EVENT COVERAGE 2025
RESULTS FROM THE 2025 MONTEREY SHOOTOUT
$65,000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR AMAZING SPONSORS
The Monterey Shootout is first and foremost a community event, bringing divers together to socialize, network, and share their passion for the ocean and imaging. While competition is secondary, this year’s $65,000 in prizes inspired participants to push their creative limits and capture their best images. The Monterey Shootout would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors, and we are extremely grateful for their support in rewarding this unique community of underwater image makers.
Backscatter Octo Housing – $999
Backscatter Hybrid Flash – $999
Backscatter Hybrid Flash – $999
Backscatter Mini Flash 2 – $599
Backscatter MW4300 – $399
Backscatter Sharp Wide Lens Pro Pack – $398
$6,500
$4,270
$3,395
Murex Bangka
$3,138
dives, meals, transfers, resort fees, taxes and gratuities
$3,107
4 nights Salaya Beach Houses (deluxe garden view, twin/double) 4 dives incl. boat
$1,545
4 nights Amun Ini (ocean view deluxe, twin/double), roundtrip Tagbilaran transfers, 4 days
$1,545
trip airport transfers and tax
$2,750
fees, Nitrox, head message, round trip airport transfers and tax
$2,700
SMC-3 67mm Super Macro Converter Lens – $610
MFO-1 67mm Mid-range Focus Optimizer – $510
90 X 170mm arm (set of 2) – $480
70 X 250mm arm (set of 2) – $360
70 X 200mm arm (set of 2) – $360
50 X 300mm arm (set of 2) – $360
$1,999
$1,999
$1,700
Salaya Beach House (4 nights, one bedroom ground floor deluxe ocean view room, includes
accommodations, breakfast, 8 local guided dives
$1,500
DS230 Strobe – $1,250
DS230 Strobe – $1,250
$500 Gift Certificate
$1250
$1,185
$1,021
$1,000 Gift Certificate
$799
$750
$519
Kraken Hydra 3000 – $325
$430
Bamboo Reef Nitrox Fill Card – $150
Smart Phone Housing – $350
Oceanic
Smart Phone Housing – $350
24×36 metal print from your favorite images from Bradley Photographic Print Services – $320
16×24 metal print from your favorite image – $150
24×36 paper print from your favorite image – $150
16×24 paper print from your favorite image – $50
$300 Gift Card
$200 Gift Card
$240
$231
Dive Soft 150m Primary Reel – $199
Dive Soft Sentry Dive Mask – $83
Dive Soft Sentry Dive Mask – $83
Discovery Whale Watching Tickets for 2 – $170
Beach Hopper II Single Diver Open Charter Pass – $124
$100 Gift Certificate
$75
3 Night Stay @ the Monterey Ocean View B&B (Luke Kilpatrick) – $600
XS Scuba Mikros Mask (black) – $70
$50 Gift Card
Water Lust
$50 Gift Card
Water Lust
$50 Gift Card
Wettie Wetsuits Gift Card – $50
Wild Eye Magazine Subscription – $49
Regulator Bench Test or Cylinder Visual – $25
Regulator Bench Test or Cylinder Visual – $25
Regulator Bench Test or Cylinder Visual – $25
Regulator Bench Test or Cylinder Visual – $25
Regulator Bench Test or Cylinder Visual – $25
COMMENTS FROM THE PHOTO JUDGES
The 2025 photo judging team consisted of Berkley White, Becca Boring, Chuck Davis, and Sterling Zumbrunn, who devoted hours to carefully evaluating every image. One simple guideline ultimately determined the winners: “Would I put this image on my wall?”
The major challenge tackled by shooters this year was low visibility, and the judges were impressed by both the creativity and skill of this year’s contestants. Under poor visibility conditions, images captured with slow shutter speeds had an edge, since this technique hides scatter while maintaining the overall brightness of the image. Slow shutter shots proved successful across both the Traditional and Unrestricted categories.
Abstract images also drew strong praise, with many rising to the top of the submissions. Going for an unconventional style not only separates an image from the pack, it’s also a great tool to rely on when conditions make traditional shooting difficult.
The judges noted that some images in the Unrestricted category could have benefited from additional post-processing. Usually Unrestricted images suffer from over-editing, but this year proved to be the opposite. Further use of editing tools would have advanced some entries into placing with just a little more cleanup.
Overall, the judges were blown away by the quality and creativity of 2025’s photo submissions, and are excited to see how photographers will continue to push the envelope in next year’s event.
COMMENTS FROM THE VIDEO JUDGES
The 2025 video judging team consisted of Matt Ferraro, Jim Decker, and Rusty Sanoian, who dedicated many hours carefully reviewing every video submission. Ultimately, winning videos came down to a simple guiding question: “Would I share this video with a friend or loved one?”
This year’s low-visibility conditions made it more difficult to capture sweeping, cinematic scenes making technical execution critical. Stability was a major factor, with steady footage consistently outperforming shaky clips. Stability is especially important for macro video, where even the slightest movement is magnified on screen.
Video is all about subjects in motion, and entries that featured moving subjects, or demonstrated smooth, intentional camera movement for static scenes, scored higher. Submissions that told a story also placed above those that lacked a clear narrative.
In both the Video Montage and Social Media categories, strong, compelling footage paired with a tighter edit proved more effective than filling the entire time limit with weaker shots that weakened the overall impact of the video.
For the Social Media category in particular, keeping things short and sweet is key. Entries need to be punchy, concise, and engaging. Shorter videos that delivered their best moments without fluff had the strongest impact.
BEST IN SHOW
Every year, the Monterey Shootout dedicates a single image or video that not only captures the best of the competition but also embodies the spirit of Monterey diving and honors those who have inspired us. This year’s Best in Show image is dedicated to the memory of Jamie Tabscott, Steve Clatterbuck, and James Vincent—central figures from Aquarius Scuba and Any Water Sports—whose sudden passing has deeply touched the entire Monterey dive community.
Best in Show – Sage Ono
Prize for BEST IN SHOW
Emperor Divers Bilikiki (Solomon Islands) – 10 night trip for 1 aboard Emperor Bilikiki, shared twin cabin – $6,500
WINNERS – ADVANCED WIDE ANGLE TRADITIONAL
WINNERS – ADVANCED WIDE ANGLE UNRESTRICTED
WINNERS – ADVANCED MACRO TRADITIONAL
WINNERS – ADVANCED MACRO UNRESTRICTED
WINNERS – INTERMEDIATE WIDE ANGLE TRADITIONAL
WINNERS – INTERMEDIATE WIDE ANGLE UNRESTRICTED
WINNERS – INTERMEDIATE MACRO TRADITIONAL
WINNERS – INTERMEDIATE MACRO UNRESTRICTED
WINNERS – BEGINNER WIDE ANGLE TRADITIONAL
WINNERS – BEGINNER WIDE ANGLE UNRESTRICTED
WINNERS – BEGINNER MACRO TRADITIONAL
WINNERS – BEGINNER MACRO UNRESTRICTED
JOIN US AT THE 2026 MONTEREY SHOOTOUT!
Please enjoy the underwater views from behind the lenses of this year’s participants in the other submitted videos and all-submitted images slideshow. A very special THANK YOU to all of our prize sponsors for your generosity and support of The Digital Shootout – we couldn’t do it without you!
