Through Your Lens Photo Contest 2026

Macro

A perennial favorite of underwater photographers, this category consistently delivers winning photos that elicit big emotional impact from the tiniest of subjects—think nudibranchs, seahorses, juvenile species and even close-up details of fish or corals. Photos should be well-composed, sharp and evocative of the beauty and wonder found in the small details.

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Behavior

There’s something special about capturing an underwater animal behavior in a way that connects a viewer to the subject on a personal, maybe even spiritual, level. That’s where winners of this category excel. Whether documenting unique behaviors such as hunting, mating, playing or participating in symbiotic relationships with other species, these images should highlight the actions that draw divers into the world of marine life and help us better understand and identify with the animals that call oceans, rivers and lakes home.

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Wide-Angle

This category focuses on the big picture. Think massive, haunting shipwrecks; expansive caverns; bustling reefscapes; big animals that fill the frame; and schooling fish as far as the eye can see. Winning photos will show technical prowess in composition and lighting while conveying the majesty of a larger-than-life underwater experience. As with all categories, fresh- and saltwater photos are welcome.

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Compact / Smartphone

Advancements in camera and housing technologies mean award-winning photography is no longer just for underwater shooters with a high-end camera rig. Submissions in this category can be images of any underwater subject just as long as they were taken on a compact camera, action camera or smartphone.

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Sharks and Rays

This year, PADI AWARE is launching the Global Shark and Ray Census, a citizen science program in partnership with prestige Swiss watchmaker Blancpain that activates divers all over the world to participate in data collection that will contribute to better protections for shark and ray species. In honor of this program, Scuba Diving magazine is dedicating an entire category just to photos of these beautiful, often endangered, animals.

Images depicting the use of bait or chum are not permitted.

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2026 Photo Contest Prizes

Thank you to all our sponsors for supplying this year's prizes

Grand Prize

Komodo Aggressor

North Komodo Itinerary

First-place-prizes

Macro

Belize Aggressor V

New Belize South Itinerary

Wide-Angle

Red Sea Aggressor V

Red Sea Deep South Itinerary

Compact / Smartphone

All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises

Bahamas

Behavior

All Star Scuba Scene

Red Sea, Egypt

Sharks and Rays

Caribbean Explorer II

Saba and St. Kitts Itinerary

Second-Place Prizes

All second-place winners will receive a

New SCUBAPRO MK11 EVO / C370 Regulator (with user changeable color frames)

Third-Place Prizes

All third-place winners will receive a

Shearwater Tern TX dive computer

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2026 Photo Contest Judges

Who will be judging your photos?

Brandon Cole

@brandondcole

Brandon is a professional marine photographer and photojournalist with over 30 years of experience. A former marine biologist with 10,000+ dives, he spends six months a year documenting everything from coral reefs to apex predators. His award-winning global imagery captures the ocean’s majesty from the Pacific Northwest to Indonesia.

www.brandoncole.com

Kate Jonker

@katejonkerphotography

Kate is an acclaimed underwater photographer, storyteller, and educator based in South Africa. As co-owner of Indigo Scuba and a Marelux ambassador, she leads global expeditions and photography workshops. A dedicated conservationist, Kate uses her award-winning imagery and writing to advocate for the protection of marine ecosystems.

www.katejonker.com

Dr Alex Mustard

@alexmustard1

Alex is a world-renowned underwater photographer and marine biologist. An MBE recipient and frequent winner in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, he is a leading authority in the field. Through his masterclasses and best-selling books, Alex has defined modern underwater photography while documenting the ocean’s wonders.

www.amustard.com

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