JANUARY MASTERS
SHRIMP – ANY LENS – From anywhere in the world. No mantis or skeleton shrimp, they are not true shrimp.
JANUARY CHALLENGERS
LIONFISH – ANY LENS – From anywhere in the world. Main subject is one or more lionfish, from close macro to a wide angle scene.
FEBRUARY MASTERS
TRANSPARENT – ANY LENS – A living subject you can see through. For example, a clear shrimp or jellyfish, certain gobies and juvenile fish. Photo must clearly show transparency by being able to see through the animal.
FEBRUARY CHALLENGERS
SEA SLUGS – MACRO – Must be an opisthobranch mollusk which includes headshield slugs, sapsucking slugs, sidegill slugs, seahares, bubble shells and nudibranchs. Does not include flatworms.
MARCH MASTERS
ONE COLOR – MACRO – The subject and background are the same color. The majority of the image must be one color giving a monochrome, color on color effect. It can be any one color. No black & white.
MARCH CHALLENGERS
SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD – MACRO – Most interesting use of limited depth of field to emphasize part of a subject. Only part of the subject (eyes, mouth, face, etc.) is in focus. This does NOT mean a sharp subject against a blurry background. Effect should be produced in camera, not in post processing.
APRIL MASTERS
TRIGGERFISH & FILEFISH – ANY LENS – Any triggerfish or filefish from around the world as the main subject.
APRIL CHALLENGERS
PIERS – WIDE ANGLE – Best underwater shot of a pier where the pier is the main subject. NO over/under shots.
MAY MASTERS
THE UPSIDE DOWN – ANY LENS – (In honor of Netflix “Stranger Things”) Photo of an animal in an upside down position. Example: upside down jellyfish, filefish hovering with head pointed down, shrimp or crab hanging from the underside of a cave or ledge, etc. Must be clear in the photo that the animal is actually upside down and it is not just a flipped photo.
MAY CHALLENGERS
GREEN FLASH – ANY LENS – Main subject must be primarily green in color.
JUNE MASTERS
RAINBOW REEFS – WIDE ANGLE – Reef scene with lots of different colors.
JUNE CHALLENGERS
TEETH – ANY LENS – Photo that is all about the teeth of a fish. Composition must emphasize the teeth. Examples: Lizardfish, Barracuda, Sharks, Fang Blennies, Parrotfish, etc.
JUNE VIDEO CONTEST
BEST SINGLE VIDEO CLIP – One continuous video clip not to exceed 30 seconds. May add music and title, but no merging of multiple clips.
JULY MASTERS
LIGHT & SHADOW – ANY LENS – Creative use of side or back lighting.
JULY CHALLENGERS
COMMENSALISM – ANY LENS – Two different animals that normally live together where one or both benefit but neither is harmed. Example: clownfish & anemone, remora & fish, shrimp & urchin, blind shrimp & goby. NO cleaning stations.
AUGUST MASTERS
FRAMED – ANY LENS – Best composition with a natural element or manmade structure framing your subject on at least three sides.
AUGUST CHALLENGERS
OUT OF THE DARKNESS – ANY LENS – Any subject against a black background. Can be shot in the day or night. Effect should be created in camera, not in post processing. NO Black Water images. Snoots are allowed.
SEPTEMBER MASTERS
BLUE BACKGROUND MACRO – MACRO – Macro subject with an open exposure to produce a blue background.
SEPTEMBER CHALLENGERS
RULE OF THIRDS – ANY LENS – Best composition using the rule of thirds. Subject matter and lens choice are open. Compose in camera, not by cropping afterwards. No more than 10% cropping allowed.
You can learn about the Rule of Thirds HERE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds
OCTOBER MASTERS
SHIPWRECK IN THE ENVIRONMENT – WIDE ANGLE – Show a shipwreck in its environment, surrounded on all sides by water, sand, reef. In other words, not just a part of a wreck or interior of a shipwreck.
OCTOBER CHALLENGERS
WIDE ANGLE FEATURING HARD CORALS – WIDE ANGLE – Wide angle scene with hard corals as the main subject. Can feature a single brain coral, a stand of Elkhorn or a vast hard coral garden.
OCTOBER VIDEO CONTEST
FAVORITE DIVE OR DESTINATION – Edited video from a single dive, a favorite dive site or your favorite dive destination. Maximum 2 minutes.
NOVEMBER MASTERS
DINNER TIME – ANY LENS – A predator catching and/or eating its prey. Prey must be clearly visible.
NOVEMBER CHALLENGERS
SHOOTING DOWN – ANY LENS – Best composition using a high viewpoint shooting straight down on a subject.