Ocean Art 2010 Competition Winners

Click on photos for a larger view

See all of the prize sponsors at the bottom of this page

Honorable mentions are in no particular order

Winners will be emailed prize choices within 2 weeks

Complete list of winners at the bottom of this page

Big thanks to Marty Snyderman, Bonnie Pelnar, Martin Edge,and Chris Newbert for judging the competition.

Click here to see the winning images from the 2011 Ocean Art Contest

Keri Wilk, Best of Show

"Crocodile Smile"

Phil Sokol, 1st Place, Wide Angle

"Under the Jetty"

Phil lives in San Diego, California

All Wide Angle Winners

Keri Wilk, 1st Place, Macro

"Starry night"

Keri lives near Toronto, Canada

All Macro Winners

Keri Wilk, 1st Place, Marine Life Portrait

All Marine Life Portrait Winners

Matt Tworkowski, 1st Place, Marine Life Behavior

"On Guard"

Matt is from Australia

All Marine Life Behavior Winners

Jeffrey Hartog, 1st Place, Diver / Fashion

"Elizabeth Pool study #32"

Jeff lives in Florida, USA

All Diver / Fashion Winners

Enrico Pati, 1st Place, Nudibranchs

"Moustache"

Enrico is from Italy

All Nudibranch Winners

Bettina Balnis, 1st Place, Supermacro

"First Lesson in Life"

Bettina is from Germany

All Supermacro Winners

Jonas Samuelsson, 1st Place, Novice dSLR

"Close-up pipefish"

Jonas lives in Sweden

All Novice dSLR Winners

Eddy Wong, 1st Place, Compact Wide Angle

"Starry Day"

Eddy lives in Boston, USA

All Compact Wide Angle Winners

Karel Bernard, 1st Place, Compact Macro

"Hermit's Love"

Karel is from Estonia

All Compact Camera Macro Winners

 Massimiliano Muratore, 1st Place, Compact Behavior

"Cuttlefish Lunch"

Massimiliano lives in Italy

All Compact Camera Behavior Winners

Note from the Competition Chair:

I want to thank everyone for entering the competition, and I want to congratulate all the winners. There were so many excellent images, that the judges had a very difficult time determining the winners. 

I hope you all decide to enter the competition again next year! And if you are in LA stop in my new underwater camera store to say hi.

Scott Gietler
Owner, Underwater Photography Guide

PS - which image was your favorite? Feel free to post your thoughts here.

Complete List of Winners

Best of Show
Keri Wilk

Wide Angle
1st place, Phil Sokol
2nd Place, Pedro Carrillo
3rd Place, Edwar Herreno
4th Place, Mark Thomas
HR, Peter Allinson
HR, Fredrik Ehrenström
HR, Ross Gudgeon

Macro
1st place, Keri Wilk
2nd Place, Alessandro Pagano
3rd Place, Bettina Balni
4th Place, Adriano Morettin
HR, Olaf Brettschneider
HR, Fredrik Ehrenström
HR, Mauro Apuleo

Marine Life Portrait
1st place, Keri Wilk
2nd Place, Peter Allinson
3rd Place, Noam Kortler
4th Place, Erin Quigley
HR, Steve de Neef
HR, Luc Rooman
HR, Fredrik Ehrenström

Behavior
1st place, Matthew Tworkowski
2nd Place, Steven Kovacs
3rd Place, Steven Kovacs
4th Place, Edwar Herreno
HR, Uwe Schmolke
HR, Dennis Vandermeersch
HR, Dany Weinberg

Diver / Fashion
1st place, Jeffrey Hartog
2nd Place, David Benz,
3rd Place, Noam Kortler
4th Place, Jeffrey Hartog
HR, Mario Jaio Lopez
HR, Jeffrey Hartog
HR, Giordano Cipriani
HR, Leslie June Gehring

Nudibranchs
1st place, Enrico Pati
2nd Place, Kevin Lee
3rd Place, Indra Swari
4th Place, Bettina Balnis
HR, Steven Kovac
HR, David Henshaw
HR, Steven Kovacs

Supermacro
1st place, Bettina Balnis
2nd Place, Jeff de Guzman
3rd Place, Pedro Carrillo
4th Place, Fredrik Ehrenström
HR, Tobias Friedrich
HR, Katarzyna Battenfeld
HR, Steven Kovacs

