Here is a brief about the competition:
- The competition gives the local dive guides the opportunity to improve their skills and serve a growing community of underwater photographers. The recognition that follows brings dignity to their jobs and the motivation to become more professional. As the saying goes in Lembeh, "It is not the dive site . . . it is the dive guide". Better dive guides means better dives for more underwater photographers, and therefore more livelihood and income for the guides as well as for the industry as a whole.
- It helps promote awareness, understanding and appreciation of the need to protect and preserve underwater biodiversity in Mabini and Tingloy and elsewhere.
- It helps promote Mabini and Tingloy as true tourist destinations by encouraging improvements in the services and standards of ALL OPERATORS but not limited to resort and boat. By meeting the needs of underwater photographers during the shootout, the operators will eventually follow international service standards to the benefit of all guests from the islands and overseas.
- It helps promote as well as stimulate and improve standards of underwater photography.
MAD About US is the first of its kind in Mabini (Anilao) and Tingloy, if not in the Philippines . It should attract entrants of all ages from all over the globe, including professional photographers. MAD 1 had young adults and older entrants from Canada , Germany , France , Japan , Korea and the Philippines . MAD 2 had a 12 year old for its youngest entrant who also won the People's Choice award aside from 2 other awards. The number of participants grew to 57 or 3 times the 18 participants of MAD 1.
The organizing committee of MADaboutUS recommends that ALL OPERATORS improve their standards for individualized services especially for this event in order to cater to the needs of underwater photographers and, if applicable, of their family members as well.
Photographers may acquire the services of OPERATORS of their choice. Should entrants need information on OPERATORS, only OPERATORS registered with the local Tourism Office will be listed.