30/11/2025
WUMA 2026, the World Underwater Macro Awards, launches TOMORROW.
Think of the most intricate life on Earth. The tiny nudibranchs that paint our reefs with impossible colors. The translucent shrimp that dance in the darkness. The juvenile octopus smaller than your fingernail. The blackwater larvae drifting through the night ocean.
This is the world of macro photography.
For too long, underwater photo contests have overlooked the small stuff. The subjects that require patience, skill, and an intimate knowledge of the reef. The creatures that most divers swim past without noticing.
WUMA 2026 changes everything.
We're creating the world's first competition dedicated exclusively to underwater macro photography. A platform built by macro photographers, for macro photographers. Judged by a world-class panel of macro specialists who understand the technical challenges, the creative vision, and the dedication required to capture these fragile moments.
🔍 8 Specialized Categories:
🔬 Macro
🔍 Super Macro
🐌 Nudibranches
🦀 Crustaceans
💡 Creative Lighting
🎭 Behavior
✨ Rare Creatures
🌊 Blackwater
👥 World-class panel of macro specialists as judges
💰 Free entry for spotters and local guides (because they know the reefs best)
📸 Multiple category entries allowed
🌍 Open to photographers worldwide, from beginners to professionals
🏆 Amazing prizes including dive trips to the world's best macro destinations
This competition is a spotlight on fragile beauty. It amplifies the voices of those who spend hours searching for the perfect subject. The photographers who see what others miss. The spotters who find the invisible. The guides who share their passion and knowledge.
🌐 Website goes live: December 1,
👥 Judges announced: December 15,
📅 Competition launches: January 19,
Follow WUMA, World Underwater Macro Awards and check back tomorrow for the website link.
The macro revolution starts now. Are you ready to reveal the fragile beauty of our oceans? 🔍
