Home15 October 2025
Italy and Spain emerged as the standout winners of the CMAS World Championship of Underwater Photography and Video, held from October 6 to 12 in L’Estartit. This edition included a parasports category and, for the first time, implemented a “zero contact” rule with the marine environment to ensure maximum ecosystem protection.
Italy won a total of 9 medals (3 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze), closely followed by Spain with 8 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze). Notably, five of Spain’s medals were won by Catalan athletes. Turkey ranked third in the medal table (5 medals), followed by France (4), Belgium (4), Portugal (2), Chile (2), and Norway (1).
While Italy led in total medals, Spain topped the gold medal count with four — three of them earned by Catalans — highlighting the exceptional talent, creativity, and technical skill of the country’s photographers.
The dives took place in the spectacular setting of the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park, one of the most ecologically valuable marine areas in the Mediterranean. The area provided ideal conditions to capture the beauty, biodiversity, and fragility of the underwater world, with the Medes Islands standing out as a global hub for sustainable and inclusive diving. Weather conditions throughout the week were favourable, with sunshine and pleasant temperatures.
Nearly 20 years after it last hosted a world championship, L’Estartit made history by organizing the first environmentally respectful competition, thanks to the strict “zero contact” protocol prohibiting all interaction with marine fauna and the seabed during the dives.
The organizers — including the Torroella de Montgrí Town Council, the EMD of L’Estartit, the Catalan Federation of Underwater Activities (FECDAS), and local diving centres — have expressed great satisfaction with the event. Not only for the high quality of the images produced, but also for the sporting and tourism impact on the town.
With its high technical standards, artistic creativity, and strong international participation (101 athletes from 19 countries), L’Estartit has firmly established itself as
an international capital of underwater image and a benchmark destination for sustainable diving in the Mediterranean.
The CMAS 2025 World Championship has significantly boosted the international visibility of the Torroella de Montgrí – L’Estartit – Medes Islands destination, reinforcing its reputation as a leader in sustainable marine and sports tourism.
Beyond the competition itself, the event attracted around twenty international journalists and content creators specializing in diving, who were able to closely follow the championship and discover the region’s wide range of tourist, cultural, and natural attractions, especially its diving and nautical experiences
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