After the film is exposed, it must be returned to the competition headquarters by a specific deadline. All the film is processed - usually over night. Sometimes only slide strips are returned , and the photographers mount their entry slides only. The entries are then judged, and awards are presented. The entire event takes a weekend.
Most competitions have a party with dinner and dancing on the evening of competition day.
The entry fee includes the film, processing, party and prizes. The World Underwater Photography Championships are a Beach Competition and have been biennial since 1988. A hurricane postponed competition in 1990. The Championships were in Italy in 1991, in Cuba in November 1992, in South Korea in 1994, in Spain in 1996 and 1998 in Norway. At the international level, about 20 federations compete each with a team of 2 photographers.