This is an annual international competition dedicated to underwater photography in all its diversity.
Our mission is to discover new talents, support fresh ideas, and inspire authors to create original underwater shots. We are creating a platform that will help shape trends, set the direction for the development of underwater photography, and contribute to its popularization.
Dive Photo Team and Moscow Dive Show have joined forces to create a competition that will become a focal point for underwater photographers from around the world. This competition is not a one-time event. It is a platform where the following converge:
- The professional experience of Dive Photo Team — a team that has been shooting underwater for years and promoting underwater photography as an art form
- The scale and influence of Moscow Dive Show, which gathers the global diving community and provides authors with access to a large audience
- A shared ambition to create a long-term, sustainable story, capable of inspiring, developing, and uniting the strongest underwater photographers from around the world
We believe that this union — of experience, passion, and the largest platform — will become a growth point for underwater photography. New names will emerge here, trends will be shaped, and shots that stay in memory will be born.
Who can participate?
We are happy to see both professional underwater photographers and enthusiasts who want to tell the world about the beauty and complexity of underwater life. Participation is open to all who are ready to share their unique moments seen underwater.
How to participate?
To become a participant, you must register on the competition website and upload your work to the chosen categories. Photographs must be accompanied by a brief description including the location and date of shooting.
Evaluation and prizes
Winners are determined by an experienced jury — professional photographers and experts in marine biology. The main evaluation criteria: technical skill, artistic expressiveness, and originality of idea. The competition prizes will be announced separately. Possible awards include photo equipment, cash prizes, and publications in prestigious publications.
The goal of the competition
Underwater Photo Awards aims to popularize underwater photography as a high art, identifying and supporting talented authors who can masterfully work with light, composition, and color in the most challenging conditions of the underwater environment. We have created a global platform where masters and beginning photographers can compete at an international level, demonstrating their unique vision and technical perfection, to elevate the artistic value of the underwater shot to new heights.
One of our key tasks is to draw the attention of the world community to the fragility and beauty of marine ecosystems. Through the power of visual images, we strive to show both the splendor and vulnerability of underwater life, awakening in viewers a sense of responsibility and a desire to contribute to ocean conservation. Each winning photograph becomes not just an image, but a compelling argument in defense of the aquatic element.
Ultimately, we strive to inspire photographers of all levels to explore uncharted depths and seek those unique, often fleeting moments that reveal the innermost secrets of the underwater world. Our goal is for these amazing stories, captured in the frame, to reach the widest possible audience, fostering a love for the ocean and expanding the boundaries of understanding of what happens beneath the water's surface.
Award ceremony
Will take place at Moscow Dive Show, in a hall with 1000 seats, where everyone is watching and applauding only you!
Your work can influence the development of the art of underwater photography, inspiring others and creating a visual legacy for future generations. By participating in the competition, you become part of a global event that unites people fascinated by the mysteries of the ocean depths. This is your chance to join a community that truly understands and shares your passion for capturing the hidden wonders of the underwater world.