Now in its eighth year, Digital Online 2016 has seen the growth of underwater photography participation, the enthusiasm, and the passion step up to another level. The event has attained equal success with non-divers, who came to support the participants at the Awards and Exhibition, held at the American University in Dubai from 26th-31st May.
Digital Online was established in 2009 by Marcelo Mariozi, a professional underwater photographer who had previously been involved in the organisation and set up of underwater photography competitions in his native country of Brazil. As there were no other underwater photography competitions existing in the UAE at the time, Digital Online was introduced by EDA for resident photographers to introduce those unfamiliar with the underwater world to this unique environment. The film category was introduced as an extension to the competition in 2012, with the aim of sharing our underwater world through motion pictures.
For the 2016 event, several new participants claimed recognition while past participants also presented their work. The huge number of contestants and photographs shown at the gallery proves that the underwater photography community is steadily growing in the region, thus raising awareness towards environmental concerns for the UAE waters.
The Prizes
Digital Online’s 19 prize sponsors gave this year’s lucky winners 26 prizes to choose from. Congratulations to all of this year’s participants for taking part and sharing their underwater photos and videos. Participants were only able to win one prize or prize package each. Entrants with multiple winning entries were given priority in the points awarded and the participant with the highest score took the prize. The winners were then able to choose their own prizes from the options available.
The People’s Choice Awards
EDA handed it over to their online audience to pick their favourite photos and videos from Digital Online’s 2016 collection, via their Facebook page. The photos with the most likes received first, second and third places respectively, and the winning video received an overall winner nomination as well as a medal and a UV Protection Top from iQ-UV.
First place photo won an additional dive trip with Al Boom Diving on the east coast and the first place video won a dive trip with The Dive Centre, with a choice to dive either the west coast or east coast.
The Sponsors
Sponsors of prizes for 2016 included: BFC Travel Management, Tourism Malaysia, Philippines Department of Tourism, Azure Dive & Yoga Resort, Marco Vincent Dive Resort, Al Marsa Musandam, Canon, Grand Stores, Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort and Al Mahara Diving Center, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Fujairah, Millennium Resort Mussanah Oman and Oman Sail, Nomad Ocean Adventures, Atoll Scuba, The Dive Centre, MTM Marine LLC, and Al Boom Diving.
The Judges
Digital Online’s guest judgeswere Imran Ahmad, Jonathan Ali Khan and Christophe Chellapermal.
EDA Digital Online would like to thank their Las Vegas Printing LLC sponsor, Print Works, who provide all the prints for the Digital Online exhibitions each year.
Rima Jabado, 1st Place – Compact
Levente Rozsahegyi, 2nd Place – Wide Angle
The Winning Results
Simone Caprodossi – 1652
Overall Digital Online Dslr/Milc winner
John Hager – 1212
Overall Digital Online Compact Winner
Pablo Jiménez Novoa – 443
Overal Digital Online Video Winner
Yousef Alshekaili – 1257
Uae National Photography Award
Pablo Jiménez Novoa – 443
Video 1st Place Winner, Blue Ocean
BFC Travel Management
Destination Package – 5 Days/4 nights in Bali, Indonesia
DSLR/MILC 1st Place Winners
Levente Rozsahegyi – 444
Wide Angle
Philippines Department of Tourism | Azure Dive & Yoga Resort | Destination Package – 5 days/4 nights superior deluxe accommodation for one person in Dumaguete, Philippines
