10 Stunning Marine Shots by Filipino Underwater Photographers
The Anilao Underwater Shootout (AUS) made a successful comeback this year, highlighting the talented amateur and professional underwater photographers, divers, and marine enthusiasts of the Philippines. After skipping the annual event by the Department of Tourism for two years, the AUS gathered 120 participants from all over the country to compete in Anilao, one of the country’s premier diving destinations.
“The Anilao Underwater Shootout is a platform to communicate the importance of safeguarding our delicate reefs and marine ecosystems for future generations,” said Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat. “As we slowly rebuild and recover from the effects of the pandemic, this event is our way of announcing to the world that the Philippines' diving industry is alive and well, and very much ready to welcome divers and underwater photographers.”
Over 348 entries were submitted to the event’s judging committee, which was made up of renowned underwater photographers David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes, Mike Bartick, Scott "Gutsy" Tuason, William Tan, and Underwater360 Group founder John Thet.
While the “World Cup of Underwater Photo Competitions” is organized to gather professional marine photographers around the world, it’s also an opportunity to spotlight Anilao’s teeming marine biodiversity, world-famous nudibranchs, skilled local dive guides and spotters, world-class tourism establishments, and talented Filipino underwater photographers—both amateur and professional.
Like the rest of the country, Anilao was hit hard by extended lockdown, but with quarantine restrictions easing, the event marks the beginning of the small town’s revival as a world-class diving destination.
Here are all the Filipino underwater photographers that caught the judges’ eyes this year:
Open Class
1| Macro/Supermacro Category
First place: Dennis Corpuz
Second place: Marivic Verdadero Maramot
Third place: Emil Ribaya Jaranilla
2| Marine Behavior Category
First place: Ariel Careño Locsin
Second place: Glenn Ian Diaz Villanueva
Third place: Adrian Dan
3| Nudibranch Category
First place: Dennis Corpuz
Second place: Glenn Ian Villanueva
Third place: Armida Esteban
4| Fish Portrait Category
First place: Dennis Corpuz
Second place: Louis Myse Fae Ronquillo
Third place: Angelyca Paras Nery
Compact Class
5| Macro/Supermacro Category
First place: Rafael Francisco
Second place: Jorge Ida
Third place: Fr. Nemer de Castro Chua
6| Marine Behavior Category
First place: Regie Casia
Second place: Lloyd Respicio
Third place: Anjeanette Fuentebella
7| Nudibranch Category
First place: Penn De Los Santos
Second place: Kim Morfe
Third place: Armando Panopio
8| Fish Portrait Category
First place: Teresa Sy Ortin
Second place: Patricia Santos
Third place: Ronald Amboy Dalawampo
Winner, Special Award - Blackwater, Dennis Corpuz
Winner, Special Award - Wide Angle, Paul Joseph Aristorenas
Special prizes were also handed out to Dennis Corpuz in the Blackwater category and Paul Joseph Aristorenas in the Wide Angel Category. The DOT also awarded Teresa Sy Ortin and Dennis Corpuz with the title of DOT Photographers of the Year in the Compact and Open classes, respectively.
The winners were awarded over P1 million worth of prizes from Cebu Pacific, Nauticam, Scubalamp, AOI, Scubastudio Philippines, and sponsors XDEEP, Crest, Fourth Element, Divers Point, Nautilus Dive, and Sports Center, Squires Bingham, and Ultralight Control Systems, Inc.
AUS 2021 was organized by the Mabini Tourism, DOT Region 4 A Calabarzon #DiscoverCalabarzon, Solitude Acacia Resort, Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort, Crystal Blue Dive Resort, Nauticam, Scubalamp, AOI, and Scubastudio Philippines. The event is also supported by Wetpixel, Underwater Photography Magazine, Underwater 360, and GRID Magazine.
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