Oceanic Ventures Photography Contest 2026

Wow, what a year!  2026 was a great year for dive travel and photography.  I can't wait to see the entries!

This Year's Sponsors

The Judges

The Rules

Oceanic Ventures

Photography Contest – 2026

Entry Guidelines

Entry Categories

• Category A:     Macro Still Underwater Photography
• Category B:      Wide Angle Still Underwater Photography
• Category C:      Top Side Still Photography
• Category D:     Makes Me Laugh (Surface or Underwater)
• Category E:      Creative or Experimental Underwater Photography (e.g. Night Sea® or       creative Flash photography)
• Category F:      Dive Around Texas Still Photography
• Category G:     Video (Top Side or Underwater)
• Category H:     Point and Shoot Camera (excludes Mirrorless Camera)

Awards and Prizes

Awards and Prizes will be given for the best overall still photograph or video as determined by the judges for each of the categories.  The Organizer will assign prizes to each category.

Entrants can only win or be a runner up in one category (A – H), The Organizer reserves the right to pick the winner from the second or third place winner in a category in the event the same photographer wins multiple categories.  This will be based on the judging points received and, if necessary, a tie-breaking vote.

“Best in show for underwater still photography” for the grand prize for will be chosen from Categories A, B, E, F, H.

New for 2026: Entrants may win or be a runner-up in only one category.  Winners in the prior two years may not win the same category in the current year.  They can win in a different category.  The winner of the “Best in Show” in either of the prior two years is not eligible for the “Best in Show” for the current year.  The Organizer reserves the right to pick the winner from the category winners if the judges select an ineligible winner.

Note: Prizes are subject to change without notice and cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash. The winners of the Grand Prize and 1st place prize will have an opportunity to exhibit additional work on the awards website. Winners are requested to submit, free of charge, a selection of other works for which they hold the copyright. Prizes will not be revoked if winners decline to exhibit additional work. Winners will be contacted directly with additional prize details.

All prizes must be picked up in person from the organizer at the December Club Aquarius meeting or at the organizer's place of business within thirty days unless other arrangements have been made.  Prizes not picked up within thirty days will be forfeited.

Entry Period

Photographs and Videos must be taken between November 1, 2025, 12:01 am, Houston time, and October 31, 2026, at 12:00 Midnight, Houston Time.  All submissions must be received by the organizer on or before 12:00 Midnight on November 15, 2026.  Late entries will not be accepted.

Organizer

The contest is organized by Oceanic Ventures, Inc. of Houston, Texas, hereafter referred to as the “organizer.”

Eligibility

The contest is open to all, professional and amateur, regardless of age, sex, or nationality, who are clients, students, and friends of the organizer. At its sole discretion, the organizer reserves the right to determine if an entrant meets these eligibility requirements.  Entrants under 18 years of age require the permission of a parent or guardian.  By entering the contest, entrants under 18 years of age indicate that they have obtained the permission of a parent or guardian.

Submission Rules

The work must be created during the entry period.

The total number of entries is limited to twenty (20) works; the same works or portions of the same works cannot be submitted into multiple categories.

Entry is limited to original works.

All categories are open to any related subject matter as defined by the category.

Still Images

Image data files created with digital still cameras (including medium and large-format cameras). Images that have been retouched using software or by other means will be accepted. Both color and monochrome images will be accepted.

File size:          Up to 250 MB per work

File format:     JPEG, JPG, PNG (250-300dpi recommended for files)

Watermarks:  Submissions must be free of watermarks to maintain anonymity in the judging process.  The Organizer may add watermarks prior to images being displayed.

Metadata:      The originator’s name, copyright and other data may be in the file metadata.  The date created must be included in the metadata.

The standard color space for the judging process is sRGB.  Note: Winners may be requested to provide higher resolution images for publication or display purposes related to the contest.

Video Files

Movie files created using the movie-recording feature of digital still cameras (including medium and large-format cameras).

• Length: 10 minutes maximum
• File size: Up to 2GB
• File format: MOV or MP4 or WMV only
• Any music used must either be copyright-free and performed and recorded by the entrant or a person designated by the entrant (copyright-free music can be used) or be works for which the entrant holds the copyright and for which the copyright has not been transferred to a copyright collective or other body. The entrant may also use others' works provided he/she has obtained permission to use the work and the performer understands the work will be used on the organizer's website as part of that video.

All entries must be

• Brought to Oceanic Ventures, Inc. on a flash drive or other media.  For submissions from out-of-town participants, please contact Oceanic Ventures for acceptable submission transmissions.

All submissions must be received by the organizer on or before 12:00 Midnight on 15 November 2026.  Late entries will not be accepted.

Judging

All entries may be posted onto the organizer’s website. Awards will be decided after the final judging round. Each judge will have a set number of points to award for entries in each category.  The judges' points will rank the photos.  The judging team will vote on ties.  A photographer is eligible to win in only one category (categories A-H).  If a photographer wins multiple categories, the judging team will award the categories accordingly.

Contest results are scheduled to be announced at the December Club Aquarius Social Club Meeting and by email and the organizer’s website.

Notification to Winners

 The winners will be notified by phone or by email.

Winners are requested to review the documents sent to them separately via email from the organizer and, in the event they accept the terms and conditions, to fill out the required items, sign the form (or, if replying by email, accept the terms and conditions electronically as specified in the email message) and deliver them to the organizer either by mail or through electronic means on or before the date stated in the documents. Winners may be contacted by telephone should the organizer deem it necessary to confirm any of the information provided.

Please note that failure to respond within 14 days of the date on which the organizer sends the notification E-mail, whether due to server malfunction or any other cause, will result in disqualification. Entrants should therefore notify the organizer of any changes to their E-mail addresses to ann at oceanicventures.com. The organizer does not accept liability for any disadvantages that may arise as a result of inability to receive E-mail.

