Bluewater Photo Store has announced that the 2018 SoCal Shootout is calling for entrants. It is being held from 14 to 16 September, with registration open from now until 13 September. The contest offers categories for a variety of different types of equipment and different photographic techniques.

Press release

SoCal Shootout 2018

Bluewater Photo has announced that the 2018 SoCal Shootout Competition will be held September 14 – 16, 2018. Registration is open from now until September 13th. This competition invites divers from all across Southern California to dive and photograph with the opportunity to enter the contest and win great prizes. Photographers of all levels are welcome and can participate in a number of different categories that are separated by camera type (compact, mirrorless, dSLR) and photo type (macro, wide- angle, behavior, etc).

“The limitation of only being able to use photos from that specific weekend really adds to the excitement and fairness of the competition. It adds that extra flare of need to first find a subject or image you’re planning to take, and then also nail the photo!” - Adam Gibson

This contest brings together our local community of divers and underwater photographers, while also promoting local diving and the great underwater environment that we enjoy here in Southern California.

What can you win?

There’s a great list of sponsors who have chosen to participate in this year’s competition, offering prizes that range from completely free vacations to free gear and local boat trips. With a grand total of over $24,000 in prizes last year, Bluewater Photo is planning to surpass this total for 2018 – they already have a new record of free trips as prizes! While the full list of sponsors is still coming in, see some of the highlights below.

Platinum Sponsor prizes: A free trip to the Sea of Cortez aboard the Quino El Guardian, multi-night stay packages at Volivoli Beach Resort in Fiji, Clearly Cayman Beach Resorts, and El Galleon Dive Resort, along with numerous high-end video lights and camera products from Kraken and a GH5 Housing with 2 TLC arm sets from Aquatica.

Gold Sponsor prizes: A multi-night stay at Aiyanar Resort in Anilao, 3 night/4 day stay with dives for 2 people at Atmosphere Resort in Dumaguete, multiple products from ThinkTank, twoYS-D2 strobes from Sea & Sea, and an Olympus TG-5 camera + housing.

Silver Sponsors: prizes from Ultralight Control Systems, Ikelite, CeeRay dive boat, Channel Island Dive Adventures, Truth Aquatics, 2 trips aboard the CeeRay dive boat, and so much more!

How do I join?

For more information or to sign up to participate in the competition, go to the shootout’s webpage, or email Adam.