Every month, our members are invited to submit images and videos falling into the following categories. The competition rules and guidelines explain more about our friendly competition.
| Month | Category | Description | Bonus Challenge |
| January | Best of the Decade | Best photo from the past decade: 2013 – 2023 | Local to Southern CA |
| February | Two of a Kind | Two of the same type of subject as main focus; can be animal or structure | Color Red prominent in composition |
| March | The Eyes of March | Eye or eyes as main subject in composition | Subject with a shadow |
| April | Pattern/Texture | Composition that shows repeating patterns or textures | Fish as subject(s) |
| May | Silhouetted | The subject should be backlit, so as to be solid black. Usually an ambient shot, but could be created with a torch/strobe. | Bubbles |
| June | Black & White | Black & White/Greyscale composition | Local to San Diego |
| July | Sunbeams on my Shoulders | Sunbeams highly visible in composition | Patriotic theme; U.S Flag or Red, White, and Blue colors |
| August | Macro/Close-Up | Images and videos with a close-up of the subject(s) | Footage taken within one month of comp entry deadline |
| September | Wide Angle | Any wide angle including Close Focus Wide Angle | Diver in background (diver should not be main subject) |
| October | Crazy for Cephalopods | Octopus, squid, cuttlefish, or nautilus | Motion Blur (Main part of subject in focus, background blurred) |
| November | Photoshopped | Creative editing/manipulation of footage using digital programs such as Photoshop, etc.; no restrictions | Color Red prominent in composition |