Exhibition

There may be an exhibition to be held of all awarded works, with the place and date to be determined.

Disclaimers

Entries and the persons depicted therein are restricted to works for which the entrant holds the copyright or for the use of which the entrant has received the prior permission of the right holder. The entrant is responsible for taking all steps necessary to protect the rights of persons depicted, including but not limited to obtaining their permission. Entrants are responsible for the resolution of any legal issues arising from their works and agree to pay any costs thereby incurred. The organizer reserves the right to disallow entries that depict brand logos or other intellectual property, whether on signs or posters or in other forms, or that in its judgment are harmful to the public order, potentially damaging to the environment, violate standards of decency or are contrary to the goals of the contest. Entrants must also hold all applicable rights to the final image, including any retouching or other image processing.

Once submitted, entries will not be returned to entrants under any circumstances, even if they are later withdrawn.

Entrants will not be notified of receipt of their entries and the organizer will not respond to inquiries concerning receipt.

Entries are only accepted through the Internet.

Data (image data and contestant information) submitted to the contest will be stored on the servers of Oceanic Ventures, Inc.

Stipulations

Entering the contest constitutes agreement to contest terms and conditions. The organizer reserves the right of final judgment concerning items not expressly stated in the contest terms and conditions. Entrants who do not consent to the organizer's decisions may withdraw from the contest. All costs associated with withdrawal from the contest are to be borne by the participant.

The organizer may elect to suspend or postpone receipt of any or all entries if, in its judgment, the contest cannot be run smoothly, securely, or without affecting the fairness of the judging due to circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to computer viruses or unauthorized access to its servers.

Entrants shall not make any claims regarding prints of their works produced for photo exhibitions.

Entrants shall bear all costs incurred by entering the contest. Winners are responsible for the payment of any taxes or fees levied on the prizes.

Please note that no response shall be given to any inquiries or claims regarding the judges' decisions.

Responsibility

Although entries are handled with the greatest possible care, the organizer does not accept responsibility for accidents, damage or loss during upload.

The organizer does not accept responsibility for damages arising from or related to circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to computer viruses or unauthorized access to its servers.

Save where they are due to the organizer's malice or gross negligence, the organizer does not accept liability for damages or other harm suffered by entrants as a result of their participation in the contest.

Entrants are required to obtain the prior permission and consent of the persons who are portrayed in their works or who hold the copyright or other intellectual property rights to the works or the items portrayed therein. Entrants agree to fully indemnify the organizer and accept all responsibility for any third-party complaints or claims concerning copyright or other intellectual property rights infringement or damages arising from the works submitted.

The foregoing limitations also apply to the responsibilities borne by the judges and by third parties participating in the contest in cooperation with the organizer.

Entrants' Rights

Although entrants retain the copyright and other equivalent rights to their entries, the organizer retains the rights listed below under “Organizer's Rights”.

Organizer's Rights

The organizer reserves the right to publish all entries on its website.

With the objective of publicizing the contest, the organizer reserves in perpetuity the non-exclusive right to publish, reproduce, make public, display, print, distribute and screen winning entries on websites, in photo exhibitions and in facilities managed by the organizer, its affiliates, and overseas subsidiaries without further compensation to or the additional prior consent of the entries' creators.

The organizer may display the names of the winners and the titles of the winning entries on its websites, at photo exhibitions and in other locations where the works are shown. Entrants are requested to familiarize themselves with the contest privacy policy, which is to be found on this site.

With the objective of accomplishing the goals outlined in the foregoing clause, the organizer may (a) display the winning entries in whole or in part on websites under its administration, with or without the addition of graphical effects, sound effects or music and (b) employ the winning entries in whole or in part in the creation of posters, tickets and pamphlets promoting photo exhibitions and other events. The winners agree not to exercise rights to works so used.

Upon agreement with the creator, the organizer reserves in perpetuity the non-exclusive right to publish, reproduce, make public, display, print, distribute and screen winning entries with labels identifying them as winners of the Oceanic Ventures, Inc. Photography Contest, without further compensation.

Entries that, in the judgment of the organizer, do not conform to the entry requirements will be disqualified. Entrants will not be notified in this event. If a winner is disqualified after a prize is awarded, the award may be revoked, and the entrant may be asked to return the prize.

Entries containing images that appear to be harmful to the marine environment, including but not limited to fish, invertebrates, corals, mammals, etc., will be disqualified from judging by the organizer.  This exclusion applies when the photographer violates standard policies or rules designed to protect the marine environment.  The exclusion is at the sole discretion of the organizer.

The terms and conditions of entry shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Texas.

Any disputes between entrants and the organizer shall be referred to mediation in Texas.

Use of personal information

When submitting works to the contest, the entrant must include an entry form that provides the organizer with accurate personal information. The decision whether or not to provide this information lies with the entrant. Entries that do not contain the required information will not be accepted.

Personal information provided by entrants may be used as required to:

• Notify winners of the results
• Provide entrants with information about the contest
• Correspond with entrants about their submissions
• Announce the winning entries
• Generate general statistical data.

In addition to being included on websites and in publications pertaining to the contest, the names of the winners may appear with the winning entries. Entrants may be required to give their dates of birth to establish their identities when requesting updates to their addresses and other personal information. Any notifications and inquiries for this purpose will come from Oceanic Ventures, Inc.

Disclosure of Personal Information to Third Parties

The organizer may disclose to judges and to third parties cooperating with the organizer in overseeing the contest such personal information as may be needed for managing the contest.

Updating Personal Information

In the event that a necessity should arise for the amendment of personal information acquired through entry to the contest, please contact Ann Keibler at Oceanic Ventures, Inc.  All amendments must be made in writing.