News
2024 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition Announced
The 13th Annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition 2024 is accepting entries from now through November 30, 2024
The Underwater Photography Guide is delighted to announce that it is accepting entries for the 2024 edition of the annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition – now in its 13th year!
The Ocean Art underwater photo contest continues to be the world’s most prestigious underwater photo contest with the largest endowment. This year’s competition features over $60,000 in prizes! The competition attracts amateur to pro photographers across the globe. Fourteen categories ensure all photo disciplines and cameras compete fairly, while the 50+ winning images create a portfolio of the best underwater photos of the year.
Ocean Art prizes are provided by some of the world’s top scuba diving resorts, liveaboard dive
yachts, and underwater photo gear manufacturers. Grand prizes include a wide range of strobes, snoots, and accessories from Marelux, a 7 night dive package in Roatan with Anthony’s Key Resort, a 10 night liveaboard dive trip in Papua New Guinea with Walindi Plantation Resort; an 8 day, 16 dive adventure for two in Raja Ampat with Meridian Adventure; a 7 night liveaboard dive trip with Bilikiki Cruises in the Solomon Islands; a 10 day dive trip with Mermaid Liveaboards in Raja Ampat or Komodo; a 7 night dive trip in Indonesia aboard the Coralia Liveaboard; a 14 night dive trip to Ambon Indonesia with Spice Island Divers; an 8 day dive trip to the Galapagos with Andean Travel Company; an Ikelite DS 230 Strobe with a modeling light; and a variety of gift certificates from Bluewater Photo and Bluewater Travel. Premium travel prizes are provided by El Galleon/Asia Divers (Philippines), Atmosphere Resorts & Spa (Dumaguete, Philippines), Aiyanar Beach & Dive Resort (Anilao, Philippines), All 4 Diving & Akaya Bali (Bali, Indonesia), Sea Saba (Saba, Caribbean), and Ultralight Camera Solutions.
Ocean Art 2024 consists of 14 categories total, with the top categories including Wide Angle,
Macro, Marine Life Behavior and 3 corresponding compact camera categories, giving underwater photographers of all levels a chance to win a great prize. Unique categories include Black & White, Marine Life Portrait, Cold/Temperate Water, Blackwater, Underwater Conservation, and Nudibranchs. The Underwater Fashion and Underwater Digital Art categories provide two very different and unique art forms their own categories – with complete freedom in post-processing.
Winners from each category will be able to rank the prizes they would like to receive, making it
more likely that each winner will receive a prize they desire.
This year we have a new judge, Ipah Uid Lynn! Ipah is a rising star Malaysian underwater
photographer who brings a new perspective to our competition, in a field that can benefit from
increased female representation. Returning judges include world-renowned underwater
photographers Tony Wu, Marty Snyderman, and Mark Strickland. Marty Snyderman is an Emmy
winner with work appearing in top publications like National Geographic. Tony Wu is a renowned underwater photographer and author of Silent Symphony. Mark Strickland is a published author, award winning underwater photographer, and photo specialist at Bluewater Photo. The competition is organized by Nirupam Nigam of Bluewater Photo, Bluewater Travel, and the Underwater Photography Guide.
Photos must be submitted before the deadline of 23:59 PST on November 30, 2024.
We look forward to your participation. Information can be found on our Ocean Art Photo
Competition page at www.uwphotographyguide.com/ocean-art.
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
In a video recorded exclusively for Scubaverse, Jeff Goodman reviews the new Hooded Rashguard from BARE.
Find out more about BARE products at www.baresports.com.
Sea & Sea is the home of BARE and other Huish Outdoors diving brands in the UK.
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