PADI and Scuba Diving magazine are accepting entries for the 22nd annual Through Your Lens Photo Contest.
The contest runs through June 15, 2026, and invites photographers of all skill levels to submit images showcasing the beauty, wonder and importance of the underwater world.
Scuba Diving magazine Content & Creative Director Lauren Eggert said:
“Through Your Lens has always been about discovering new talent and giving underwater photographers a place to share their perspective with the world. Every year, we’re introduced to photographers who capture the ocean in ways we’ve never seen before, and that’s what makes this contest so exciting.”
This year’s categories include Wide-Angle, Behavior, Macro, Smartphone/Compact Camera as well as a Shark and Ray category created in support of PADI AWARE Foundation’s Global Shark & Ray Census and its ongoing conservation efforts focused on vulnerable shark and ray species worldwide.
Entry is free, and photographers may submit up to five images per category.
Eggert added:
“The most powerful underwater images create a connection between people and the ocean. Whether it’s a shark, a fever of rays, or a quiet moment on a reef, photography has the ability to inspire curiosity, empathy, and ultimately a desire to protect these environments for future generations.”
Scuba Diving has confirmed the return of acclaimed underwater photographers Brandon Cole, Kate Jonker and Alex Mustard as guest judges.
The grand prize winner will receive US$1,000/~€859 and a weeklong liveaboard trip with Aggressor Adventures. First-place winners in each category will also receive a liveaboard trip with Aggressor, All Star Liveaboards or Explorer Ventures.
Second-place winners in each category will receive a regulator from SCUBAPRO and third-place winners will receive a dive computer from Shearwater Research.
Past winners of the annual competition include a breathtaking kelp forest scene shot in just 3 meters/9.8 feet of water off Cape Town; a Napoleon wrasse cutting boldly through a school of bannerfish at a vibrant Maldivian dive site; and an intimate macro portrait of a Banggai cardinalfish sheltering its newly hatched fry inside its mouth.
Eggert says:
“Twenty-two years in, and this contest still surprises us. The images people submit don’t just document the underwater world, they advocate for it. The new Shark and Ray category is a perfect example of that. These are animals that desperately need more champions, and photographers have a unique power to change how people see them, and ultimately, protect them.”
All winners and honorable mentions will be featured in the September/October 2026 Photo Issue of Scuba Diving magazine, with one contest image selected for the cover. Entries are open now through June 15, 2026, at scubadiving.com/photocontest.
