Anilao Underwater Shootout 2023 Winners
The tranquil waters of Mabini, Batangas burst into action once more as the Department of Tourism (DOT) recently held the 8th Anilao Underwater Shootout (AUS), May 22 to 26.
Regarded as the “World Cup of Underwater Photo Competitions”, the international event showcased the rich marine biodiversity of the town, which is acknowledged as the birthplace of scuba diving in the archipelago.
The 3-day shootfest gathered 153 participants from 14 countries—including Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, and the Philippines.
According to DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, the event strengthens the country’s position as among the world’s top destinations for diving and underwater photography.
She said that through the competition, the DOT seeks to grow the country’s dive market with programs that promote the country’s rich underwater world, and advocate its preservation.
Situated in Balayan Bay, the area boasts of some 42 dive spots scattered across the municipalities of Mabini, Bauan and Tingloy.
The second since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the competition received 426 entries from two classes and 14 categories.
Winners bagging P 1.7 M worth of underwater photography gear from event partners and sponsors AOI, Divers Point Co., Fourth Element, Marelux, Migalabs, Nauticam, Nautilus Dive and Sports Center, Raptor Case, Scubalamp, Scuba Studio, Squires Sports, and XDeep.
“The Department of Tourism is very happy that the love for diving and underwater photography has brought everyone to Anilao as this year’s edition opens up to international participants. The DOT is committed to maintaining the Philippines’s standing as the world’s leading dive destination through a comprehensive approach for the further development of the country’s dive products,” said DOT assistant secretary Verna Covar-Buensuceso during the awarding ceremony.
First held in 2013, the Shootout is in line with the DOT’s identification of diving as a priority product in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP).
This year’s panel of judges included award-winning global underwater photographers Aaron Wong, Brook Peterson, Franco Banfi, Rafael Fernandez Caballero, and Scott Gutsy Tuason.
Below are the contest’s top 3 winners in the different classes and categories:
Open Class
- Macro/supermacro: Kim Kyung Shin, PJ Aristorenas, and Yat Kuen Eric Fung.
- Marine Behavior: Dennis Corpuz, Patricia Santos, and Yat Kuen Eric Fung
- Nudibranch: Dennis Corpuz, Mark Chang, PJ Aristorenas
- Fish Portrait: Deniz Muzaffer Gökmen, Patricia Santos, Mark Chang.
Compact Class
- Macro: Regie Casia, Luzelle Artillero, Teresa Sy Ortin.
- Marine Behavior: Regie Casia, Eric Javier, Neil Anthony Torres
- Nudibranch: Jayson Cedrick Apostol, Ronilo Corpuz, and Jose Antonio Caluag.
- Fish Portrait: Eric Javier, Jayson Cedrick Apostol, and Oscar Rey Maranan
Special prizes were awarded to Dennis Corpuz and Mark Chang in the Blackwater/Bonfire and the Wide Angle categories, respectively. The DOT also bestowed the Dive Photographer of the Year titles to and Eric Javier (compact class), and Photographers of the Year Dive Guides to Roberto Corpuz (open class) and Louie Casapao (compact class).
The 8th AUS was mounted in partnership with the Mabini Tourism Office, DOT Calabarzon Regional Office, Solitude Acacia Resort, Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort, Lakan, Underwater 360, and Dive Marketing Media.
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