FAQs

To participate, entrants must be guests staying at either Solitude Acacia Resort or Solitude Lembeh Resort for a minimum of 3 nights during the competition period, from February 15, 2026 – April 30, 2026.

You can register for the competition through your 3SIXTY account. Once logged in, you’ll be able to submit images and manage your entries directly via the platform.

This year’s theme is ‘Breaking the Habit’, encouraging participants to capture the natural behaviour of marine life in their untouched environments.

The competition emphasises ethical photography, meaning all images should be captured without disturbing marine life or their habitats. Participants must follow strict guidelines: no physical interaction with marine animals, no repositioning, and ensuring that natural behaviours are left undisturbed.

All images must be submitted through your 3SIXTY account. You will need to upload both the unedited RAW as a JPEG file (maximum 2700 pixels on the shortest side) and the final edited JPEG version. You can update your edited submissions until the competition closing date.

Submit both unedited JPEG files (exported from the RAW, maximum 2700 pixels on the shortest side, up to 5MB) and final edited JPEG images. If necessary, you may be asked to provide the original RAW file for verification.

Participants may submit a maximum of five (5) RAW/UNEDITED images, each with one (1) corresponding EDITED image, per category.

Yes, entrants can update and swap out their edited submissions until the competition’s closing date.

Images will be judged in multiple rounds using a slideshow format. All entries will be anonymous, and judges will evaluate them based on ethical integrity, technical quality, and alignment with the competition’s theme.

The prize pool, already worth an impressive 25,000 USD, is just the beginning! Prizes will be awarded across a thrilling range of categories, including Best of Show, Traditional Macro, Creative Macro, Blackwater, and Compact/Point & Shoot. Expect an exciting array of rewards, from cutting-edge gear and travel adventures to state-of-the-art photography equipment and other unique treasures crafted for underwater photography enthusiasts. Stay tuned as the excitement builds!

The prize pool boasts an incredible collection worth over USD$25,000 —and that’s just the beginning! More thrilling prizes will be revealed as the event draws closer, so stay tuned for even greater surprises!

Best of Show

• USD$5000 voucher sponsored by Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts for any Solitude Liveaboard and Resorts location or itinerary, excluding Tubbataha itineraries.

Traditional Macro

• 10 day stay for one person including diving & nitrox at Solitude Acacia Resort in Anilao, Philippines.

Creative Macro

• 10 day stay for one person including diving and nitrox at Solitude Lembeh Resort in the Lembeh Strait, Indonesia.

Blackwater Macro

• 7 day stay for one person including diving & nitrox at Solitude Acacia Resort in Anilao, Philippines.

Compact/Point & Shoot

• 7 day stay for one person including diving and nitrox at Solitude Lembeh Resort in the Lembeh Strait, Indonesia.

Check out more prizes from our sponsors—FOTO CORE, GULL, and Mini Gear—on the PRIZE page.

Prizes will be granted based on the final decisions of the judging panel after the competition concludes. Winners in each category will be informed via email, and announcements will be made during the closing ceremony or, if necessary, through the competition website or online platforms. Prize distribution will be coordinated directly with the winners following the announcement.

Yes, participants are eligible to win multiple prizes if they submit entries across different categories and those entries meet the judging criteria for each respective prize.

Prizes that cannot be collected in person will be shipped to the winner’s address. Details of shipping will be coordinated with the winners to ensure timely and secure delivery. International winners may need to accommodate additional shipping time.

Yes, by entering the competition, you consent to your images being used by Solitude Resorts, their partners, and sponsors for promotional purposes related to this and future competitions. However, your data will not be shared with third parties outside of the listed sponsors.

The final deadline for submissions is May 31, 2026. Be sure to upload your entries by this date to ensure eligibility for the competition.

Each participant may submit up to 5 images per category, with a total of 20 images if entering all categories. The Best of Show will be selected from all entries. Please note that the same image cannot be submitted to multiple categories; each image may only be entered once.

Prizes will be granted based on the final decisions of the judging panel after the competition concludes. Winners in each category will be informed via email, and announcements will be made during the closing ceremony or, if necessary, through the competition website or online platforms. Prize distribution will be coordinated directly with the winners following the announcement.

Participants are encouraged to use the following hashtags when sharing their competition-related images or experiences on social media:
#RealFocus2026
#SolitudeWorldRealFocus2026
#MakrogehtimmerRealFocus2026
#SolitudeLembehRealFocus2026
#SolitudeAcaciaRealFocus2026
#EthicalPhotographyRealFocus2026

After Announcement of Winners and Runners-Up, please include:
#BestOfShowRealFocus2026
#TraditionalMacroWinnerRealFocus2026
#CreativeMacroWinnerRealFocus2026 
#BlackwaterWinnerRealFocus2026
#CompactPointAndShootWinnerRealFocus2026
#TraditionalMacroRunnerUpRealFocus2026
#CreativeMacroRunnerUpRealFocus2026 
#BlackwaterRunnerUpRealFocus2026
#CompactPointAndShootRunnerUprRealFocus2026

Other Suggested Hashtags:
#ConservationThroughLens  
#InspireThroughImagery
#RealFocuaUWShootout
#breakingthehabit
#SWUWShootout