Tobago, the sister island to Trinidad, will be hosting its first ever dive festival in June of this year. Taking a cue from the cultural celebration known as Carnival, which is celebrated throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, the dive festival will revolve around the theme "Underwater Carnival," intended to show off the rich and diverse ecosystems found around the island. The event is going to be hosted by the Tobago House of Assembly Tourism Division, the Association of Tobago Dive Operators, and the Tourism Development Company. This week-long event is scheduled to take place from June 11-18, 2010.

The is the first event of its kind on the island, and there are events planned that will cater to divers, as well as other marine enthusiasts and ocean lovers. The festival is planned to be a foil to Trinidad's famed Carnival celebration, which the island is known for. The activities planned will be suitable for both experienced and amateur divers. Skills workshops will allow divers to fine-tune their abilities while exploring and enjoying the enchanting undersea world surrounding the island. Key events scheduled include: an amateur underwater photography competition, with underwater photography equipment provided by Sealife; dive and photography seminars hosted by a variety of sponsors, including Dive Training, Scuba Diving, and Sport Diver magazines; diving and snorkeling gear demonstrations; Discover Scuba for kids and the Rogest Kids Gallery, a two-day aquatic art workshop for children between the ages of six and eleven hosted by Canadian artist Ron Steven.

The festival offers a lot of perks to participants. In addition to hosting the photography contest, Sealife will be providing divers with free samples to use on dives, as well as tips on underwater photography, photo review, and the editing process. Divers can also take the chance to try out new gear offered by leading dive manufacturers.

The diving in Tobago is world-class and provides a perfect setting for the festival. The waters surrounding the island are home to tarpons, turtles, sharks, and manta rays. Slow, easy currents provide ideal conditions, and overall, divers and underwater photographers will have the opportunity to spot more than 400 species of marine wildlife. Tobago is also home to the world's largest brain coral, spanning over 20 feet wide.

Registration for the Tobago Water Carnival is $75. This fee gives participants access to event seminars, discounts on certain land-based tours and restaurants, free snorkeling equipment rentals, free entry into the Sealife amateur underwater photography contest, and specials on dive packages. For more information on the festival, including a list of partner hotels and a schedule of activities, visit http://www.tobagounderwatercarnival.com