Novice dSLR
1st place, Jonas Samuelsson
2nd Place, Will Clark
3rd Place, Bruno Moors
4th Place, Kirk Kilfoyle
HR, Bo Pardau
HR, Bo Pardau
HR, Frederic Panza

Compact Wide Angle
1st place, Eddy Wong
2nd Place, Ryan Daly
3rd Place, Matt Tworkowski
4th Place, Patrick Torresan
HR, Eddy Wong
HR, Jackie Campbell
HR, Jamie Coote

Compact Macro
1st place, Karel Bernard
2nd Place, Bettina Balnis
3rd Place, Bruno Van Saen
4th Place, David Guth
HR, James Lyle
HR, Kevin Lee
HR, Marcus Commodore

Compact camera behavior
1st place, Massimiliano Muratore
2nd Place, George Jolokai
3rd Place, Brad Pryde
4th Place, Steven Murvine
HR, Jacob Daniel Hein
HR, Daniel Norwood
HR, Rand McMein

Contest Sponsors

We are proud to have Arenui, Febrina/Walindi, and Solmar V

as premiere sponsors

You can dive Indonesia in a whole new style with a new luxury liveaboard, the Arenui. To live up to our motto of being "The Boutique Liveaboard", attention has been given to every aspect of the Arenui to ensure that it fully embodies our philosophy of providing a unique dive experience, giving you the best there is in terms of diving and leisure activities, without sacrificing any of the comforts and luxury you would expect to get from a top-notch hotel on land. Visit Komodo, Raja Ampat or the Banda Sea. The Arenui is sponsoring a 12-day trip on their boutique liveaboard. Wow!

Walindi resort, in Kimbe Bay Papua New Guinea, has been voted to have the "best diving from a resort anywhere in the world" by reader surveys. The liveaboard FeBrina, one of the most famous liveaboards in the world, cruises from her home port, Walindi, visiting areas further afield such as Witu Islands, Fathers Reefs - some of the best diving on the planet. Unusual critters, 900 species of fish, sharks, barracuda, jacks and more await you. Walindi is sponsoring 14 nights in Papua New Guinea - 10 nights on the Febrina, 4 nights at Walindi + the prize includes 4 nights at Loloata. 18 nights total!

The 112-foot luxury live-aboard Solmar V, has been offering scuba adventures to the Socorro Islands, Sea of Cortez and Guadalupe Island for over 18 years. Known for their professional service and unmatched experience, they boast the best big animal diving on earth! Giant mantas, numerous shark species, dolphins and even whales are common. With a long tradition of commitment to the environment, we are proud to announce Solmar V as one of our contest sponsors. The Solmar V is sponsoring a 9-day voyage to the Socorro Islands as a prize, where "Wilderness is the Ultimate luxury."

SMY Ondina, a romantic and modern wooden schooner, runs fantastic Indonesia liveaboard adventure safaris to dive Komodo, Fak Fak, Flores, Sulawesi and the Raja Ampat area - some of the most amazing waters in the world. Eight air-conditioned double cabins with en suite bathroom guarantee a level of comfort you’ll appreciate. The SMY Ondina is sponsoring an 11 day trip on their liveaboard + 50% off your companion

 Manthiri is custom-designed for the optimal dive experience and comfort. No other liveaboard in the Maldives furnishes the topflight dive experience of Manthiri. The guests will tell you: perhaps nowhere else is sea life as richly abundant and dazzling as it is in Maldives. The Manthiri is sponsoring a 9-day trip on their liveaboard.

Kararu liveaboard scuba diving adventures visits a range of remote and exciting locations in the Indonesian archipelago. From the famous islands of Komodo to the historically important Banda Sea and as far as Raja Ampat and Fak Fak , our cruises offer something for every scuba diver. Kararu dive voyages is sponsoring an 11 day trip on their liveaboards.

Some consider Lissenung Island Resort the ultimate paradise. Imagine a small tropical island covered in palm trees, surrounded by a white sandy beach, a beautiful house reef and some of the best diving in the world. Lissenung Island is located just off Kavieng, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea. Nestled amongst natural surrounds, traditionally built bungalows accommodate a max. of 14 guests. Forget your high heels, tropical attire is our dress code.

At Lissenung Island Resort, personal service is guaranteed and a visit here is truly exclusive!
Lissenung is sponsoring an 10 night stay at their resort + diving.

