IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)
Advancing knowledge and cooperation for a healthy ocean and prosperous society
IOC/WESTPAC CORAL REEF PHOTO COMPETITION
Coral reefs through the eyes of their guardians
Across the Western Pacific, photographers document the people, science and natural relationships that protect and restore coral reefs.
Photo by Théo Guillaume — First Prize, Science & Innovation Guardians, 2026
A GROWING VISUAL ARCHIVE
Two editions. One shared commitment to coral reefs.
Launched in 2024, the competition brings together photography, ocean science and public engagement. Each edition turns field experience into visual stories for ocean literacy, exhibitions and educational use.
Photo by Tan Chun Hong — First Prize, Community Guardians, 2026
SECOND EDITION · 2026
Guardians of the Coral Reef
Stories of community action, scientific innovation and the species that sustain healthy reef ecosystems.
Photo by Febrianne Sukiato — First Prize, Open Competition, 2024
FIRST EDITION · 2024
Coral Reef Restoration
The inaugural edition highlighted restoration action, citizen science and ocean literacy across youth, open and special categories.
FEATURED STORIES FROM 2026
Four ways to be a guardian
The 2026 edition presents reef protection through three competition categories and a special youth perspective.
Shared responsibility underwater
A small guardian of reef balance
Carrying tomorrow's reef
Research across reef environments
TWO EDITIONS · ONE UNDERWATER ARCHIVE
Begin with the 11 award-winning works from Guardians of the Coral Reef, then cross into the 2024 coral reef restoration retrospective. The 3D experience loads only when you choose to enter.
A living archive beneath the surface
Enter a monumental underwater gallery connecting the 2026 Guardians of the Coral Reef exhibition with the 2024 coral reef restoration retrospective.
Desktop: drag to look and use W, A, S, D to move.Mobile: swipe to look and use the on-screen arrows.
From photographs to lasting ocean knowledge
A consistent digital series gives each edition a permanent home while creating a foundation for a curated publication and future exhibitions.
Edition pages, winning photographs, stories and credits in one consistent structure.
A curated ocean-literacy resource rather than only a commemorative album.
Reusable captions and image credits for future physical or virtual displays.
Explore more
Official WESTPAC competition pages
Visit the official UNESCO pages for competition announcements, rules and key dates.
WESTPAC document library
Explore WESTPAC publications, reports, photo albums and other resources.
Browse the document library