FUN Azores 2015, Underwater Photo Contest

Welcome to FUN Azores!
Show the world the treasures of the Atlantic!

Categories of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest

Which are the categories of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest? Below, you will find the different categories, the sponsors and the information for each category of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest. Choose the right category and share your own underwater photos with us!

		Sponsors
	Behaviour In this category we expect to see photographs that show how marine creatures interact with each other. Feeding, cleaning, mating and so on. This is a very difficult category to get good shots as you have to be lucky and patient to observe unique behaviour and press the shutter at the right moment.
	Sex Pretty obvious what we expect to see in this category. The courting, the act, the offspring or the eggs. Sex underwater is a fascinating subject and every critter does it in different ways. This is of course behaviour as well and getting a great shot in this category will be incredibly difficult. Good luck!
	Nudis Any underwater photo competition will feature many Nudibranch entries and that is for many good reasons. They are beautiful, colourful and most importantly ... slow. Although taking a nudibranch photo is easy, taking a fantastic nudibranch photo can be very challenging. We hope we bring out the best in this special Nudi category.
	Issues This will be one of the most important categories for the photo contest. We want you to capture the issues. Marine conservation issues such as pollution, overfishing, global warming, shark finning all come to mind and there are many many more. Although photos in this category might not be pretty, they have to be seen by the world.
	Sea Giants Many divers live to swim and dive with the 'Sea Giants'. Whales, sharks, massive rays, giant cuttlefish, dolphins, dugongs, big turtles, all that 'Sea Giants'. Being in the water with big animals is a massive thrill and this category is trying to capture those moments where your eyeballs just widen and you go: wooooahhh! ...
	Humans In this category we want you to show off your buddy, or yourself. A human underwater. Show that fact that we are part of the picture, we are there to explore, and document for the world what we have to lose. Be creative in this section, but there has to be at least one human being or part of in the picture - this does not necessarily mean a diver.
	Wrecks A must have category and a very difficult one. Getting a good wreck photo can be challenging due to the size of most wrecks and the generally limited ambient light. This is a category where your knowledge of underwater photography and the quality of your gear will make a huge difference.
	Over under Over-unders, also known as split-shots or splits are another tricky category where the professionals excel. Having a big dome port helps immensely as does very calm water. Lighting is generally hard as most of the time the brightness of the top portion will be greater than the underwater part. Show us what you've got!
	Macro Underwater macro and supermacro photography can be amazingly rewarding. Seeing minute details of tiny critters as full frames can create images that are out of this world. Macro and super macro shots very often win underwater photography competitions so we decided to create an independent category for these.
	Azores In the center of the North Atlantic, an archipelago that by its location, the size of its waters and by the volcanic origins make the archipelago a unique ecosystem. Whales, dolphins, sharks, mantas and a great dive! In this category we want to show a paradise wild, show us photos taken in the Azores ...
	Sharks We all know sharks need our help. We all know sharks are glorious creatures. We all love sharks! This category is to celebrate the most misunderstood group of animals on the planet, the sharks. Over 440 species of sharks and only few of them have ever done any harm to any human. They are hunted for their fins for one of the most overrated dishes on the planet and we need to do all we can to save them.

Prizes of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest

What prizes can I win by participating in FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest? Below, you will find the different prizes, the sponsors and the information for each prize of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest.

		Sponsors
	A diving trip to the Azores Islands (Photo most voted by the public) A diving trip to the Azores Islands valued at more than EUR 1200 with flight, hotel, and 6 dives included for the photographer of the photo most voted by the public. This trip will be held on the island of São Miguel, Azores, Portugal at a date scheduled between the winner and the organization.
	A pack of 6 dives (Giants Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Sea Giants category. The dives will be held on the island of Faial, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Norberto Diver Diving Centre.
	A diving trip to the Azores Islands (Photo chosen by the judges) A diving trip to the Azores Islands valued at more than EUR 1200 with flight, hotel, and 6 dives included for the photographer of best photo chosen by the team of judges. This trip will be held on the island of Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal at a date scheduled between the winner and the organization.
	A pack of 6 dives (Behaviour Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Behaviour category. The dives will be held on the island of Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Manta Maria dive center.
	A pack of 6 dives (Azores Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Azores category. The dives will be held on the island of São Miguel, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Espirito Azul dive center.
	A pack of 6 dives (Sharks Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Sharks category. The dives will be held on the island of Graciosa, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Nautigraciosa dive center.
	A diving trip to the Azores Islands (Draw of a participant in the public voting) A diving trip to the Azores Islands valued at more than EUR 1200 with flight, hotel, and 6 dives included for the winning participant in the public voting. This trip will be held on the island of Faial, Azores, Portugal at a date scheduled between the winner and the organization.
	A pack of 6 dives (Sex Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Sex category. The dives will be held on the island of São Miguel, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Açordiving dive center.
	A pack of 6 dives (Nudis Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Nudis category. The dives will be held on the island of Pico, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the CW Azores dive center.
	A pack of 6 dives (Macro Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Macro category. The dives will be held on the island of São Miguel, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Best Spot Azores.
	A pack of 6 dives (Over-under Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Over-under category. The dives will be held on the island of Terceira, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Arraia Divers dive center.
	A pack of 6 dives (Wrecks Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Wrecks category. The dives will be held on the island of Terceira, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Octopus dive center.
	A pack of 6 dives (Issues Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Issues category. The dives will be held on the island of Pico, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Twin Peaks dive center.
	A pack of 6 dives (Humans Category) A pack of 6 dives worth EUR 240 will be awarded to the photographer of the best photo in the Humans category. The dives will be held on the island of Pico, Azores, Portugal on a date to be scheduled between the winner and the Cowfish Dive Center.

