MantaFest

Event Website: www.mantafest.com

MantaFest is an annual photography event and image contest, giving away over $25,000 in prizes, sponsored by top brands in the industry as well as very nice resorts and liveaboard operators.

The event is open to everything from action cameras to professional dSLR systems – the grand prizes are the same for compact and action camera divisions as they are in the professional camera division.

A video category and action camera category open the event up to everyone, regardless of the type of system – an iPhone has photo won a category first place prize at MantaFest.

Every year there are several of the industry’s top underwater photographers from Europe and the America’s who give workshops, present their work, critique your photography and are available for one-on-one training throughout the event.

Special creative photographic topics and scenarios are arranged, a favorite is “sunset shark splits” where guests get a split image workshop from a professional and the opportunity shoot the scenario.

A photographic challenge and something that is the essence of diving Yap – natural beauty and reef sharks.

Several cultural site visits and sunset cruises with locally dressed models happen at MantaFest.

All of the traditional sites and several war wrecks as well as gold sand beaches are visited for topside shooting and drone opportunities around the island during the event.

Photographers are given exclusive dive areas in small groups with two guides no bottom time limits to capture their images. Dive up to 4 times per day.

Presenting professional photographers show their work on the big screen just after sunset and offer a “round table” discussion on your images shot during the event in nightly critique sessions.

One of the biggest features of MantaFest is the opportunity to work one-on-one with the pros throughout the event to improve your final images.

Local dinner buffet, live music and nightly media presentations decorate the event’s program.

www.mantafest.com