Observe and identify
Underwater footage helps people spot species and observe them in their environment.
Observe · Share · Pass on knowledge
Dive.Explo360 Explorer
Your footage can open up a new sea
Do you film or photograph underwater life? Your videos and photos can enrich the Dive.Explo360 species guides and help explore a new sea.
A dive site, a species not yet on the platform, a particular behaviour or a different habitat: every observation can become a starting point for discovering and understanding marine biodiversity.
Let’s talk about your footage
A project open to the seas and oceans
A contribution to exploration and sharing knowledge
Dive.Explo360 grew from a Mediterranean collection. The platform was designed to gradually accommodate observations from other seas and oceans.
Divers, videographers and photographers can support this expansion by sharing their videos and photos. Their images help us create educational resources about observing and understanding marine life.
Collaboration based on exchange
Contributions to Dive.Explo360 are unpaid. Contributing videographers and photographers receive:
- of a full access to Dive.Explo360 content ;
- clearcredit for their footage when it is used on the platform;
- an individual contributor profile, presenting their work and linking to their website and social media.
Everyone can discover the people behind the footage and explore more of their work.
From footage to discovery
Using the submitted footage and available knowledge, a new region can develop a collection of interconnected content.
Find and understand
Profiles, habitat information and articles provide reference points for understanding what the footage shows.
Explore and remember
Learning paths connect discoveries. When enough content is available, games help people recognise species and remember what they have learnt.
- Observe
- Identify
- Find
- Understand
- Explore
- Remember
A new sea develops gradually
There is no need to have hundreds of videos from the outset. The first footage can lead to the first identifications, then the first profiles.
As the library grows, new educational content can be offered: articles, learning paths and games. Each sea develops at its own pace, according to the observations and resources available.
Meet the Dive.Explo360 contributors
Meet the videographers and photographers who help explore and share knowledge of marine biodiversity. Each profile presents their work, the seas they explore and links to their website and social media.
Our contributorsWhat footage are we looking for?
We are looking for natural history footage showing species clearly in their environment, preferably with:
- resolution of 4K, using the H.264 codec ;
- videos lasting 2 minutes to 2 minutes 30 seconds, with no introduction or end credits;
- shots lasting 7 to 10 seconds, showing at least 5 different species per video ;
- footage shot at the species’ eye level or from slightly below, with few or no overhead shots;
- use of appropriate lighting, stable shots and little camera movement.
Clear observations and natural history value take priority over production effects.
Underwater photographs are welcome
We also welcome high-quality wildlife photographs in JPG format (.jpg or .jpeg), at their original resolution and without excessive compression. A good underwater photograph makes the species stand out and shows the features needed to observe and identify it.
- Sharp, detailed images: the eyes, patterns and features that help identify the species should be clear. Avoid motion blur or focusing on the background.
- Controlled lighting: keep colours true, avoid blown highlights and retain detail in the shadows. Light from a slight angle and soft shadows give the subject depth and reveal its textures without hiding key features.
- Framing that draws attention to the subject: shoot at the animal’s eye level or slightly upwards where possible, with an unobtrusive background and few illuminated particles. A full view and additional close-ups can help identify the species.
- Respect the wildlife: do not touch, move, feed or disturb an animal for a photograph. Take care to protect the seabed and the organisms attached to it.
With your photographs, include the location, date and, if possible, depth and species name. Tell us how you would like to be credited. Only submit images you took and can authorise us to use.
Let’s start a conversation
Would you like to contribute or offer your footage?
Contact us to discuss it. Tell us about the sea or site you filmed, the species and behaviours observed, and the footage you would like to contribute.
Contact Dive.Explo360