Melo Villareal
Department of Tourism to host 2023 Anilao Underwater Shootout
The Philippines’ world-famous marine life will once again take the stage at this year’s edition of the Anilao Underwater Shootout, the world’s biggest underwater macro photography competition.
Running from May 22 – 26 in Mabini, Batangas, the competition gathers divers, professional and amateur underwater photographers, and marine enthusiasts in one venue. This year’s edition will reopen to international participants for the first time since the pandemic.
Dubbed the ‘World Cup of Underwater Photo Competitions,’ the event promotes Anilao as a premier underwater photography destination.
It also serves as a venue for sustainable dive tourism as the competition continues to implement a “no marine life manipulation” policy, a strict guideline that has set standards for other underwater photography competitions in the world.
Set rules and a point system combined with the expertise of highly experienced judges from various fields are in place to discourage manipulated images.
Anilao locals will also sign a code of conduct accord prior to the event.
Comprising this year’s panel of judges are renowned underwater photographers Aaron Wong, Brook Peterson, Franco Banfi, Rafael Fernandez, and Scott “Gutsy” Tuason.
The Anilao Underwater Shootout is mounted by the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and is supported by Nauticam, Scubalamp, AOI, XDEEP, Migalabs, Fourth Element, and Marelux.
Interested participants may sign up for the competition at https://bit.ly/AUS2023RegistrationForm, or register between May 22 and May 25 at Soltitude Acacia Resort. For more information, check out the Anilao Underwater Shootout Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/anilaoshootout.
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Read: 12 Photos That Prove Anilao is One Of The Best Diving Destinations in the World
