Frequently asked questions
Registration, photo submission, scoring and dive destinations for the Fish ID Nusantara 2026–2027 competition.
Registration
4 QuestionsWho can enter this competition?
SCUBA divers, freedivers and underwater photographers — Indonesian or foreign nationals — who hold a certification.
Do I need a diving certification to enter?
Yes. Your diving certification details are required at registration.
What happens if I enter incorrect details at registration?
If the details you provide are incorrect you will forfeit your prize, because your details are verified when prizes are awarded.
When does the FIN 2026–2027 competition run?
- Registration opens: 1 October 2026
- Competition starts: 1 October 2026
- Early Bird deadline: 31 October 2026
- Registration closes: 15 August 2027
- Submission deadline: 31 August 2027, 23:59 WIB
- Final judging complete: 10 September 2027
- Winners announced: 15 September 2027
Photo submission
6 QuestionsCan I submit older photographs?
Any photograph meeting the competition terms may be submitted, provided it was taken within the running competition period.
What equipment may I use to take photographs?
You may use a digital camera, a 360 camera, an action camera, or a mobile phone.
What data must I provide when uploading a photograph?
The following must be included:
- Species identification (scientific / Latin name)
- Destination / location / dive site name
- When the dive took place (taken from EXIF)
- Validation from the relevant dive operator
What if I omit or misidentify the species name?
If you omit or misidentify the species name, your points for that photograph are reduced by 50%.
May I use a local name for the species?
Species must be identified by their scientific / Latin name.
May I submit photographs of anything other than fish species?
Only photographs of fish species are judged. Species outside the fish category are not scored.
Scoring and points
3 QuestionsMay the same fish species be submitted twice?
For each fish species, only one photograph from the same dive site counts. The same species can count again if it is documented at a different dive site.
What are photographs judged on?
Photographs are judged on how readily the fish can be identified, not on artistic merit.
How is a species category determined?
Species categories follow the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (www.iucnredlist.org), as below:
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Data Kurang Lengkap (Data Deficient / DD) | 10 |
| Risiko Rendah (Least Concern / LC) | 10 |
| Hampir Terancam (Near Threatened / NT) | 25 |
| Rentan (Vulnerable / VU) | 50 |
| Terancam Punah (Endangered / EN) | 100 |
| Kritis (Critically Endangered / CR) | 200 |
Operators and destinations
6 QuestionsDo I have to use a dive operator?
Yes — validation from the dive operator you used must be included when you upload a photograph.
What if the dive operator will not validate my dive?
If your dive operator is unwilling to validate, you can still enter that operator’s details and we will verify manually.
Does every dive destination count?
Dive destinations count where they lie within Indonesian waters.
What are the 10 Featured Dive Destinations?
The 10 Featured Dive Destinations are ten dive destinations designated by the organiser for 2026–2027 and announced before the competition opens.
What if I do not dive in any of the 10 Featured Dive Destinations?
Not a problem. As long as you dive within Indonesian waters, your photographs still earn points.
What do I gain by diving in the 10 Featured Dive Destinations?
You gain an additional 10% of your final point total for each Featured Dive Destination. Complete dives across all 10 and you gain an additional 100% of your final total.
Sponsorship
1 QuestionHow do I become a sponsor?
Contact our team via our contact page or on WhatsApp at 0852 8457 4828.