News

“People’s Choice” winner from the 2018 Solmar V Instagram competition by Camila Jaber
 

Pelagic Fleet has announced the winners of the #SolmarV2018Contest—an Instagram-based competition that has garnered a lot of attention on social media. The contest attracted hundreds and hundreds of entries by photographers around the world hoping to take home one of two prizes: “People’s Choice Award” and “Jurors’ Pick Award.”

Camilia Jaber captured the People’s Choice Award by tallying more than 18,000 likes for her image of a pod of inquisitive dolphins. “[The dolphins] were really curious, playing with us and checking us out,” says Camila, who has earned a free trip for two to Guadalupe Island aboard the Solmar V liveaboard and an additional adventure with Pelagic Safari. 

The Jurors’ Pick Award went to James Ferrara for his perfectly timed shot of a tiger shark and freediver framed inside a bubble ring. “I was able to get above [the diver and shark] and capture their interaction inside the ring,” explains James. For his fantastic photo, James has the opportunity to “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” for a trip to Socorro on the Solmar V and a full day expedition with Pelagic Safari.
 

The “Jurors’ Pick” went to this image by James Ferrara
 

Jorge Hauser, owner and CEO of the Pelagic Fleet, said, “The #SolmarV2018Contest was a great way to bring attention to the amazing imagery captured by talented underwater photographers across the globe and promote the recently refurbished Solmar V liveaboard, which is set to begin trips to Guadalupe again on August 1st.”

Congrats to the winners! And to all who had their hopes hanging on the hashtag #SolmarV2018Contest—there’s always next year. Need help choosing the best underwater photos to post to Instagram until then? We have a guide for that.