It was in 1979. Suddenly, just as it sometimes happens, there was. She emerged from the surface, tossing her head, hefted his buoyant breasts and stepped out into life. Got the name Čochtanka. And it was born in Tachov and Tachovská Čochtanka. On the day of her birthday, ie the penultimate weekend in May, has since held an international diving festival PAF.
He began modestly - with only 19-8 mm and 16 mm films. The films are added photos. First competed among themselves the various clubs, since 1983 the individual authors. In 1990 he appeared noncompetitive diapásma and slides, in the next year to have "traveled" to the fullest. Slowly faded film 16 mm, followed by the 8 mm. Videos are replaced with large video projection. The added competition works Marketplace diving needs since 1991 selling exhibition of diving companies. PAF was from the very beginning of the competition. By 1994 the work evaluated only audience is now so well as two expert panel.
The festival not only expanded its thematic content. Grew in many ways and constructed. In 1979, reflecting the 19 films in 1985, already the 25th In 1984, advised the competition 18 photographers, in 1987 to 61 authors boasted 216 images. Box "state" on the score sheet to obtain multicolor. In the 20 years it covered include: Australia, Belgium, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Holland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Canada, Canada, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Hungary, Mauritius, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Austria, Russia, Spain , Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Great Britain, and of course the Czech Republic and Slovakia. PAF has become a truly international event. Therefore, it is also organized under the auspices of the World Federation CMAS diving.
We do not know whether the divers come to Tachova interesting because proportions Čochtanky (symbol and price), or because of informal and cordial atmosphere, which is concomitant festival. Also it is not important. Important is that the one-day event has become a four-day event that is always something to offer, what to evaluate, to talk about. PAF is open to all filmmakers, team or club, whose work deals with any form of sport diving, flora, fauna and underwater, and protection of the aquatic environment. The aim is to give opportunity to showcase the work of divers in various ways, particularly artistic. So they wrote in propozicích in 1979 and still holds true.
Is a common holiday of admirers of the underwater world.
text: Marie Mirtlová
The establishment of the festival