2026 Underwater Photo Contest: How to Submit Your Images

There is a very special moment in a marine photographer's life. The moment when you return to the boat, or when you review your RAW files in the hotel room in the evening, and when an image stops you in your tracks. Not just any image. The one that transcends the simple memory, the one that carries something more than the context in which it was taken.

We edit it, we crop it, maybe we export it. We show it to a few close people, we post it on social networks. And then the question arises, almost naturally: and now, what do I do with it?

The answer lies in one word: Competition.

Submitting your images to a jury transforms the relationship with your own production. It's no longer a matter of likes or friendly comments from fellow divers. It's an exercise in selection, honesty, and rigor in sorting.

Preparing a portfolio requires looking at your work with fresh eyes. You need to choose three, five, or sometimes just one image from hundreds. This curatorial process reveals things that you don't notice when you casually scroll through your own gallery.

The return of judges, when it exists, represents a pedagogical accelerator that is difficult to find elsewhere. Professionals who dedicate time to evaluating an image, comparing it with others, and formulating a reasoned opinion. This type of perspective is priceless.

And then there's the community. The contests bring together photographers from all over the world, from beginners to veterans, united by a common passion. We discover approaches, subjects, and techniques that we would never have encountered otherwise.

The key isn't to win. The key is the journey one takes to prepare their submission. Selecting, editing, doubting, and starting over. This journey is worth more than any trophy.

Several international competitions are accepting applications this year. Each has its own rules, categories, and calendars. Here are the main ones to be aware of.

Through Your Lens is organized by the Scuba Diving magazine. The competition offers several categories that cover a wide range of the discipline: macro, wide-angle, over-under, and a special beginner category, which is particularly interesting for those submitting their first images. The prizes are generous, including trips offered by Aggressor Liveaboards. The opening and closing dates vary each year, so it is advisable to regularly check the magazine's website.

Ocean Conservancy Photo Contest is an open competition on a global level, with a deadline set for May 28, 2026, for this edition. All ages are eligible to participate (minors with parental consent). The focus is on conservation and the connection between humans and the ocean. A great starting point for those whose images convey an environmental message.

UPY (Underwater Photographer of the Year) remains the world's leading underwater photography competition. Submissions typically open between October and December for the publication of the following year. UPY introduced a Smartphone category, which made a sensation in 2026, won by a user of the DiveVolk diving case. This category opens the competition to a much wider audience than just owners of underwater housings.

CMAS World Championship operates on a different model. The competition takes place in teams, and selection is made through national federations. Therefore, you must be licensed and selected by your federation to participate. This is a demanding format aimed at photographers already involved in the competitive circuit.

World Shootout offers an online competition format, accessible from anywhere in the world. A more flexible format that allows participation without the logistical constraints of physical events.

Each competition has its own rules, specific categories, and accepted image formats. Before submitting anything, carefully reading the complete rules is a non-negotiable step.

Preparation is an art in itself. It begins with the selection, and this is often the most difficult step.

Choose your three to five strongest images. Not your favorites, not those that have received the most online reactions. The strongest. The distinction is essential. An image that moves you because it reminds you of a specific moment can leave a complete judge indifferent if it does not hold technically or narratively.

Technical quality remains a prerequisite. Clarity, properly controlled exposure, and consistent white balance. A jury rarely forgives unintentional blur or blatant underexposure. These criteria do not create a great image, but their absence is enough to eliminate an application.

The visual narrative makes a difference at the technical level as well. An image that tells a story, that evokes a question, that transports the viewer to a precise moment in underwater life, immediately stands out from a pool of hundreds of submissions. Ask yourself: what will someone who has never dived feel when they see this photo?

Ethics is now explicitly included in the regulations. Most major competitions prohibit images generated by artificial intelligence (the UPY has formalized this in its rules). Respect for the animal, the absence of manipulation of the environment, and transparency regarding shooting conditions have become entirely separate criteria.

The format and resolution requirements vary from competition to competition. Some require JPEG, while others accept TIFF. The minimum and maximum dimensions differ. EXIF metadata may be required or, conversely, prohibited. Check each point before submitting.

As for post-processing, the rule is simple and aligns with the AquaExposure doctrine: enhance, never fabricate. Correct the color balance absorbed by the water, adjust the contrast, and remove stubborn backscatter. All of this is not only accepted but expected. Adding a fish that wasn't there, merging two images, or replacing a background, these are what disqualify.

The first mistake, the most common one, is to submit too many images. When a competition allows for ten submissions, sending ten mediocre images dilutes the impact of your two or three truly excellent ones. It's better to submit three outstanding images than ten correct ones.

The choice of category deserves serious consideration. An image taken in a macro format and submitted at a wide angle will not be evaluated in the correct context. Take the time to read the description of each category and place your images where they will be judged according to the correct criteria.

Ignoring the rules remains a surprisingly common cause of disqualification. Incorrect file format, resolution too low or too high, missing metadata, or date of capture outside the authorized period. All of these technical details can ruin a submission before a judge even sees the image.

Finally, over-processing represents a trap into which many photographers fall who are keen to make their image "perfect". Excessive saturation, aggressive HDR, excessive noise smoothing. Judges recognize immediately an over-processed image, and the reaction is rarely positive.

The AquaExposure training course dedicates an entire module to the enhancement of underwater images. Module 6 covers the selection, ethical post-processing, preparation for competitions, and the various ways to give a second life to your best shots.

Discover Module 6 in the underwater photography course

Which is the best underwater photography competition to start with?

Through Your Lens offers a specific beginner category, making it an excellent starting point. Ocean Conservancy is also accessible as it requires no prior experience or professional equipment. The key is to choose a competition with categories that match your type of photography.

Can photos taken with a smartphone be submitted?

Yes. The UPY has even created a dedicated Smartphone category, won in 2026 by an image captured with a DiveVolk housing. Other competitions do not specifically exclude photos taken with a phone, but check the minimum resolution requirements, as some competitions require high-definition files.

Are retouched photos accepted in the competition?

Reasonable post-processing is accepted and even expected in the vast majority of competitions. Color correction, contrast adjustment, cropping, and removal of suspended particles. What is prohibited is deceptive manipulation: adding or removing elements, compositing, and the use of generative AI. Each competition defines its own limits in its rules.

When do registration for the UPY 2027 open?

Submissions for the UPY typically open between October and December of the preceding year. For the 2027 edition, keep an eye on the official website starting in autumn 2026. Spaces in some categories may be limited, so it is preferable to prepare in advance.

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Access the complete AquaExposure training

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