Rules of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest

Which are the rules to participate in FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest? Below, you will find the conditions and rules that all participants have to respect to participate in FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest.

Objective

The "Festival Underwater North Atlantic" photo contest aims to raise awareness of the importance of the Atlantic Ocean and the preservation of its marine life.

Participants

1. The photo contest is open to all registered Skaphandrus users;
2. Participation in the photo contest is free. Participants must only be registered Skaphandrus users;
3. Participants are only allowed to submit photos that were taken in the North Atlantic Ocean;
4. All registered Skaphandrus users may vote for the best photos in each category;
5. Skaphandrus team members are not allowed to participate in the photo contest;

Deadlines and Awards

1. Photos will be accepted between 1 Nov 2015 and 31 Dec 2015;
2. Skaphandrus users can vote between 1 Nov 2015 and 31 Dec 2015;
3. Judges will select the winning photos between 1 Jan 2016 and 15 Jan 2016;
4. The draw of the winning participant in the public voting will be done between 1 Jan 2016 and 15 Jan 2016;
5. The winners will be announced between 15 Jan 2016 and 25 Jan 2016;
6. Prizes will be awarded beginning 25 Jan 2016;
7. The public will vote on photos in each category. The judges will then select the winning photos from the 20 most popular photos of each category;
8. Each participant may only receive one prize. Participants with more than one winning photo will receive a greater-valued prize;
9. The winners of the three dive trips to the Azores will depart from one of the following cities:
   • Lisbon
   • Porto
   • Funchal
   • Boston
   • Toronto
   • Montreal
   • Amsterdam
   • Paris
   • Copenhagen
   • Frankfurt
   • London
   • Gran Canaria
   • Munich

Rules of photographs

1. Participants may submit photos that are already in their photo galleries;
2. The photos submitted must be the work of the participant and not infringe rights of third parties, including personal rights and property;
3. A photo cannot be submitted for multiple categories;
4. The number of photos per participant is unlimited;

Origin of photos

Only photos taken in the North Atlantic Ocean and from the following ecoregions can be submitted for the contest:

1. Northeast Atlantic Ocean
   • Azores Canaries Madeira
   • Baltic Sea
   • Black Sea
   • Cape Verde
   • Celtic Seas
   • East Greenland Shelf
   • Faroe Plateau
   • North Sea
   • North and East Iceland
   • Saharan Upwelling
   • Sahelian Upwelling
   • South European Atlantic Shelf
   • South and West Iceland
   • Southern Norway
   • Mediterranean Sea
2. Northwest Atlantic Ocean
   • Bahamian
   • Bermuda
   • Carolinian
   • Floridian
   • Gulf of Maine or Bay of Fundy
   • Gulf of St. Lawrence - Eastern Scotian Shelf
   • Northern Grand Banks - Southern Labrador
   • Northern Gulf of Mexico
   • Northern Labrador
   • Scotian Shelf
   • Southern Grand Banks - South Newfoundland
   • Southern Gulf of Mexico
   • Virginian
   • West Greenland Shelf
   • Labrador Sea
   • Caribbean Sea

Copyright and Use by Third Parties

1. Skaphandrus reserves the right to use photographs from the competition, always acknowledging the photographer, for the purpose of promoting the competition in different communication supports;
2. Any use of competition photos for other purposes will require permission from the photographer;

Marine Life Rules

Marine life should not be forced or placed in danger for the sake of a photo. All photos suspected of exhibiting the following behaviour will be disqualified:

1. Divers visibly damaging the environment (e.g. gear dragging or kicking up sand);
2. Animals with signs of stress (e.g. puffed puffers, inking octopus);
3. Animals moved to an unnatural environment or risky location;
4. Marine life being touched (e.g. coral polyps, seahorse tails);

Determinations

1. Participation in this photo contest implies acceptance and full implementation of this regulation;
2. The cancellation of the photo contest is a right allocated to the organizers, whatever the cause. No compensation will be granted to the participants, in this case;
3. All omissions to this regulation shall be determined by the organization;
4. Failure to follow any of the rules of this regulation may result, at the discretion of the organizers, in the disqualification of a photo and/or a participant;

Judges of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest

Who will be responsible for the election of the best photos? Below, you will find a presentation of the judges who will vote and select the best photos participating in FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest!

