival, unfortunately this year I didn't manage to skip out of work and be there with my presentation.

Only few days since I got back from Lembeh Strait and I have to say that one week of full diving day and night was not enough, even though this place is beyond any expectations!