In the entire cosmos, there’s only one blue planet – ours. The oceans are home to some of the world’s most incredible wildlife including many endangered creatures threatened by rising temperatures of the sea, changing pH levels and plastic waste. It’s crucial to seek out cruelty-free sustainable scuba diving experiences that value animal welfare to preserve these remarkable species.
The diving community increasingly makes environmental issues and environmental protection a part of its functioning. The EUF favors this movement and wants to support this where it is possible.
Every year, the EUF presents an award to a project that highlights the relationship between recreational diving and environmental protection. The aim is to give the submitted projects the opportunity to reach a bigger audience.
The EUF Eco project should encourage divers, diving schools and organisations or federations, involved with diving, to encourage all initiatives improving the environmental awareness in the diving community.
ECO AWARD CONTEST OUTLINE / RULES
- Eligibility:
- The EUF Eco Award will be presented every year.
- The contest is open to all member diving organizations of the European Underwater Federation (EUF) and is also open for all other sport diving organizations in Europe, natural persons, local clubs, or partnerships.
- Natural persons and local clubs submit their nominations through their diving organizations or national federation.
- Each organization is allowed to submit one initiative per year.
- Initiatives must be implemented or be in the process of implementation within the contest year (2024) or in the year before (2023).
- Initiatives submitted in previous years are not eligible for re-submission unless there have been significant updates or improvements.
- Submission Guidelines:
- Submissions must be made in English.
- Submissions must be sent via the submission form on the EUF website or via email to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . - Submission period: July 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023.
- Each submission should include the following:
- The name of the applicant, or in case the application is being made on behalf of an organization the name of a contact person.
- A detailed description of the initiative (maximum two thousand words).
- A clear explanation of the conservation or ecological impact of the initiative.
- Documentation and evidence of implementation or progress (e.g., photos, videos, reports).
- A statement of any partnerships or collaborations with other organizations or stakeholders.
- Contact information for the submitting organization.
- Evaluation Criteria:
- 20% - Innovation:
Does the initiative present a novel approach to conservation or ecological issues related to diving? Is there originality of the approach or technique used in the initiative. Is there a demonstration of novel thinking or unique solutions to address conservation and ecology challenges. - 30% - Impact:
What is the potential conservation or ecological impact of the initiative? Is it measurable and sustainable? Are there measurable outcomes and positive effects on marine ecosystems, species, or habitats. Is there evidence of long-term benefits or potential for scalable solutions to the addressed problem. - 10% - Scalability:
Can the initiative be scaled up or replicated by other diving organizations or in other regions? Is there a realistic implementation plan, including budget, timeline, and available resources. And what about the potential for the initiative to continue functioning effectively over time with minimal environmental, social, or economic impact. - 20% - Collaboration and community engagement:
Does the initiative involve collaboration with other organizations, relevant stakeholders, or local communities? - 10% - Educational and awareness-building value:
Does the initiative contribute to raising awareness or educating the public, divers, or other stakeholders about conservation or ecological issues related to diving? - 10% - communication and presentation:
Clarity, coherence, and organization of the submitted materials. Effectiveness in conveying the initiative's objectives, methods, and results.
- 20% - Innovation:
- Judging and Winner Announcement:
- Submissions will be reviewed by a jury panel consisting of five diving experts, and marine conservation professionals and will be called the EUF Eco team.
- The EUF Jury will evaluate all eligible submissions based on the evaluation criteria.
- The jury panel will assess each submission based on the above criteria and assign a score out of 100. The initiative with the highest overall score will be declared the winner. In the case of a tie, the jury will deliberate and select the winner based on the initiative's potential to inspire others in the diving and conservation community.
- The jury may contact the submitting organizations for additional information or clarification if needed.
- No objection can be made to the jury’s result.
- The winner will be appointed during Q1 2024.
- Public announcement will be at the BOOT show in Düsseldorf (Germany).
- Prize:
- The winning person, club, organization will receive recognition from the EUF, including publicity and promotion through EUF's website, social media, and other channels.
- A monetary prize will be awarded to support the continuation or expansion of the winning initiative. For the year 2024 the amount will be one thousand Euro.
- Rights and Permissions:
- By submitting an initiative, organizations grant the EUF the right to use the submitted materials for promotional, educational, and other purposes related to the contest.
- Organizations must ensure they have the necessary rights and permissions for any images, videos, or other materials submitted as part of their initiative.
- Miscellaneous:
- The EUF reserves the right to modify the contest rules, evaluation criteria, or prizes, as necessary.
- The EUF is not responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by organizations in relation to their participation in the contest.