	Rui Guerra Ex-High Competition Athlete, Vice World Champion of Underwater Photography, World Champion in "Wide Angle with Diver" category and six times National Champion, Rui Guerra was born in Lisbon in December 1968 and soon had become connected to the sea, where... Read more
	João Pedro Silva João Pedro Silva represents Skaphandrus in this contest. Read more
	Nuno Sá Nuno Sá is a professional photographer living in the Azores for the last 10 years, specialized in marine wildlife photography. He has 6 published books and is a regular contributor to several national and international magazines, including National Geographic... Read more
	Salvatore Ianniello I was born in Naples, Italy, and I am a dental technician, I dedicate my spare time to wildlife photography, especially underwater, because I am diving for thirty years. Like many I started fishing, but for 20 years I have put aside my rifle and joined... Read more
	Bernard Picton As a child Bernard was always interested in the natural world, collecting Butterflies and falling into ponds from the age of eight. As a teenager he began to photograph birds, flowers and insects using a Praktica SLR camera. Whilst studying Botany at... Read more
	Gerald . Nowak Underwater Photographer from Bavaria, Germany. He is born 1964 west of Munich and grown up next to a river. Here he learned the swimming and diving later. He is working today as a professional Underwater Photographer for German magazines as TAUCHEN, UNTERWASSER... Read more
	João P. S. Correia Marine biologist specialized in rays and sharks since 1994. More recently has widened his interests and became a professor, consultant and entrepreneur. Founder of the Flying Sharks company, professor at the Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do... Read more

Sponsors of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest

Who are the sponsors of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest? Below, you will find the sponsors and their prizes for the winners of FUN Azores 2015 underwater photo contest.

