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UnderwaterPhoto Contests

11 contests

Contests with an underwater macro category

Macro is the most-entered discipline in underwater photography, and most major contests give it its own category. Some split it further into super-macro, nudibranchs or compact macro.

Every contest below has at least one macro or close-up category that accepts underwater images. Check the category notes on each page for restrictions on focus stacking, wet lenses or subjects.

Refine these results in the full directory
OpenUnderwater · Online

World Shootout

World Shootout (producer David Pilosof)

  • Portfolio
  • Open
  • Wide-angle
  • Macro
  • Newcomer
  • Conservation
  • +1

Deadline

17 days left

FEE
from €15
Standard licence
OpenUnderwater · Online

Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition

Underwater Photography Guide

  • Wide-angle
  • Macro
  • Behaviour
  • Portrait
  • Other
  • Black & white
  • +3

Deadline

52 days left

PRIZES
$50K
ExpectedUnderwater · Online

Underwater Photographer of the Year

Underwater Photographer of the Year (Dan Bolt and Alex Mustard)

  • Wide-angle
  • Macro
  • Wreck
  • Behaviour
  • Portrait
  • Other
  • +5

Expected deadline

early Jan 2027

ExpectedUnderwater · In person

Real Focus Underwater Shootout

Solitude World (Solitude Liveaboards & Resorts) · Solitude Acacia Resort, Anilao (Philippines) and Solitude Lembeh Resort (Indonesia)

  • Open
  • Macro
  • Other
  • Compact & mobile

Expected deadline

late May 2027

JudgingHas UW category · Online

Close-up Photographer of the Year

Close-up Photographer of the Year

  • Macro

Closed

FEE
from £5
Standard licence
JudgingUnderwater · In person

Puerto Galera Underwater Shootout

Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT Dive Philippines, Region IV-B MIMAROPA) with the Municipality of Puerto Galera · Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro

  • Macro
  • Behaviour
  • Wide-angle
  • Portrait

Closed

JudgingUnderwater · In person

CMAS World Championship Underwater Photo and Video

CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques), with a national federation as host · Host destination changes each year (2026 — Pemuteran, Bali)

  • Portrait
  • Other
  • Close-up
  • Wide-angle
  • Compact & mobile
  • Video

Closed