The Dive Dauin Festival, since its inception in 2021, has rapidly become the Philippines’ most prestigious and exciting underwater photography competition. Held each June on the island of Negros Oriental—a world-class muck diving destination—the event boasts over $10,000 in cash and prizes and attracts a global community of photographers.
DIVEVOLK was incredibly proud to be a Platinum Sponsor for the 2025 festival, supporting an event that celebrates the stunning biodiversity of the region, from countless species of nudibranchs and seahorses on black sand slopes to vibrant corals and majestic megafauna.
Empowering the Next Wave of Underwater Photographers
This year's festival was one of the biggest yet, with over 100 participants from more than 20 local and international resorts. We were especially thrilled to see over 30 new beginners join the competition!
A core part of DIVEVOLK's mission is to make high-quality underwater imaging accessible to everyone. To support this, we loaned several of our SeaTouch 4 Max housings and photography accessories to beginners, allowing them to compete with reliable, easy-to-use gear. This initiative successfully lowered the entry threshold, empowering aspiring photographers to capture their vision and participate fully in the competition.
Insights from the Experts: The Judges' Verdict
During the event, three of the competition's esteemed judges had the opportunity to put DIVEVOLK gear to the test. We were delighted to receive their expert feedback on the experience.
Jenny Stock
"When I tried the DIVEVOLK gear, I could just get straight in the water and because it was a housing for my iPhone I already had a really good understanding of how to use that equipment. It's a completely different experience than using professional camera, it’s so easy that I could just get up and get shooting straight away. So smartphones underwater is a fantastic place for people to start.”
Adrian Stacy & Ram Yoro
"I really like the DIVEVOLK housing, which is well made, and the most important thing is I feel comfortable putting my phone in there. I found it is easy to use of the touchscreen interface, and the interchangeable wet lens. All in all, it’s an enjoyable experience.”
– Adrian Stacy
"The DIVEVOLK housing opened up a ton of possibilities for me in using the phone underwater. But what amazed me the most about the SeaTouch 4 Max housing is the ability to fully use all the functionalities of the iPhone camera in taking photos underwater. I'm able to optimize the camera's functionality in getting good pictures underwater."
– Ram Yoro
A World First: Live-Streaming the Competition with SeaLink
In a groundbreaking move for underwater competitions, the festival organizers applied the DIVEVOLK SeaLink Underwater Smartphone Data Transmitter to broadcast parts of the competition live! This allowed audiences worldwide to watch the photographers in action in real-time, offering an unprecedented level of engagement and showcasing the future of underwater event coverage.
A Fruitful and Inspiring Event
The Dive Dauin Festival 2025 concluded with a fruitful awarding ceremony, proving once again the increasingly vital role that smartphones play in underwater photography. The quality of images submitted by beginners and pros alike using their phones was a testament to the boundless potential of this technology.
We at DIVEVOLK are immensely proud to have supported such a vibrant and inclusive event. A huge thank you to the organizers, the judges, and every single participant who made the festival a resounding success. We can't wait to see what the future holds!
Ready to start your own underwater photography journey? Explore the SeaTouch 4 Max and discover how easy it can be.