Bilikiki offers liveaboard dive trips in the Solomon islands, from ships consistently rated among the best live-aboards in the world, with some of the best diving in the world. You'll have a good opportunity to see sharks, mantas, dolphins, and turtles, barracuda, and more varieties of coral than almost anywhere. Bilikiki is sponsoring an 7 night trip on one of their liveaboards.

Sea Safari cruises takes you on a wooden schooner to some of the best dive sites in Indonesia, that only a liveboard can visit. Your home-away-from-home is a spacious sailing vessel and you have a comfortable cabin with your own en-suite bathroom. An attentive but discrete crew takes care of everything. Sea Safari is sponsoring a trip on a liveaboard to Raja Ampat or Komodo

The mission of Aggressor Fleet is to provide scuba divers with the highest quality, most innovative and safest live-aboard experience possible. They offer unparalleled customer service and the most comfortable dive yachts, accessing the best diving locations around the world. Aggressor Fleet has 11 yachts operating itineraries in 13 destinations. The Utila Agressor is sponsoring a liveaboard trip in Utila, Honduras.

A Dancer Fleet® LiveAboard diving vacation
features luxury and topnotch amenities, plus attention to every detail - which will make you feel as pampered as an invited guest on a private yacht.. Peter Hughes Dancer Fleet is sponsoring a liveaboard trip to Belize.

Kosrae Island is truly a hidden treasure, tucked away in the Federated States of Micronesia on top of some of the most lush and healthy coral reefs in the world. Kosrae Nautilus Resort caters to divers who are looking for remote, uncrowded, pristine reefs. They offer complete dive, accommodations and meals packages. Kosrae Nautilus resort is sponsoring a week-long dive vacation for 2.

Siladen resort and spa is an upmarket resort, located in the heart of Bunaken marine reserve in Sulawesi in an exclusive location, with unbelieveably great diving just minutes away. They offer an elegant and relaxing atmosphere. Siladen resort is sponsoring a week-long dive vacation.

Atlantis dive resorts offer one of the best outstanding value for a first class dive vacation in the world today. They are located in Dumaguette and Puerto Galera, Philppines. Atlantis resorts is sponsoring a 7-night dive vacation at either resort.

Since 1969 Mike Ball has been setting standards in the Australian dive industry with exceptional liveaboard expeditions to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Mike Ball is sponsoring a 3-night fly/dive expedition to Cod Hole.

Underwater journal is a free online magazine devoted to scuba diving, and much more. UWJ celebrates the discovery and enjoyment of all things aquatic - from the leading edge of ocean exploration and research to the simple pleasures of immersing oneself weightlessly in the liquid environment that covers three-fourths of our world. Even those who are not yet divers find much to enjoy.

Together with Zeagle Systems and Divers Direct, UWJ is sponsoring an equipment + cash package worth over $1,900. 

Manta Ray Bay resort is the premiere dedicated dive resort on the island of Yap in Micronesia, designed by divers and built for divers. All of the dive facilities are conveniently located within steps of the Hotel. We also offer world class fishing, wildlife and nature kayaking, and a full range of island tours specifically designed to showcase Yap’s unique indigenous culture.

 Black Sand Dive Retreat is a small 6-bungalow quality dive resort located on a sheltered bay in a natural setting on Lembeh Strait , Indonesia ’s Exotic Critter Capital. This resort is the realization of a long-term dream of Bruce and Fung Moore, who have extensive experience in North Sulawesi over the past decade.

Villa Markisa is an exclusive resort located on the north east coast of Bali. Nestled at the foot of Bali’s most famous volcano “Gunung Agung”, the private bungalows offer individual service and great attention to detail. Bali's famous Liberty Wreck is minutes away, and the house reef has hundreds of nudibranch species.

Bella Safaris offers a luxury liveaboard experience in the Red Sea. They offer large, fully equipped boat built for divers, and a variety of fantastic Red Sea itineraries.

Sipadan  Kapalai dive resort is an oasis on stilts in paradise. You have mind-boggling diving with big fish nearby at Sipadan island, a great house reef just steps from your door and wonderful critters at Mabul.

Club Ocellaris is a dive resort, underwater photography center, and secret of many famous photographers. Situated in Anilao, Philippines, it is near some of the best macro and nudibranch diving in the world.

