Reefscapes

Underwater or split images featuring the beauty of the underwater landscape. Wide-angle is preferred, but you may submit anything. This category has no rules regarding digital manipulation. Anything goes, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

Divers

Underwater or split images that feature one or more divers (scuba or snorkel) as a prominent element in the frame. This category has no rules regarding digital manipulation. Anything goes, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

Animal Portrait

Underwater or split images featuring a portrait of an animal underwater. This category has no rules regarding digital manipulation. Anything goes, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

Animal Behavior

Underwater or split images featuring interesting animal behavior as well as aesthetics. This category has no rules regarding digital manipulation. Anything goes, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

Compact Camera

Underwater or split images of all kinds, taken by point 'n shoot, non-SLR digital cameras. In this category, no entries from scanned slides or digital SLRs will be accepted. Although there exist many great underwater images taken by point 'n shoot cameras, it is often difficult for them to compete with SLRs when it comes to image quality. In this category, digital manipulation is allowed, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

Environment and Conservation

Topside and underwater images of all kinds, taken by any camera, with a focus on the marine or lake environment and conservation. Subject matter must address a marine or lake-related environmental issue. The goal in this category is to convey a real-world message. In this category, digital manipulation is allowed, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

Indonesian Category

Image taken by someone living in Indonesia. In this category, digital manipulation is allowed, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make. We reserve the right to request proof of residency in Indonesia.

Eric Cheng

Eric Cheng is an underwater photographer who has become known around the world for his expertise in underwater imaging. He has meticulously documented his travels around the world, and has been published in numerous publications, both in print and on the web. In 2003, Eric was awarded a prestigious Antibes Festival award for his work with Wetpixel.com, the Antibes underwater imaging web site of the year, and in 2005, he won a category in the prestigious Nature's Best Magazine photo competition, which has placed some of his work in the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. Eric also leads trips and has given workshops and seminars in locations around the world.

Eric owns and runs Wetpixel.com, the premiere online resource for underwater photographers. Hosting over 6,150 registered underwater photographers internationally, Wetpixel's friendly community offers breaking news, reviews, features, community forums, image galleries, photo contests, photo expeditions, and more.

Eric's underwater images can be found on personal website: http://echeng.com/travel/

Berkley White

Berkley White is a leading expert in the field of underwater photography and digital image processing. As a professional photographer and instructor, he shares his in-field photographic techniques and digital methods through a series of select travel events each year. Berkley is the founder of Backscatter in Monterey, California, the largest specialty underwater photographic supplier in the US, and is the organizer of international photographic events such as the Digital Shootout.

David Espinosa

David Espinosa is the Editor of Scuba Diver Australasia (scubadiveraustralasia.com), the official publication of the PADI Diving Society in Asia Pacific. Though he prefers shooting video to still photography, he has a keen eye for what makes a great underwater photograph: With 18 years in the dive industry, he has seen thousands of spectacular underwater images, and has been a judge for numerous competitions. David has authored a guidebook to diving southeast Asia, and has published hundreds of articles on everything from destinations, equipment, and profiles on the world’s top dive celebrities and underwater photographers