MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

You are here:
We want to hear about your achievements!

Send your news to timetoshine@sfups.org

RICHARD COLLINS & LINDA IANNIELO

Co-authors of an article in the July 2026 edition of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, The Royal Society’s flagship biological research journal. “In situ observations reveal a link between association behaviour, camouflage and eye complexity in midwater amphipods.” 

 

MARYLINE RENAULT

WINNER

MUSIC & PICTURES

The Michael AW Award of Excellence

OCPICOTY 2026 Winners

 

MARYLINE RENAULT

HONOURABLE MENTION

SMALL EXOTIC ANIMAL

The Neville Coleman Award of Excellence

OCPICOTY 2026 Winners

 

GRACE PEMPEK

HONOURABLE MENTION

BLACK & WHITE PRINT

The Ernie Brooks II Award of Excellence

OCPICOTY 2026 Winners

MARYLINE RENAULT

HONOURABLE MENTION

BLACK & WHITE PRINT

The Ernie Brooks II Award of Excellence

OCPICOTY 2026 Winners

SUSAN BRYAN

HONOURABLE MENTION

FISH BEHAVIOUR

The Dr Gerry Allen Award of Excellence

OCPICOTY 2026 Winners

MARYLINE RENAULT

HONOURABLE MENTION

CREATIVE VISION

The Pascal Lecocq Award of Excellence

OCPICOTY 2026 Winners

STEVEN KOVACS

HONOURABLE MENTION:

ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR

The Doug Perrine Award of Excellence

OCPICOTY 2026 Winners

 

KRISTIN PATERAKIS

Kristin has her first byline in the print version of Scuba Diving Magazine featuring her words and images. 

Galapagos, Party of One

GABE JENSEN

Gabe won Sanctuary Life 1st Place from NOAA’s annual marine sanctuary photo contest.

JIM DVORAK

Jim Dvorak won the Fan Favorite portion of Pura Vida’s Send Nudis Photo Contest.

KAREN EDWARDS

Karen Edwards’ film, “Indonesia Biodiversity,” won first place in the Feature-Length category at the 2026 Houston Underwater Film Festival held April 11-12.

MARYLINE RENAULT

Maryline was also inducted as an associate Ocean Geographic photographer with ocean geographic magazine!

GABE JENSEN

Gabe was inducted as an associate Ocean Geographic photographer with ocean geographic magazine!

GABE JENSEN

Featured on NATGEO Instagram for his banded jawfish photo from Blue Heron Bridge.

OLIE TURNER III

Was announced as a finalist in the Wildlife category for the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest for his entry “Shaun the Sheep Sea Slug laying the next generation”.

JAMES FERRARA

Was Highly Commended in the Wide Angle category of UPY 2026 with his image “Concise Chaos.”

NATALIE YARROW

Won the Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2026 award in the UPY 2026 contests with her image “Crowded House.”

ADRIAN SMITH

Won an award in the Smart Phone Category for her Gray Angelfish from UPY 2026

JAMES FERRARA

had an article featured in Dive Photo Guide entitled “Behind the Shot: Survivor,” explaining the story behind his first-place turtle image in the conservation category of the DPG Masters.

MEG GRIFFIN

Connected, a short environmental film, was an Official Selection of the Big Blue Film Festival in Newport, Oregon, and is earning laurels this festival season.

TIM SULLIVAN

Tim was featured in two publications New Horizons and Sustainable Business. In addition was an Official Selection of the Big Blue Film Festival in Newport, Oregon, earning laurels this festival season for his underwater photography contribution. 

ERICA ALLEN

Erica was the winner of the #coraliaphotocompetition with this fantastic photo of a Pygmy seahorse.

STEVEN KOVACS

Ocean Art Contest 

– 1st, 2nd and 4th in Blackwater

JAMES FERRARA

Ocean Art Contest

– 4th in Wide Angle

– Honorable Mention in Portrait

– 1st and 4th in Cold Water

BYRON CONROY

Ocean Art Contest 

– 1st in Wide Angle

GRACE PEMPEK

Had a “destination portfolio” article on Indonesia published with DivePhotoGuide.

STEVEN KOVACS

Nature’s Best International Awards 2025

HIGHLY HONORED | OCEAN VIEWS | Larval Tripod Fish, Palm Beach, Florida, USA

CHRIS GUG

Won gold in the Traditional category of the DPG Masters 2025, with his entry “King of the Hill.”

JAMES FERRARA

Won gold in the Conservation category of the DPG Masters 2025, with his entry “Survivor.”

JAMES FERRARA

Won silver in the Cold Water category of the DPG Masters 2025, with his entry “Killer Light.”

RICK VOLLARO

was interviewed by the Palm Beach Post for Instagram, following his recent article on his encounter with a white shark. The post uses his images and video.

RICH COLLINS

is a co-author of a paper titled,  Blackwater diving illuminates biodiversity and ecology of siphonophores in the Gulf Stream. It features his images, as well as those of Andrea Whitaker and Linda Ianniello.

LINDA IANNIELLO

has a black water image in the National Geographic best wildlife photos of 2025

ARCHIVES: