Sundive HOTSHOT

Competition Rules:

• Only photos taken on dives with Sundive can be entered. Proof of dive booking (date and time of dive) through Sundive will be required for all entrants.

• All submissions must be emailed as JPEG or PDF file with a maximum size of 5MB to sundivehotshot@gmail.com and must be received by the end of the last day of the month during which they were taken. The original image must be kept by the competitor for at least 12 months in case verification is required.

• A maximum of 5 entries per month per diver may be entered, either all together at one time or in any combination on any day within the month.

• The number of entries must not exceed the number of dives the competitor did during the month (i.e. If you do three dives during one month, you’re allowed to enter a total of 3 photos). Again, proof of booking will be required.

• Sundive staff cannot participate in this competition.

• Submissions will be judged by an experienced panel. All decisions of the judges are final, and not subject to review.

• Each monthly winner will be announced on the Sundive website, as well as via email and Facebook.

• Each monthly winner will enter the competition for the Sundive “HOTSHOT” of the year.

• Only one monthly prize can be won by any entrant in any 1 year. (This is designed to encourage wide participation of this event and avoid the possibility of one person winning month after month and thus discouraging competitive participation.)

• The Sundive “HOTSHOT” of the year will be chosen from the 12 monthly winners and will be announced during the annual Sundive Shootout Finale in May each year.

• Prizes are subject to change on a month-by-month basis and will be published on the Sundive website.

• The copyright of the entered photographs remains with the photographer. By entering the competition, the participant gives Sundive permission to publish all winning photos on its website, local media and all other media reporting about the Sundive Photo Competitions.

• All participants must adhere to the NSW Marine Parks Authority Code of Conduct at all times.

• All participants must not touch or manipulate any marine life. Any evidence that you have done so will result in immediate disqualification.

• All participants must not damage or harm marine life in any way. This includes but is not limited to the damaging of sponges, corals or anything living on the bottom substrate.

• Divers must maintain good buoyancy control at all times. It is not acceptable to touch the bottom and cause damage whilst photographing. Any evidence that you have done so will result in immediate disqualification.

• All participants must agree to abide by PADI Safe Diving Regulations.

• All participants must dive with a dive buddy at all times.

• Dives are limited to a maximum bottom time of 53mins, if you are diving with a dive computer. Times will be shorter if you are on the PADI RDP tables. All dives are no-decompression dives. Safety stops are recommended at 5 metres for 3 minutes.

• Photoshop manipulation is allowed, but limited to:

- Tonal corrections and colour corrections

- Moderate sharpening and saturation (blurring of backgrounds is not allowed);

- Removing backscatter or noise from digital images;

- Cropping, but only 10% of the original image. (Contestants will be bound by the honour system.) Submissions which have obviously been heavily cropped will be disqualified.

- Please keep in mind that this is a photo competition, not an editing competition. Judges will award prizes accordingly.

• Images have to be named in the following manner: firstname-lastname-number(1-5) Example: john-smith-1.jpg.

• By entering the competition you agree to the above terms and conditions.