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DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition

DPG Masters 2026 · by DivePhotoGuide (DPG) (opens in a new tab)

Expected deadline

early Dec 2026

Estimated from the previous edition

  • Closes ≈ EARLY DEC 2026
  • Cats 10
Add to calendar Official site (opens in a new tab)

DivePhotoGuide's annual online underwater photo and short-film contest, run on the Underwater Competition platform, with technique-based categories (including an edit-restricted Traditional class), a portfolio class, mentor prizes and a large trip-and-gear prize pool.

Key dates

These dates are estimated from the previous edition — the organiser hasn't announced them yet. We'll confirm them as soon as they do.

  1. Final deadline

    early Dec 2026

  2. Results

    mid Jan 2027

Entry fees

We haven't been able to verify the fees yet.

Prizes

Prize details not verified yet.

Categories

  • Unrestricted

    Open

    Open-ended category with few limits on post-processing (generative AI still banned).

  • Traditional

    Open

    Restriction: Only global brightness, contrast, colour and sharpness adjustments; no cropping, cloning or spot removal.

  • Macro

    Macro

    Restriction: Macro lens at 1:10 reproduction ratio or closer.

  • Wide Angle

    Wide-angle

    Restriction: Lens of 35mm or wider (full-frame equivalent).

  • Over-Under

    Split-level

  • Conservation

    Conservation

    Images that carry a message about a marine or freshwater environmental issue.

  • Cold Water

    Cold water

  • Compact

    Compact & mobile

    Restriction: Compacts, smartphones and action cameras only; interchangeable-lens cameras excluded (wet conversion lenses fine).

  • Portfolio

    Portfolio

    Restriction: Six images.

  • Short Film

    Video

    Restriction: Up to five minutes, at least half filmed underwater.

Who can enter

Open to
Open to all

Rules at a glance

Not summarised yet — check the official rules.

Your image rights

We haven't summarised the licence terms for this edition yet.

This is our plain-language summary, not legal advice. Read the official terms before entering.

Research notes

Dates projected from DPG Masters 2025; no 2026 call for entries was found on DivePhotoGuide or underwatercompetition.com as of 15 October 2026 (the 2025 edition launched around October and the 2024 edition closed 31 December, so timing varies).

Provenance

Verified · 4 sources

  1. DPG Masters 2025 rules (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  2. Announcing the DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2025 (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  3. DPG Masters 2025 Competition Winners Announced (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  4. DPG Masters 2025 Mentor Prize Winners Announced (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15

All editions

  1. DPG Masters 2026≈ early Dec 2026Expected
  2. DPG Masters 2025closed Mon 1 Dec 2025Results out6 judges Results (opens in a new tab)