Category: Competition Winners

Winners of the Novice, Amateur, Advanced, and Video categories

July 2025 Competition Results

The July 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Midwater” There were a total of 31 submissions (21 still images and 10 videos).

Novice Category

  • Novice – 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • Novice – 2nd Place: Diane Hotz
  • Novice – 3rd Place: Susan Scheer

Amateur Category

  • Amateur – 1st Place: Doug Bonhaus
  • Amateur – 2nd Place (tie): Katherine Mauser
  • Amateur – 2nd Place (tie): Ryan Vaickus
  • Amateur – 3rd Place: Charlotte Seid

Advance Category

  • Advanced – 1st Place: Greg Volger
  • Advanced – 2nd Place: David Hinkel
  • Advanced – 3rd Place (tie): Jack Der
  • Advanced – 3rd Place (tie): Mike Poirier

Video Category

Humans Underwater Videos

June 2025 Competition Results

Novice Category

The June 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Humans Underwater” There were a total of 29 submissions (23 still images and 6 videos).

Novice Category

  • Novice – 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • Novice – 2nd Place: James Logan
  • Novice – 3rd Place: Alex Toh

Amateur Category

  • Amateur – 1st Place: Tom Baker
  • Amateur – 2nd Place: Matt Wilbur
  • Amateur – 3rd Place: Katherine Mauser

Advance Category

  • Advanced – 1st Place: Mike Couffer
  • Advanced – 2nd Place: Jack Der
  • Advanced – 3rd Place: Gayle Van Leer

Video Category

Humans Underwater Videos

May 2025 Competition Results

Novice Category

The May 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Dominant Color” There were a total of 29 submissions (23 still images and 6 videos).

Novice Category

  • 1st Place (tie): Diane Hotz
  • 1st Place (tie): Matthias Scheer
  • 2nd Place: Elaine Masters
  • 3rd Place: Cindy Lipthay

Amateur Category

  • 1st Place: Tom Baker
  • 2nd Place: Charlotte Seid
  • 3rd Place (tie): Katherine Mauser
  • 3rd Place (tie): Matt Wilbur

Advance Category

  • 1st Place: Greg Volger
  • 2nd Place: Denise Lew
  • 3rd Place: Dick Miller

Video Category

April 2025 Competition Results

Novice Category

The April 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “New Beginnings” There were a total of 30 submissions (23 still images and 7 videos).

Novice Category

  • 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • 2nd Place: Cindy Lipthay
  • 3rd Place: Jacob Roth

Amateur Category

  • 1st Place: Matt Wilbur
  • 2nd Place: Doug Bonhaus
  • 3rd Place (tie): Charlotte Seid
  • 3rd Place (tie): Ryan Vaickus

Advance Category

  • 1st Place: Jack Der
  • 2nd Place: Bob Yin
  • 3rd Place: Herb Gruenhagen

Video Category

March 2025 Competition Results

Novice Category

The March 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Shallows” There were a total of 28 submissions (22 still images and 6 videos).

Novice Category

  • 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • 2nd Place: James Logan

Amateur Category

  • 1st Place: Ryan Vaickus
  • 2nd Place: Elli Vaickus
  • 3rd Place: Doug Bonhaus

Advance Category

  • 1st Place: Greg Volger
  • 2nd Place: Bill Ring
  • 3rd Place (tie): David Hinkel
  • 3rd Place (tie): Denise Lew
  • 3rd Place (tie): Harold Dorr

Video Category

February 2025 Competition Results

Novice Category

The February 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Behavior” There were a total of 26 submissions (19 still images and 7 videos).

Novice Category

  • 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • 2nd Place: Elaine Masters

Amateur Category

  • 1st Place: Tom Baker
  • 2nd Place: Doug Bonhaus
  • 3rd Place: Ryan Vaickus

Advance Category

  • 1st Place: Bob Yin
  • 2nd Place: Greg Volger
  • 3rd Place (tie): Mike Couffer
  • 3rd Place (tie): Mike Poirier

Video Category

January 2025 Competition Results

Novice Category

The January 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Best of 2024” There were a total of 35 submissions (26 still images and 9 videos).

Novice Category

  • 3rd Place – David Karp
  • 1st Place – Susan Scheer
  • 2nd Place – Matthias Scheer

Amateur Category

  • 1st Place Katherine Mauser
  • 2nd Place (tie) Matt Wilbur
  • 2nd Place (tie) Ryan Vickus
  • 3rd Place Doug Bonhaus

Advance Category

  • 1st Place: Mike Poirier
  • 2nd Place: Harold Dorr
  • 3rd Place (tie): Greg Volger
  • 3rd Place (tie): Mike Couffer

Video Category

March 2023 Competition Results

The March 2023 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Grey Scale / Black and White” There were a total of 30 submissions (24 still images and 6 videos).

Still Images

Click on the pictures for a slide show.

Novice Category

Amateur Category

Advanced Category

The winner of the category, Walter Heim, opted not to have his picture showcased.

Videos

1st Place – Kristin Carner

2nd Place(tie) – Bill Ring

2nd Place (tie) – Bob Yin

3rd Place – Jack Der

February 2023 Competition Results

The February 2023 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Intention – Tell a Story.” There were a total of 28 submissions (22 still images and 6 videos).

Still Images

Click on the pictures for a slide show.

Novice Category

Amateur Category

Advanced Category

The winner of the category, Walter Heim, opted not to have his picture showcased.

Videos

1st Place(tie) – Bob Yin

1st Place (tie) – Bill Ring

2nd Place – Kristin Carner

3rd Place (tie) – Jack Der

3rd Place (tie) – Helge Weissig

January 2023 Competition Results

The January 2023 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Best of 2022 (or most recent diving year).” There were a total of 34 submissions (27 still images and 7 videos).

Still Images

Click on the pictures for a slide show.

Novice Category

Amateur Category

Advanced Category

The winner of the category, Walter Heim, opted not to have his picture showcased.

Videos

1st Place – Kristin Carner

2nd Place – Jack Der

3rd Place (Tie) – Bill Ring

3rd Place (Tie) – Polly Rogers