MantaFest 2023
16th Annual MantaFest Photography School & Contest Yap, Micronesia, August 26 through September 9, 2023.
Since 2006, our MantaFest program has brought underwater photographers, both amateur and professional, to this small island and its protected reef to compete for prizes, attend workshops, take tours of the island, and experience the unique culture of Yap, which is considered to be among the best preserved in the Pacific region.
Workshops are led by experts in the field providing their knowledge of all things related to taking better pictures including, but not limited to composition, lighting, and photoshop. They also offer advice during sessions with local models in settings that include the island’s unique stone money banks and traditional dance performances. Daily dive trips provide opportunities to dive with and photograph the manta rays, sharks, and the plethora of small, colorful tropicals such as the brightly colored mandarin fish and many more wonders of Yap’s underwater world.
They’ll be happy to teach you the basics and then have you join them on the boat for personalized hands-on experience
During the 16th MantaFest event, we will be joined by top U/W photographers like Andy Schumacher, David Fleetham, Frank Schneider, Ray Bullion, Steve Miller, and Tim Rock.
Our 2023 MantaFest Photo School & Contest packages include
- Hotel room w/late check-out
- 3-tank dive days
- One (1) Mandarinfish Dive Included
- One (1) Night Dive Included
- Free NITROX
- Participation in photo contest
- Seminars and workshops
- Happy Hour one-on-one sessions with the photo pros
- Evening Media Presentations
- Shark split photo opportunity
- Land/culture photo opportunities
- Beach BBQ
- 1/2-day land/culture tour
- Local dinner
- Breakfast
- Roundtrip airport transfers
- Free Wi-Fi
- Hotel Taxes
- Wake-up service with coffee or tea delivered to your room
Package Prices
| Duration | Standard | Ocean View | Deluxe Ocean View |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 nights / 5 dive days | $2,229 | $2,319 | $2,669 |
| 14 nights / 11 dive days | $3,829 | $3,959 | $4,529 |
Photo Contest Categories
| Digital SLR | Compact Camera | Video | Beginner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Animals | Big Animals | Best Submission | Best Submission |
| Behavior | Behavior | ||
| Land/Culture | Land/Culture | ||
| Fish/Creature Portrait | Fish/Creature Portrait | ||
| Open/Creative | Open/Creative |
Check out the 2019 winners by visiting this link
Although our annual MantaFest Photo School and Contest are all about learning, improving your U/W photography skills, fun, meeting new friends, and discovering Yap’s underwater and topside beauty, you also have the chance to win some amazing prizes. From Live-Aboard Scuba Trips to gift vouchers to dive gear and many more. With prizes worth more than $20,000 our annual MantaFest program is one of the world’s highest-valued resort-based U/W photo contests you can participate in.
Pencil in the following dates:
- 2023 August 26-September 9
- 2024 August 24-September 8
- 2025 August 23-September 7
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