Category: Competition Winners

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

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