The 8th Annual Ocean Art underwater photo competition starts now.

"Silky Sunset" - Daniel Flormann Shot in Jardins de la Reina, Cuba
“Silky Sunset”
Silky Sharks
– Daniel Flormann
Shot in Jardins de la Reina, Cuba with Canon 7D

Ocean Art is one of the most prestigious underwater photo competitions in the world. A long list of prizes valued at over $80,000 also makes it one of the best endowed, attracting amateur to pro photographers across the globe. Sixteen categories ensure all photo disciplines and cameras compete fairly.

"Inside the Eggs" Favorinus pacificus and eggs 1st Place - Flavio Vailati Shot in Anilao, Philippines with Nikon D500 Camera
“Inside the Eggs”
Favorinus pacificus and eggs
1st Place – Flavio Vailati
Shot in Anilao, Philippines with Nikon D500 Camera

Ocean Art prizes are provided by over 20 scuba diving resorts, liveaboard dive yachts, and underwater photo gear manufacturers. Grand prizes include a choice of an Indonesian liveaboard itinerary on the S.M.Y. Ondina, an Indonesian liveaboard itinerary on the M.Y. Oceanic, a 7 night liveaboard trip to Palau on the Solitude One, 7 or 8 nights for two aboard the Coralia in Indonesia, a Great White Sharks trip aboard the Pelagic Fleet’s newest ultra-luxury boat the “Vortex”, multiple Paralenz Dive Cameras and accessories, a 7 night liveaboard trip on the M.V. Bilikili in the Solomon Islands, a 7-night package with Villa Markisa, a 9 night Passport to Paradise at Lembeh Resort, and a variety of gift certificates from Bluewater Photo. Premium travel prizes are provided by Siladen Resort & Spa (Indonesia), Solitude Liveaboards & Resorts (Indonesia), Atlantis Dive Resort (Philippines), Volivoli Beach Resort (Fiji), Crystal Blue Dive Resort (Philippines), El Galleon Dive Resort/Asia Divers (Philippines), Aquamarine Diving (Indonesia), Atmosphere Resorts (Philippines), Eco Dive Resort (Indonesia), Blackbeard’s Cruises – Allstar Liveaboards (Bahamas), and scuba travel agency Bluewater Travel. Premium gear prizes are provided by Sea & Sea, Think Tank Photo, and Ikelite. There are even more platinum sponsors this year than in 2018!

"Gaming Zone" Small fish swimming above a jellyfish 3rd Place - Yeh Hung Wei Shot in Taiwan with Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
“Gaming Zone”
Small fish swimming above a jellyfish
3rd Place – Yeh Hung Wei
Shot in Taiwan with Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Ocean Art 2019 consists of 16 categories total, including Novice Wide-Angle, Novice Macro and 3 compact camera categories, giving underwater photographers of all levels a chance to win a great prize. Unique categories include Supermacro, Cold/Temperate Water, Blackwater, Underwater Conservation and Nudibranchs, while the more traditional categories include Wide-Angle, Macro, Marine Life Portraits and Marine Life Behaviour. The Underwater Art category encourages creativity in post-processing.

"La Siesta" White tip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) 3rd Place - Jin Woo Lee Shot in Roca Partida, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico with RX100 V Camera
“La Siesta”
White tip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus)
Jin Woo Lee
Shot in Roca Partida, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico with RX100 V Camera

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.

"Waves" African Bavosa (Parablennius Pilicornis) 6th Place - Stefano Proakis Shot in Argentario, Italy with Nikon D800E
“Waves”
African Bavosa (Parablennius Pilicornis)
Stefano Proakis
Shot in Argentario, Italy with Nikon D800E

Judges include world-renowned underwater photographers Tony Wu, Martin Edge, Marty Snyderman and Scott Gietler. Martin Edge is the author of The Underwater Photographer, a top-selling book on underwater photography. 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. Scott Gietler is the owner of Bluewater Photo, Bluewater Travel and the Underwater Photography Guide.

"Red on Green" Coral Goby on Coral 2nd Place - Kate Tinson Shot in North Sulawesi, Indonesia with Olympus TG4
“Red on Green”
Coral Goby on Coral
2nd Place Compact Macro – Kate Tinson
Shot in North Sulawesi, Indonesia with Olympus TG4

Photos must be submitted before the deadline of 23.59 PST on November 30 (6.59 am GMT December 1st).

Novice DSLR "Special Encounter" Oceanic Manta Ray 1st Place- Alvin Cheung Shot it Socorro, Mexico with Nikon D810 Camera
Novice DSLR
“Special Encounter”
Oceanic Manta Ray
1st Place- Alvin Cheung
Shot it Socorro, Mexico with Nikon D810 Camera

One of last year’s winners was by our Facebook friend Rafi Amar.

When I took this picture, a lot of sharks were walking around me, and my Buddy did not understand why I was diving with a macro lens, but I had to photograph this shy fish. For more than an hour I waited for this picture but finally it was worth it. Location: Shark Paradise, Bahamas Equipment Used: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Camera, Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D2 Strobes Settings: F8, 1/320 sec, ISO 200
When I took this picture, a lot of sharks were walking around me, and my Buddy did not understand why I was diving with a macro lens, but I had to photograph this shy fish.
For more than an hour I waited for this picture but finally it was worth it.
Location: Shark Paradise, Bahamas
Equipment Used: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Camera, Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D2 Strobes
Settings: F8, 1/320 sec, ISO 200

To enter go to https://www.uwphotographyguide.com/ocean-art

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