April 1 is the deadline for entries in the 12th annual Underwater Images Photo/Video competition. Underwater Images is a nonprofit with all proceeds from this competition going to marine conservation, educational and scholarship purposes. For details on eligibility, rules, and entry forms visit www.UWIMAGES.org

Categories include Conservation, Majestic, Togetherness, Macro (Open & Novice), Wide Angle (Open & Novice) and two video categories. One of the two video categories is for a documentary focusing on the oceans. This category is a cooperative venture with the Imaging Foundation.

Included among the prizes is the Best of Show prize sponsored by FeBrina and Walindi Plantation in Papua New Guinea. First Prize awards also include dive trips to other resorts in Papua New Guinea, Honduras, the Solomon Islands, the Cayman Islands, Bonaire, Hawaii and Indonesia. In addition, there are numerous awards of diving equipment and gift certificates from sponsors.

The major international charities that the Underwater Images Competition has supported for more than a decade include Mahonia Na Dari and Pro Peninsula. The third beneficiary, which was added in 2008, is DiveHeart, a nonprofit that facilitates scuba training for physically challenged children and adults.

Georgienne Bradley and Jay Ireland of the Imaging Foundation will be judging chairs of the 2009 Underwater Images Competition.

Sponsors include Bilikiki Cruises Ltd. in the Solomon Islands, Tufi Dive Resort and Loloata Island Resort in PNG, Anthony’s Key / Bahia Tours in the Bay Islands of Honduras, Captain Don’s Habitat in Bonaire, Divi Flamingo Dive Resort in Bonaire, , Provo Turtle Divers, DiveTech and Cobalt Coast Resort of Grand Cayman, Nekton Cruises, Stuart Cove’s in the Bahamas, Wakatobi and Pelagian Dive Resort, Matava Ecoo-Adventures Resort in Fiji, Kungkungan Bay Resort and Tasik Ria Resort in North Sulawesi, SMY Ondina, Kararu, Maluku Dive Resort and Archipelago Resorts & Fleet in Indonesia.