Join the 3rd Edition of the Underwater Photography Competition in Cozumel!

📅 Dates: July 25, 26, and 27
📍 Location: Tikila Beach
🏆 Organizer: Humarine

Our previous competitions were a total success, and all participants enjoyed themselves immensely. We’re excited to do it again!

This event brings together passionate underwater photographers from around the world. To ensure enough time and space on the reef, the competition is divided into three days and five time slots:

Morning 1: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Morning 2: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Afternoon 1: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Afternoon 2: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Night Dive: 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
⏳ Limited Spots! Secure your spot by registering in advance.

All participants must arrive 2 hours before their chosen time slot for registration, to enjoy the event, and to prepare for their dive.

⏳ Mandatory Punctuality: If a participant arrives late and cannot enter during their assigned time slot, they will be disqualified, as schedule changes on the same day are not allowed.

📩 Schedule Change Requests:
If you need to change your time slot, send an email to [email protected] at least one week in advance with the subject “SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUEST WATA FEST – (YOUR NAME)”. Changes are not guaranteed and depend on availability.

Registration:
Includes 2 tanks (one for the photographer and one for their dive buddy) and entry to Tikila Beach. Tanks will be 80cf air tanks, ready at Tikila.

💰 Cost:

$120 USD (2,300 MXN)
Special Launch Price: $80 USD (1,500 MXN)
+ $40 USD (800 MXN) for participation in the Branding category (TBA), in addition to the general competition.
$80 USD (1,500 MXN) for participants of the first edition and previous winners.
$60 USD (1,150 MXN) to compete only in the Branding category (TBA), without participating in other categories.

📷 Photos taken during the competition can compete in the following categories:
Wide Angle
Macro
Black & White
Creative
Fine art
Conservation
Action Camera (GoPro, DJI, Insta, etc.) + Mobile Phones
Branding (TBA)
Photo Submission:
Participants will have two days to edit and submit their photos in JPEG or RAW format to [email protected] by 10:00 pm.

📅 Submission Deadline:
Until July 28 at 10:00 pm.

📌 File Format:

“JPEG – [Category Name]”
“RAW – [Category Name]”
Prizes and Recognition:
The top three winners of the underwater photography competition will receive:
🏆 Special recognition
🖼 A large print of their winning photograph
🎁 A special prize

🏆 Overall Winner:
All first-place winners from each category will compete for the title of “Watafoto Festival Grand Winner” and receive a $1,000 prize.
🚨 Note: The Action Cam + Phones category will not compete for the $1,000 prize.

🏅 Award Ceremony:
Winners will be announced at the festival’s awards ceremony on Sunday, August 3, at Tikila Beach Bar (first floor).

If a winner cannot attend the ceremony, shipping costs for their prize will be their responsibility. They also have the option to pick up their prize at Humarine after the event.

Rules:
✔ All photographers and their obligatory dive buddies must have a minimum Open Water certification.
✔ All photos must be taken on the competition day from Tikila Beach.
✔ Maximum water time, measured from first entering the water until last exiting the water, both at the stairs of Tikila Beach: 90 minutes. Exceeding this limit results in disqualification.
✔ More than one photography setup is allowed.
✔ Participants can exit the water as many times as they like during their selected time slot.
✔ Each participant can submit up to 3 photos per category.
✔ Cameras must have the correct date set as per the organization’s instructions.
✔ Altering the natural environment, moving subjects, or damaging the reef is prohibited.
✔ An image cannot be submitted in multiple categories.
✔ Original RAW files must be submitted along with the edited photo.
✔ Watermarks are not allowed on images.
✔ This is not a digital art or Photoshop contest. Only minimal adjustments, such as particle cleanup, are allowed. Full editing tools are permitted only in the Creative category.
✔ Cropping is allowed as long as the resolution is sufficient for printing (min. 1500 x 2000 px).
✔ All dives must be conducted in pairs.
✔ The jury’s decision is final.
✔ Judges must not know the identity of photographers and cannot advise participants.
✔ The organizers reserves the right to use submitted images to promote the event and future competitions.
✔ Each participant is responsible for their own safety and equipment. Organizers and sponsors are not responsible for incidents during the competition.

📢 Winner Announcement: Sunday, August 3, at the awards ceremony at Tikila Beach Bar (first floor).

⪼ JUDGES:
👤 Mich González
👤 Robert Stansfield

📍 See you at Tikila Beach on July 25, 26, and 27!