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Results outUnderwater · In person

Real Focus Underwater Shootout 2026

by Solitude World (Solitude Liveaboards & Resorts) (opens in a new tab) · Solitude Acacia Resort, Anilao (Philippines) and Solitude Lembeh Resort (Indonesia)

Entries closed

Results are out

  • Closed 31 MAY
  • Cats 5
  • Prizes $25K
  • At Solitude Acacia Resort, Anilao (Philippines) and Solitude Lembeh Resort (Indonesia)
Add to calendar Official site (opens in a new tab) Rules (opens in a new tab) Results (opens in a new tab)

You're viewing a past edition. See Real Focus Underwater Shootout 2027 →

Key dates

  1. Event starts

  2. Event ends

  3. Final deadline

  4. Results

    Jul 2026

Capture window: 2026-02-15 → 2026-04-30 — Images had to be shot during the entrant's stay at one of the two Solitude resorts within the competition period.

Entry fees

We haven't been able to verify the fees yet.

Prizes

$25,000approx. total value

The organiser described a prize pool worth over US$25,000.

Categories

  • Best of Show

    Open

  • Macro Traditional

    Macro

  • Macro Creative

    Macro

  • Blackwater

    Other

  • Compact Camera

    Compact & mobile

Who can enter

Open to
Open to all

Only guests staying at least three nights at Solitude Acacia Resort (Anilao) or Solitude Lembeh Resort during 15 February – 30 April 2026 could enter.

Rules at a glance

RAW files
Required from finalists
Wildlife ethics
The 2026 theme "Break the Habit" asked entrants not to stage, chase or touch subjects.

Each entry included observation data (species, depth, location, water temperature) for a behaviour study led by marine biologist Dr David Harasti. Entries could be updated or swapped until the 31 May deadline.

Your image rights

We haven't summarised the licence terms for this edition yet.

This is our plain-language summary, not legal advice. Read the official terms before entering: official rules & terms (opens in a new tab).

Judges

  • Dr Georg Nies · Head of Jury
  • Dr Alex Tattersall
  • Imran Ahmad
  • Lilian Koh

Research notes

First edition. Sources give the winners' announcement as 1, 7 or 20 July 2026. No entry fee was found beyond the required resort stay.

Provenance

Verified · 4 sources

  1. Solitude World — Real Focus Underwater Shootout (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  2. Solitude World — Real Focus FAQs (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  3. DiveNewswire — Real Focus 2026 inaugural winners (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  4. DeeperBlue — 2026 Real Focus winners announced (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15

All editions

  1. Real Focus Underwater Shootout 2027≈ late May 2027Expected
  2. Real Focus Underwater Shootout 2026closed Sun 31 May 2026Results out4 judges Results (opens in a new tab)