David Robinson – 425
Macro
Tourism Malaysia | Destination Package – 5 days / 4 nights to Sipadan, Malaysia
Yousi Falali – 410
Black & White
Philippines Department Of Tourism | Marco Vincent Dive Resort | Destination Package – 6 days / 5 nights with breakfast and 12 Guided Dives for one person in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Philippines
Khalid Obaid – 406
Black & White
Bfc Travel Management | Destination Package – 4 days / 3 nights in Terengganu, Malaysia
Compact 1st Place Winners
Rima Jabado – 420
Compact
Canon | Eos 700D + 18-55 dc
Kelly Tymburski – 410
Black & White
Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort & Al Mahara Diving Center | 2 nights stay at Anantara Sir Baniyas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort in one bedroom villa for 2 with sumptuous breakfast in the Savannah Grill Restaurant & 2 dives (tank & weights included)
Andy Jones – 396
Best of the Uae
Atoll Scuba | a package of 10 dives with Atoll Scuba on the Island of Dhiffushi in the Maldives for one diver
Alaa Khalil – 401
Video 2nd Place Winner
Blue Ocean
Al Marsamusandam | 2 nights liveaboard trip in the Musandam
Simone Caprodossi, 2nd Place – Wide Angle
Jurgens Swarts, 2nd Place – Best of the UAE
DSLR/MILC 2nd Place Winners
Simone Caprodossi – 426
Wide Angle
Bfc Travel Management | Destination Package – 4 days / 3 nights in Aqaba, Jordan
Abdulla Almehairai – 414
Macro
Mtm Marine Llc | Mares Abyss 22 Nitrox Din Regulator
Stewart Clarke – 400
Best of the Uae
Millennium Resort Mussanah and Oman Sail Dive Centre, Oman | 2 nights stay for two adults in superior room, room only basis, valid from 30th April until 30th December 2016 with 2 tank dive package
Mohamed Abdulla – 398
Black & White
Canon | Powershotg7 X
Compact 2nd Place Winners
John Hager – 413
Compact
Nomad Ocean Adventures | Tdiccr Air Diluent Diver Course in Musandam, Oman
Simon Croshaw – 376
Black & White
Grand Stores | Rollei Action Cam 7S Wifi
Jurgens Swarts – 367
Best of the Uae
Nomad Ocean Adventures | Tdi Advanced Nitrox
Course in Fujairah
Khaled Sultani – 382
Video 3rd Place Winner
Blue Ocean, Canon | Powershot D30
(Underwater Camera)
Pablo Jiménez Novoa, 3rd Place – Best of UAE
Sijmon de Waal, 3rd Place – Best of the UAE
DSLR/MILC 3rd Place Winners
Iyad Suleyman – 409
Wide Angle
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort and Spa | Summer Promotion – 2 nights stay during summer months in a superior room with breakfast buffet for 2 at views restaurant
Sijmon De Waal – 395
Best of the Uae
Mtm Marine Llc | Mares Dragon at Bcd
Rylan Lee – 392
Macro
Grand Stores | [Qudos] Action Light by Knog
Steven Board – 381
Black & White
Nomad Ocean Adventures | 2 days / 2 nights, Chalet Package (4 dives) for 2 in Musandam, Oman
Compact 3rd Place Winners
Jayme Rush – 374
Black & White
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort and Spa | weekend night stay in a superior room inclusive of breakfast buffet for two at views restaurant
Nuraan Al Hashmi – 371
Compact
Mtm Marine Llc | Mares Cruise Captain Bag
Pablo Jiménez Novoa – 347
Best of the Uae
Nomad Ocean Adventures | Underwater
Photography Book by Tobias Friedrich
The People’s Choice Awards
Abdulla Ahmed Almehairi
1st Place Photo
Iq-Uv | UV protection you wear | www.iq-uv.com
Al Boom Diving | Voucher for 2 dives on East Coast with full equipment for one diver
Leventeroz Sahegyi
2nd Place Photo
Iq-Uv | UV protection you wear | www.iq-uv.com
Aamer Sulaiman
3rd Place Photo
Iq-Uv | UV protection you wear | www.iq-uv.com
Ahmed Alnaqbi
Video People’s Choice Award
Iq-Uv | UV protection you wear | www.iq-uv.com
The Dive Centre | Voucher for 2 complimentary dives for one person from either the Dubai or Fujairah Dive Centre
