First Place, Underwater Photography Contest
"Two Worlds Fusion" Photo Collection
Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia
Photo 1: Pier; Photo 2: Pier Split Over/Under; Photo 3: Mangroves

I'm very proud & happy to announce that Adriano Morettin's Portfolio of images won the Plongeur d'Or, top prize in Festival Mondial de l'image Sous-Marine, THE most prestigious underwater photography competition in the world!

Adriano was a guest on our City Seahorse dive trips in Raja Ampat last year and took the majority of photos in his portfolio on that trip.  This honor was his goal!

You can see more of his winning portfolio images>on the Festival website (see the slideshow of all 10 images - although you must read the captions to know which belong to Adriano):

First Place Photo Contest Winner (Free trip!)

Adriano Morettin, Trieste, Italy

For Adriano's three wide angle photo series the judges named "Two Worlds Fusion".

Adriano shot a Nikon D2X in a Seacam housing.

"I need to make the maximum dives possible during the cruise to take the best photos possible in long quiet dives, without strong current, without nagging guides. Most important are the guides that should find and show to me the most creatures possible."

Before the trip, Adriano wrote "For me this is the seventh time in Indonesia to take underwater pictures and so my goals are to take no usual photos of usual creatures, but extraordinary photos of special creature in particular situations, like for example Harlequin Shrimp (my favourite), Mandarin fish, Periclimenes Imperator on Spanish Dancer and so on."

We saw wonderful macro images from Adriano however it was his eye and skill for the wide scenes that impressed all of us during the trip and apparently the judges agreed!

After the trip, Adriano emailed: "I have seen my pictures with calm on my home wide screen and now I'm more satisfied than on board; this trip for me has been exceptional !!!!! Also I want to thank Norberto, Jerry and Aan, three dive guides truly very good. Deb and Tony have an exceptional organization, espeically for the diving: many compliments sincerely for you. I hope to repeat a trip with you."

Adriano was on our Raja Ampat trip, Sorong - Sorong..

Winning photos were created on our 2007 Raja Ampat Diving Trips
Incredible - 4 years in a row to win!! Well done !

Note: Any diver traveling with SMY Ondina in 2007 was eligible to enter.

First Place, Underwater Photography Contest
Peeping Mandarin
Ambon, Indonesia

First Place (Free trip!)

Amaury Cruz
(Amaury's Underwater Photography)

For his photo 'Peeping Mandarin'.

Amaury wrote "I guess you could say 'I told you so'. It's fantastic to win a contest with such tough competition. As I recall, that Mandarin was the first or second photo I took on that trip!"

Jury Comments: Very expressive. The colours over black, the out of focus fins force you to look to the face of this difficult fish to shoot. It just creates an amazing 3D effect.

All 4 judges voted Amaury's Mandarin first!

Amaury and wife Connie, were on our May 2007 Ambon to Raja Ampat trip.

Second Place Underwater Photography Contest
Colours Over Black
Northwest Waigeo & Misool, Raja Ampat

Second Place (50% discount trip!)

Linda Ianniello
(Linda's Underwater Photography)

For her two macro photos.

Jury Comments: The chromatic effects, the composition, the black background... they are just like poems!

Linda was on our Nov. 8-19, 2007 Raja Ampat trip.

Bruce Yates placed 3rd in the 2007 Contest with photo from his trip.

Note: Any diver traveling with SMY Ondina in 2006 was eligible to enter.

Once again, OUR trip participants take the prizes. We are feeling smug.

First Place, Underwater Photography Contest
A Colorful Mirage
Misool, Raja Ampat

First Place (Free trip!)

Bruce Magun

For his photo 'A Colorful' Mirage'.

Bruce shot a Canon 20D in an Ikelite housing, Ikelite DS125 strobes, 10-22 mm lens.

Bruce wrote "I took it the day we spent most of the time in the shallows (around 10 to 20 feet) while you were shooting video of the fish swarms. I was chasing big angelfish and sweetlips."

Bruce was on our Nov. 6, 2006 Raja Ampat trip.

Third Place Underwater Photography Contest
Pygmy Seahorse Tandum
Northwest Waigeo, Raja Ampat

Third Place

Michael Pollack
(Michael's Website)

Equipment: Canon 5D (digital) in Subal housing.

Mike, and wife Alison were on our Nov. 20, 2006 Raja Ampat trip.

First Place, Underwater Photography Contest
Filtered Sunlight & Wire Coral Shrimp
Photo Collection

First Place (Free trip!)

Hal Everett
(Hal's Website)

For his two photos, wide angle & macro. 'Filtered Sunlight' and 'Wire Coral Shrimp'.

Hal shot a Nikon D2X.

Hal was on our Nov. 3, 2005 Raja Ampat trip.

First Place, Underwater Photography Contest
Filtered Sunlight & Wire Coral Shrimp
Photo Collection

First Place, Underwater Photography Contest
Map Puffer & Golden Trevally Escort
Sorong Harbor

First Place (Free trip!)

Kirk Cantrell
(Kirk's Website)

Kirk Says: "I came across this two foot long Map Puffer with its escort of Golden Trevallys in shallow water. The visibility at the location was very bad. I was stuck with my 105mm macro lens and could not get in as close as I wanted. Through persistent shadowing of the relatively slow moving puffer I was able to get this shot with the Trevallys on my side of the puffer for a nice composition."

Canon Digital Rebel in Ikelite housing, two DS-125 strobes, Tv 1/60, Av 16, ISO 200, and 105mm macro lens.

Kirk was on our Nov. 11, 2004 Raja Ampat trip.

Second Place Underwater Photography Contest
Zebra Crab on Fire Urchin
Northwest Waigeo, Raja Ampat

Second Place

Mike Oelrich
(Mike's R4 Webpages)

Equipment: Canon 10D in Sea and Sea housing, two DS-125 strobes.

Mike was on our Nov. 11, 2004 Raja Ampat trip.

Mike Oelrich in Raja Ampat

Kirk Cantrell in Raja Ampat