 Zeagle Systems is a family owned business dedicated to making innovative equipment for recreational, commercial, public safety, and military divers. Never a "me too" company, Zeagle has led the diving industry in a number of equipment issues over the years.

Pinnacle is a division of Zeagle that creates excellent quality wetsuits.

Buddy Dive Resort in Bonaire  is a resort where you can DIVE DIVE DIVE, take part in a multitude of activities including Bonaire's excellent drive and dive shore diving, or just sit back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Bonaire's calm clear waters and multitude of fish are perfect for underwater photography.

Beqa Lagoon Resort is a magical resort in Fiji featuring beautiful grounds and private deluxe villas. Near the resort are beautiful fish and corals, and an incredible shark dive. This resort is true luxury, and was voted "Best dive resort in the world" by Scuba Diving magazine.

Loloata Island Resort, just minutes from the Port Moresby airport in Papua New Guinea, means great diving, and a chance to observe some of the world's greatest coral reefs and meet a myriad of marine animals in their natural habitat. Underwater photo enthusiasts find a dazzling array of great fish, corals and invertebrate subjects only minutes away from the dock aboard a new deluxe dive boat. Loloata is sponsoring a 4-night stay in conjunction with the premiere prize from Walindi/Febrina.

 Olympus has been an innovative leader in cameras and underwater housings for beginners and pros alike. Olympus is proud to offer a new compact camera and underwater housing as a prize.  

 Ultralight is the leading maker of arms, trays and clamps for the underwater photography community - making only high quality products built to last. 

Two Fish Divers is located in an unbelievable great location on Bunaken Island, Sulawesi - close to excellent diving. They also have a resort in nearby Lembeh, so an underwater photographer can split their time between the two resorts. Experience beautiful corals, lots of fish, amazing small critters, and some larger exciting creatures including reef sharks, turtles and barracudas.  

 Tulamben Wreck Divers is located in Tulamben, Bali at a fantastic location near the liberty wreck. They offer nitrox, a huge plus, and the owner Tony has a reputation for great service, a wide range of accomodation options and affordable diving.

ReefNet has been developing unique marine technologies for more than 15 years. Their products combine smart engineering with elegant design, solving problems with style. Prizes from Reefnet include their famous Subsee diopter and adapter for supermacro photography.

 Scuba Club Cozumel is the island's first dedicated dive resort built by divers, for divers. Scuba Club Cozumel is located right on the waterfront just a mile south of town. Scuba-Cozumel is the in-house dive op with a fleet of seven dive boats that board from a private pier just footsteps from your comfortable room. All meals are scheduled around the diving. SCC offers NITROX and free unlimited shore diving.

 Aquamarine Diving Bali is well known for specializing in custom Bali dive safaris for divers and underwater photographers. They offer fast boats, great accommodation options and experienced guides that know where all the best photo subjects are.

 Marine Camera is a California based underwater camera store known for the excellent technical expertise of photographer Lee Peterson, and great service for local and international customers alike.

Sea Saba is your paradise in the Caribbean. It offers unspoiled diving with no cruise ships or shopping malls. They pride themselves on the highest levels of service.

Diving Unlimited is known worldwide for making drysuits and undergarments of the highest quality - proudly made in San Diego, California.

Mimpi Dive resort offers a botique resort experience in two excellent locations in Bali, Tulamben and Menjangen. Both resorts offer excellent waterfront locations, high-ceiling marble rooms, thatched-roof cottages, sea-front restaurants and a pool, spa, and dive center

Blue Abyss Photo is an underwater photo and video store in Southern California offering a great selection and personalized, friendly service.

 Sea & Sea is on of the best known names in underwater imaging equipment, offering high-quality housings, strobes and much more.

 Divers Direct has been selling dive equipment since 1984. Divers Direct provides brands, more items, more choices than any other dive shop for dive gear and tropical adventure clothing.

Island Dreams is one of the most well known dive travel experts, specializing in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Owner Ken Knezick has 30 years of expertise in custom dive travel.

Absolute Scuba Bali offers excellent accommodation and diving in one of Bali's best areas for diving, Padang Bai. Enjoy Mantas, Molas and plentiful macro critters.

Ikelite has a long history of making strobes, dive lights, underwater housing and more for photographers worldwide since 1962, and are famous for their commitment to company service.