The 5th annual Kona Classic was great fun this year, with over 30 participants competing the photo competition during the week of diving in Kona. Sport Diver's Ty Sawyer and photo pros David Fleetham, Eric Cheng, and Marty Snyderman were the judges of this year's contest, with Dan Baldocchi representing video and Fred Dion on hand to fix gear problems. In an incredible upset, this year's Best of Show image was shot by Kate Mitchell with a Canon point & shoot camera!

2006 Judges: David Fleetham, Eric Cheng, Marty Snyderman, Ty Sawyer
Video: + Dan Baldocchi

- Photo and Video Contest Results -

- BEST OF SHOW

Best of Show: Kate Mitchell

- NOVICE: BEST TURTLE PHOTO -

1st Place, Novice Turtle Dee Husted

2nd Place, Novice Turtle Taylor Selman

3rd Place, Novice Turtle Susan Johnson

NOVICE: BEST MANTA PHOTO

1st Place, Novice Manta Randy Johnson

2nd Place, Novice Manta Taylor Selman

3rd Place, Novice Manta Kate Mitchell

NOVICE: BEST DIVER PHOTO

1st Place, Novice Diver Randy Johnson

2nd Place, Novice Diver Taylor Selman

3rd Place, Novice Diver Kate Mitchell

OPEN: BEST DIVER PHOTO

1st Place, Open Diver John Monk	2nd Place, Open Diver Doug Farr	3rd Place, Open Diver Arno Gourdol
	Hon Mention, Open Diver Bonnie Zaleski	Hon Mention, Open Diver Barbi Benton

OPEN: BEST WIDE-ANGLE PHOTO

1st Place, Open Wide Cynthia Hankins	2nd Place, Open Wide Doug Farr	3rd Place, Open Wide Jeff Laity
Hon Mention, Open Wide Barbi Benton	Hon Mention, Open Wide Randy Mehner	Hon Mention, Open Wide Randy Mehner

OPEN: BEST MACRO PHOTO

1st Place, Open Macro Lance Hansen	2nd Place, Open Macro Jim Squires	3rd Place, Open Macro Cynthia Hankins
Hon Mention, Open Macro Doug Farr	Hon Mention, Open Macro Jeff Laity	Hon Mention, Open Macro Randy Mehner
		Hon Mention, Open Macro John Monk

OPEN: BEST TOPSIDE

1st Place, Open Topside Bonnie Zaleski	2nd Place, Open Topside Doug Farr	3rd Place, Open Topside Krista Heide
	Hon Mention, Open Topside Jim Squires	Hon Mention, Open Macro John Monk

REEF CHECK - BEST INDICATOR SPECIES PHOTO

1st Place, Reef Check Jim Squires	2nd Place, Reef Check Lance Hansen	3rd Place, Reef Check Dee Wescott
		Hon Mention, Reef Check Cynthia Hankins

BEST PHOTOJOURNALISM SET

1st Place Best Photo Journalism Set Jeff Laity	2nd Place Best Photo Journalism Set Jim Squires	3rd Place Best Photo Journalism Set Bonnie Zaleski
		Honorable Mention Best Photo Journalism Set Dee Wescott

BEST VIDEO

1st Place: Anastasia Laity
2nd Place: Dave Husted
3rd Place: Matthew D'Avella
Honorable Mention: Jeff Leicher

See the winning videos
at Light & Motion's' website!

PARTICIPATING DIVE OPERATORS

Special thanks to our participating dive operators: Jack's Diving Locker, Konaquatica Dive Center, and Kona Honu Divers. Be sure to book diving with them the next time you visit Kona!

PHOTO CONTEST PRIZE SPONSORS

As with all photo contest and shootout events, none of this would be possible without the generous participation of sponsors. Special thanks to all of the sponsors of this year's Kona Classic!

 

TOPSIDE PHOTOS
All photos taken by Eric Cheng unless otherwise specified

Dan Baldocchi checks out sea turtles

Planning lunch: Christine Grange, Len (PADI), Ty Sawyer, Jeff Mondle, David Fleetham, Dan Baldocchi, Marty Snyderman

Dan Baldocchi and Jeff Leicher (of Jack's Diving Locker)

Orientation night, Kona Classic 2006

As usual, Dan Baldocchi brought Light & Motion gear to try out

Fred "The Wizard" Dion, with Sea & Sea demo cameras

Evening Body Glove sunset cruise

Craziness on the cruise

Photo pros Eric Cheng and David Fleetham

Bonnie and Marcia practice with their cameras

Carol Connors, Jim Miller (of Body Glove), and Elvis Duck

Sport Diver's Ty Sawyer photographs Marcia and Bonnie

Sport Diver's editor, Ty Sawyer

David and Denise Fleetham, Ty Sawyer, Jeff Mondle, Marty Snyderman at our favorite restaurant, Las Muchachas

Doug Farr models a wetsuit

Eric Cheng, trying out DUI's tropical drysuit at the manta ray night dive

Taylor strikes a pose

Denny relaxes between dives

Len and Elaine man the ticket booth before the photo pros present

Wednesday evening's photo pro presentation

Ty Sawyer sweeps Carol Connors off of her feet!

Tossing gifts out to the crowd

Photo pro presentation evening

Photo pro presentation evening

David Fleetham presents

Russ Lesser, of Body Glove, with Kathy Knoll, last year's organizer

Some conch action on the boat

The Perez family in the water

Barbi Benton

Office hours with the photo pros!

Office hours with the photo pros!

Final evening awards presentation

Jeff Leicher has his hands full!

Anastasia Laity and Jeff Laity (photo: David Fleetham)

Jack's boat on the water (photo: David Fleetham)

Eric Cheng, (always) with camera (photo: Ty Sawyer)

Hawaii islands tatoo (photo: Ty Sawyer)

Bldy Glove treasure hunt event (photo: Ty Sawyer)