Sodwana Shootout 2000

Look, I’m new to all this, but I thought Sodwana Shoot-out 2000 was really exciting. We arrived in Sodwana a few days before the big event and joined all the nail-biting while Sodwana Bay did its “screw you” thing.  The wind came up, big-time.  The phone lines went down along with the electricity, and the caterers were trembling.  The sea kicked up a huge fuss and the weather, unusual for Sodwana, was wild.  

Thursday afternoon the dignitaries, competitors and official sponsors were due to arrive. Like magic, just after midday or so, the wind stopped, the sun came out and the sea finally settled down.  Shortly thereafter the electricity returned with angelic timing.  And then they rolled in.  

Fred, Tony, Geoff and the back of Gordon's head. 

The competition was hosted by Sodwana Bay Lodge and Coral Divers, so Sodwana was clicking with cameras – underwater anyway.   Most of the time, I was the only one walking around with a camera round my neck waiting for someone to do something really silly on land.  No-one obliged…actually there was that guy with the hair-dryer and the flooding camera, but I didn’t have the heart.

Everyone was feeling very excited, in spite of the fact that Sodwana’s usual 15m+ vis was nowhere to be seen. In fact, underwater, everything was nowhere to be seen.

Mark Montocchio, a gifted master of ceremonies, prepared all the competitors for what looked like a weekend taking photos of your arm-hairs in a swimming pool!  Sportingly, ordinary Joes and Joans climbed on boats alongside the likes of Dennis King, Geoff Spiby, Dave and Jenny-Lynn Grey and some other published photographers who will have to forgive my bad memory.  And then they all produced the goods.  

<Mark Montocchio,
Master of Ceremonies

Jenny-Lyn and David Gray both  
had a very successful evening.

Predictably, in those conditions, there were plenty of entries in the macro categories; all sorts of colourful inverts were blinded by flashes that weekend.  Unpredictably we saw some magnificently clear photos of plastic animals – Bradley Kidd’s toy frog positively sparkled.  Those with the nerve to dive with wide-angle and standard lenses were rewarded for their courage, and the grand prize went to Stuart Mather-Pike for the great photo of his wife. Taken in the lagoon, the stained water lent the well-composed, well-lit and crystal clear photo, a tea-like 'sepia tone'.  

The judges’ decision was considered somewhat contentious – the winning photo being sealess and beastyless I guess. Maybe that’s why I liked it so much.  

Dennis King was one of the judges
as were Lyn de Lacy Smith,  
Andrew Lanham, Peter Driessel, 
and Ian Porter  

Debbie Oscroft hands Geoff Spiby a prize for best macro - advanced of course.

I must say, I thought Fiona’s Ayerst’s pic of Greg de Valley’s famous bubble rings was pretty cool – and I have it on good authority that I’m not the only one.  Prize giving was great fun - hoots, whales, I mean wails and gasps as Monty spin-doctored his way through the event.  There were great prizes, great food and many and varied fabulous people.  If you have the inclination to take underwater pics, and hang with the pro’s and the loud people, don’t miss the next Sodwana Shoot-out.

Stuart Mather-Pike won the truly grand prize - a trip for two to Layang-Layang in Malaysia.
He's the one with Shootout 2000 shirt and the grin.

To see some of the winning pics you need the Jan/Feb Issue of DiveStyle magazine.

To  find out about the next Shoot-out, contact Debbie Oscroft of Coral Divers.

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Pam Richardson