Underwater Photography Contest
Dive Dauin Festival since its inception in 2021 has in just a few short years become the richest and soon to be the Philippines biggest internationally recognized “Underwater Macro & Wide Photography competition in the Philippines Boasting over $10,000 US in Cash and prizes to be won. The competition is held in June each year on in Dauin on the island of Negros Oriental Philippine , a world-class muck destination, boasting countless species of nudibranchs, shrimp, crabs’ seahorses and ghost pipe fish to name a few to larger megafauna and a wealth of other little critters! to be found in the reefs dotted along the black sand slopes, and corals of Dauin. Marine sanctuaries that have been set up along the coastline to preserve the reefs and seagrass beds. These are important feeding grounds for turtles and homes to the other unique creatures that inhabit these waters boasting 29 of 33 known species of frog fish (BBC Planet earth 2-episode two Frog Fish special was filmed at AivyMaes Divers Resort House Reef known as at Población 1 Dauin North marine Sanctuary protected for over 40 years). Diving practices are stringently enforced, and judges will disqualify photographers if their images show signs of manipulation or animal stress.
For those craving Wide Angle or somewhat larger marine life the tiny island of Apo Island located just 35 minutes boat ride (5km) form the shores of Dauin, has been a designated Marine Protected Area (MPA) since 1982. In 1982, a marine scientist, Dr Angel Alcala, who grew up in the region, persuaded the somewhat skeptical locals that setting up a protected area would benefit the surrounding fisheries. His theory was that there would be a spillover of adult fish from the protected area into the surrounding area, where the protected area functions as a shelter for fish to escape, mature, and spawn. Fish spawning in the protected area would produce larvae that are carried by the currents to other communities on the reef. A true marine conservation success story in the Philippines and is the oldest continuous Marine Protected Area in the Philippines and helped shape the Dive Daiun festival into a Macro Photopapers and Wide-Angle paradise!
This diminutive, little island has played an important role in shaping the marine conservation efforts of the entire country. In fact, such has been the success of the community-based sanctuary that has been established here that inspired similar projects all over the Philippines and even the globe and as a direct result there are currently over 1,500 small Marine Protected Areas in the Philippines, started by local communities who have wanted to emulate the success of Apo Island. As a direct result of the successful implementation of the MPA’s, Dive tourism flourished, with the Philippines now constantly voted as the Number 1 dive destination in the world as a direct result.
The Dive Dauin Festival (originally named dive 7) competition conveys a strong community based sustainable environmental message with locals, local business dive shops DOT (department of tourism), local LGU and dive resorts work together to organize clean-ups both along the shore and underwater bringing a unique perspective to the event. Even the trophies are made from recycled and upcycled materials.
The Dive operators take the competition very seriously and strive to help their clients “win” a category and be the number 1 “photographer choice destination” doing everything in their power help their clients win! Non take that more seriously than AivyMaes Divers Resort boasting world class Top % in the world Must Muck Dive Sites as “our House Reef”. Professional Photographers come from all over the world to photograph the rare ecotoxic critters found there. Dive guides are also professionally trained by the Photographers who teaches them the how to spot the perfect subject, from smallest critter to that perfect wide angle or animal behavior shot. Dive guides trained in this specialty are referred to as “Spotters” and take their profession very seriously, closely guarding the secret locations of the “rarest critters” and only sharing with them clients which makes interesting choice of whom to book with prior to the event. Naturally the best of the best Spotter are reserved well in advance of the completion. AivyMaes Divers Resort caters to both the novice and the professional offering an affordable option with stay dive for both the novice and the professional with Packages that won’t break your budget and employs professionally trained “critter spotters” that will do everything they can to help their client win. It’s safe to say that the completion has spilled over to the “critter spotters “with each vying to be the best of the best and have their client/resort win!
Whether you’re a professional Underwater Photographer, novice or in-between Dive Dauin Festival offers something for everyone with bigger, better prizes to be won every year, coupled with “World Class Diving” it’s a must do for your dive calendar. (See Scuba Diver Magazine ANZ edition 73 for more information)https://divernet.com/scuba-diving/scuba-diver-anz-issue-73-out-now/
