The CESMM underwater photo challenge is back to focus on Ocean wonders.

A rather engaging event is back to Monaco to raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems, through photography. The Club d'Exploration Sous-marine de Monaco - CESMM - is being leading a unique photo contest meant to raise awareness in the cause of the oceans. The CESMM's Concours de Photographie Sous-Marine de Monaco (Underwater Photography Competition of Monaco) held at their headquarters from the 4th to the 7th September 2025, is just the final stage of a junior competition started in early summer. These days' challenge, consists of a national and an international competition which will take place in three days, totally devoted to the preservation of seas and oceans.

The Monegasque Association has been fond of nature preservation since its foundation in 1951, by the strong will of Commander Jacques-Yves Cousteau, French explorer, navigator, oceanographer and film director. Today, the CESMM, whose honorary president is H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, is carrying on a series of meaningful scuba activities addressed to discover the underwater world and implement conservation actions as well as scientific knowledge. Since 2003, this mission is reinforced to reach a wider audience via a photography challenge.

According to Roger Mullot, President of CESMM, holding a camera while diving is crucial to make visible what may be invisible. The visual element, in fact, can be an effective driver for attracting attention and arousing emotions about an environment, characterised by an extraordinary biological diversity, increasingly threatened by human pollution and climate change.

Photo >> The 2024 Award-winning Photo as for the Fish Prize © Bassem Jammour

This event is able of bringing together professionals and young talents which are they are currently pursuing a common goal, notably capturing the on-site beauty of marine biodiversity, The 20th CESMM's National Contest will include an early morning underwater exploration of the Mediterannean depths off the Principality, on Saturday the 6th September 2025 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. On that occasion, thirteen teams will be asked to present four shots (macro, atmosphere, fish and a fixed theme) within two technical categories: cameras with interchangeable lenses and cameras with non-interchangeable lenses. The most effective shots will be acknowledged by a technical Jury made of six members,

On Friday the 5th September 2025, the CESMM's international challenge will start from 8:30 onwards involving eleven teams coming from: Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal and Tunisia. All competitors are expected to tackle three scuba dives, one of which will be at night which present greater complexity.

Photo >> The official poster announcing the 2025 Concours de Photographie Sous-Marine de Monaco © CESMM

Last but not least, on the 7th September 2025, the CESMM's Juniors' Contest, named "Regards sur la Mer" (Glimpses od the Sea), will end with an iconic Awards Ceremony at the Oceanographic Museum where to announce this year's winners.

The young participants have worked on thematic biodiversity-protection projects over the summer. The 8-12-year-old junior photographers focused on jellyfish while the 13-17 year-old ones concentrated on seahorses. Each contenstant has already presented to the Jury three topical photos. Jurors' evaluation will therefore be decisive in deciding the winners of this edition. May the best win! ***

✒️ Maurice Abbati

• Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.

• Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy.