Madeira Underwater Open 2026: UWACAM Returns as Proud Sponsor
V Madeira Underwater Open / CMAS World Cup · Funchal & Santa Cruz · 22–28 June 2026
From the 2025 edition: UWACAM award ceremony in Madeira — we are honoured to be back in 2026.
V Madeira Underwater Open / CMAS World Cup · Funchal & Santa Cruz · 22–28 June 2026
From the 2025 edition: UWACAM award ceremony in Madeira — we are honoured to be back in 2026.
After an unforgettable 2025 edition, we are thrilled to announce that UWACAM is once again sponsoring the V Madeira Underwater Open, which doubles this year as the 2026 CMAS World Cup in Underwater Photography and Video. The competition takes place from 22 to 28 June 2026 in the breathtaking waters of Funchal and Santa Cruz, Madeira.
We can hardly wait to see the world's best underwater photographers and videographers gather again on this magnificent Atlantic island to capture its biodiversity, light and energy.
The Madeira Underwater Open is organised by the Portuguese Federation of Underwater Activities (FPAS) and the Regional Swimming Association of Madeira (ANM), under the auspices of CMAS — the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques founded in 1959 with Jacques-Yves Cousteau as its first president. Winning here is the highest formal recognition available in competitive underwater photography and video.
Format at a glance:
Few places on earth offer underwater conditions like the Madeira archipelago: crystal-clear water with visibility reaching 30 metres, summer water temperatures of 20–23 °C, dramatic volcanic topography, and a rich marine life that ranges from intricate macro subjects to sweeping pelagic scenes. It is the perfect stage for a world-class underwater visual arts competition.
Our mission is simple: put a truly professional underwater camera in every diver's pocket. Supporting the world's most prestigious underwater image competition is a natural fit. In 2025 we were honoured to celebrate the achievements of young Portuguese photographers Ana Besugo and Ana Marreiros with one-year UWACAM subscriptions, and we are looking forward to celebrating a new generation of talent in 2026.
Our UWACAM expert and renowned underwater cinematographer Matthias Lebo will once again be on-site in Madeira to meet competitors, share know-how and present the UWACAM award.
We will be sharing impressions, interviews and behind-the-scenes moments from Madeira throughout the week of the event. The best place to follow along is our Instagram channel — and of course right here on the UWACAM blog.
More about the event:
If you would like to bring professional-grade underwater video and stills home from your next dive trip, give UWACAM a try with a DIVEVOLK underwater housing:
See what our UWACOLOR technology can do in this intro video from Matthias Lebo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1STKSFDO0M
See you in Madeira!