	Sata Sixty years of flying across the Atlantic Ocean, and seventy years of history, have shaped the Grupo SATA. SATA has become an invaluable ally in the growth and development of tourism activity in the Azores. Our mission is to bring the world to the Azores and the Azores to the world. We are proud to pursue the ideals of our founders, providing the highest levels of quality and service. SATA’s fleet currently has four aircraft types: Airbus A310-300, Airbus A320-200, Bombardier Q200 and Q400 NextGen, that provide passengers a better flight experience and position SATA as an environmentally-friendly airline that is adapted to both the demands of inter-island transport and to the widening of its Atlantic expansion.
	Season Challenge Season Challenge is a family-run Azorian company based in Ponta Delgada Marina, providing Diving School and Center services, in addition to a Filling Station certified as a Pure Air Station by Bauer in accordance with standard DIN EN 120 21, one of the few in Portugal to be certified as such.
	Norberto Diver A Norberto Diver, criada em 1996, é uma empresa pioneira a exercer actividades turísticas ligadas ao mar na Ilha do Faial, Açores. Oferece um vasto leque de serviços que incluem: a observação de baleias e golfinhos, a possibilidade de nadar com golfinhos, o mergulho com escafandro autónomo e passeios de barco . Como "homem da terra", o Norberto tem um gosto muito especial em mostrar os nossos hábitos e culturas. Por isso, não estranhe se um dia sair para o mar e depois parar noutra ilha antes de voltar ao Faial , para experimentar um caldo de peixe e um copo de vinho do Pico numa adega.
	Haliotis After proven already given in Peniche/Berlengas and Sesimbra and after international recognition, Haliotis comes now to Santa Maria Island, the most attractive dive destination in Azores archipelago. Therefore we actual have 6 boats among our 3 centers. As we always prime for excellence and demarcation of our offers, all our boats are customized to the smallest details to costumers ‘satisfaction. All our facilities have shop, swimming pool, changing rooms, staff trained to the highest level and cars for transporting clients and equipment, all in order to be able to provide unforgettable experiences to ours clients. Infrastructures above average and an optimized operating mode made Haliotis a reference in the world of diving.
	Manta Maria Our diving center is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, on the island of Santa Maria, the most southeastern island of the archipelago of the Azores. Due to a temperate climate, bathed in the sunshine and with the highest registered average temperatures in the region, it is often referred to as the island of the Sun.
	Espirito Azul Espirito Azul is a company dedicated to Diving and Sea Tourism, founded by three lovers of the sea and diving, and specialized in proportioning goods and services to all of those who, like them, also love the sea-based activities. Besides a shop with all the nautical equipment, and diving equipment, we have at your disposal all sorts of programs like Snorkeling, Boat rentals including Skipper, for boat rides alongside the lovely coast of S.Miguel Island, and a full service dive center opened all year long, with at least two dive trips a day, from the Vila Franca do Campo harbour.
	Nautigraciosa The Nautigraciosa has facilities at the pier of Santa Cruz da Graciosa, next to the pool hall with changing rooms, showers, washing, drying and guard equipment. So with all the convenience begin dives from that site. Graciosa Island is a small island in a few minutes we got to any of 40 dive sites that we have scattered around the island.
	Dive Azores Spectacular volcanic landscapes, friendly people, whales, dolphins and great diving! An unspoilt paradise in the Atlantic, away from it all... Dive Azores is a PADI Dive Resort and a Whale & Dolphin Watching Eco-operator based in Horta Marina, Faial Island, owned and run by Joana and Tiago, both marine biologists and diving instructors.
	Açordiving With warm water and excellent visibility, the Azorean sea offers truly diverse animal and plant life, in addition to beautiful and unusal rock formations, such as cave and arches. Without a doubt, diving is a unique and enjoyable way of exploring the Azores We are located in Ponta Delgada and have easy access to all of the top diving sites in São Miguel. Our highly qualified, experienced team and our modern equipement guarantee a safe and unforgettable experience!
	CW Azores Whale Watching, Swim with Dolphins and Scuba Diving on the island of Pico (Azores - Portugal)
	Best Spot - Azores Nature We are the only 100% AWARE and 5* Dive Resort in the Azores that has first goal the client satisfaction and safety always focused in oceans protection and conservation. We love what we do so it´s easy for us to make your holidays even more special. We love the ocean and all the nature that we have in our paradise islands. We have a long experience with tourism and our staff is all the time getting in new training to give you all that you need.
	Arraia Divers Arraia Divers is a dive center and training facility in the picturesque Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. Located on the island of Terceira in the central group of the Azore. Divers are often attracted to the beautiful underwater volcanic landscapes as well as the abundant marine life, especially during the summer months. Arraia Divers is located at the four star Hotel do Caracol where you can relax in the sun next to the pool after a days diving.
	Octopus Escola e centro de mergulho sediada na Ilha Terceira – Praia da Vitória, junto à marina da cidade, com todo o equipamento necessário para dar resposta ás suas necessidades, ao nível do mergulho recreativo. A nível de centro de mergulho, temos mais de 20 locais de mergulhos em toda a ilha, de forma a adequar a dificuldade dos mergulhos, à experiência e ao nível de certificação de quem nos visita. Na Ilha Terceira poderá desfrutar de vários tipos de mergulho, mergulhos em paredes, pequenos ilhéus, baixas submarinas, naufrágio, grutas, etc… Os acessos aos locais de mergulhos são realizados maioritariamente de barco, havendo alguns locais onde o acesso é realizado a partir de terra. Até breve, “Dive into the Azorean Blue…!
	Twin Peaks Twin Peaks Diving Centre is a SSI/BSAC Centre located in the traditional village of Santo Antonio in Sao Roque the capital of rural tourism on Pico Island. With our local house dive 200m to the entry point and just a five minute transfer to the jetty for our boats. With over 15 amazing local dive sites and many more in Sao Jorge and Horta, Twin Peaks Diving Centre offers a pleasing choice. One of the dive centre's main attractions are the Special Trips that can be booked and paid for in resort, such as the Narwhal shrimp dive, Blue shark dive, Princess Alice Manta dive and of course our day trips to the wrecks of the Panama Viana or Pontoon 16, as well as 'Early Bird' options for our amazing coastal diving packages (great for beating the crowds).
	Cowfish Dive Center A Cowfish Dive Center, Lda é um pequeno centro de mergulho localizado na freguesia de Santo Amaro, no concelho de São Roque do Pico. Sendo uma estrutura pequena, destaca-se pela capacidade de organização ( por exemplo: II Campeonato regional de fotografia subaquática ), profissionalismo, segurança que - no seu conjunto - se traduz na satisfação do cliente. A cooperação com entidades governamentais ( dados estatísticos de turismo ) e não governamentais ( como por exemplo a Skaphandrus, Mission Deep Blue ou Project AWARE ) tem sido cada vez mais intensa, que espelha o nosso crescimento, reclamando, humildemente, a sua quota / posição no vasto mercado do mergulho.