Our World Underwater

Type: Expo / trade show Frequency: Annual Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA

History

Our World Underwater was founded in 1971 when Joyce Markstahler and Jim Mackie-Smith created the concept of a “Middle Coast dive show” with Harry Shanks of the YMCA Metro Council of Chicago. It premiered at Chicago’s Playboy Hotel in 1971.

The expo became a major gathering point for the dive and underwater photography communities in the United States. Its associated photography and video competition — later evolving into the DPG/Wetpixel Masters — was known as the “Superbowl” of underwater imaging events, with over $75,000 in prizes and thousands of entries annually.

Timeline

• 1971: Founded; premieres at Chicago’s Playboy Hotel
• 2006: Photography competition partnered with DPG and Wetpixel

References

Note: This page is based on general knowledge. Individual yearly references appear in the timeline pages where source citations are available.