Sport Diver magazine, the official publication of the PADI Diving Society, recently won a pair of prestigious awards in the 17th annual Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition. The competition, which is named after the pioneering travel journalist, was sponsored by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. Sport Diver, owned by World Publications in Winter Park, Florida, received a first-place Gold Medal for Best Travel Coverage in a non-travel magazine. Senior Editor Brian Courtney also earned a third-place Bronze Medal in the Environmental Tourism Article category for his feature story on the threats facing sea turtles entitled Fragile Future. Sport Diver was the only diving magazine honored by the panel of judges in the competition that recognizes top achievements in every form of travel journalism. These awards reflect the hard work of our editorial staff, Editor Pierce Hoover said. They also serve as proof from our peers that Sport Diver is not only the best dive magazine, but one of the very best magazines - period. More than 1,000 entries were submitted as part of the competition. Other award-winning publications included National Geographic Explorer, The New York Times and Caribbean Travel & Life, which is another World Publications title. Sport Diver's recent awards in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition are a fine example of the magazine's pursuit of journalism excellence, Publisher Paul Tzimoulis said. It is a clear sign of Sport Diver's meteoric rise as the diving industry's most challenging publication. Kudos to the editors for such a brilliant first-time achievement. The panel of judges had high praise for Sport Diver's travel coverage, specifically singling out its lively writing ... hip layouts and great photos. Courtney, whose story on sea turtles appeared in the October 2000 issue of Sport Diver, also won praise from the judges for his handling of a complex subject in a manner that takes on life as well as substance.For more information, contact Managing Editor Kirk Brown at 407-571-4584.