Kona Classic 2006 Contest Winners + Photos 
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Author: Eric Cheng ( echeng )
Related Link: Kona Classic 5
Event Dates: 13 May 2006 - 21 May 2006
Welcome to the Kona Classic 2006 feature report, by Eric Cheng
The Kona Classic is a joint effort and is put on each year
by Sport Diver Magazine, PADI, and Body Glove.
May 13-21, 2006 , Kona, Hawaii
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!
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 Laity2nd 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) |
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Comment(s):Dude, what is Marty Snyderman doing with my wife? Oh wait, that’s me. -jl
http://wetpixel.com/features/konaclassic2006/i/topside/davefleetham36.html
Posted by synthetic on 06/07 at 05:42 PMWish I’d known Barbi Benton was going to be there. Would have made that a priority dive trip.
Rand
Posted by randapex on 06/13 at 03:11 PMI would like to see those fun photos we watched at award banket night, how can I get those?
Marcia MeloPosted by marcia melo on 06/14 at 05:05 AMSpecifically, what Canon point-and-shoot did Kate Mitchell use? That close-up of the turtle is awesome!
Posted by WillyVolk on 06/26 at 11:04 AM
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