2021

Key events

2021 was the year the underwater photography industry began its post-COVID recovery, anchored by a string of landmark camera announcements: the Sony Alpha 1 (50MP, 30fps, 8K), Canon EOS R3, and Nikon Z 9 (the first mirrorless with no mechanical shutter). Sea & Sea was acquired by Fisheye Co. in a major consolidation, and Marelux emerged as a new housing manufacturer. “My Octopus Teacher” won the Academy Award for Best Documentary, bringing underwater cinematography to mainstream attention. The UN Decade of Ocean Science began, setting a conservation agenda for the following ten years. Wetpixel Live continued as a near-daily institution, surpassing 150 episodes by February. Conservation victories included the Galapagos Marine Reserve expanding by 45% at COP26, Hawaii banning shark fishing, and the UK banning shark fin imports.

January

• 2021-01-01: The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) officially begins, framing the decade’s marine research and conservation agenda. (^[1])
• 2021-01-14: Ocean Art 2020 results announced: Gaetano Dario Gargiulo wins Overall with a blackwater image. (^[2])
• 2021-01-24: Nauticam ships the WWL-1B wet wide-angle lens at $1,465 — an updated version of the WWL-1 with improved edge sharpness for Micro Four Thirds systems. (^[3])
• 2021-01-26: Sony announces the Alpha 1: 50.1MP BSI stacked CMOS, 30fps RAW burst, 8K/30p video, real-time Eye AF, $6,500 — the highest-specification Sony mirrorless to date and immediately targeted by housing manufacturers. (^[4])

February

• 2021-02-08: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021: Renee Capozzola wins Overall with “Shark Skylight,” an image of reef sharks silhouetted against a sunlit surface in the Pacific. (^[5])
• 2021-02-23: Sony announces the FX3 full-frame cinema camera — a compact body sharing the A7S III sensor, targeting run-and-gun documentary filmmakers and underwater videographers. (^[6])

March

• 2021-03-10: Adobe adds Super Resolution to Camera Raw and Lightroom — an AI-based upscaling tool that doubles linear resolution using machine learning, widely tested by underwater photographers on macro imagery. (^[7])
• 2021-03-24: Retra announces the Pro X and Prime X — redesigned strobes marking the brand’s 10th anniversary, with improved recycling time, refined reflector geometry, and updated Bluetooth. (^[8])
• 2021-03-27: Wetpixel mobilizes its community to oppose a proposed lifting of Maldives’ shark fishing ban, submitting comments and sharing petition links. (^[9])

April

• 2021-04-13: Maldives government confirms the shark fishing ban will remain in force following international pressure, including advocacy from the underwater photography community. (^[10])
• 2021-04-14: Canon announces the RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens — the first macro lens with 1.4x magnification as a native feature and compatible with Canon’s SA (Spherical Aberration) control ring. (^[11])
• 2021-04-16: Nauticam ships the NA-A1 housing for the Sony Alpha 1 at $3,534. (^[12])
• 2021-04-26: “My Octopus Teacher” wins the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature — the Netflix film, shot at the Kelp Forest off Cape Town, South Africa, brings underwater cinematography and cephalopod behavior to a global mainstream audience. (^[13])

May

• 2021-05-02: Alex Mustard publishes images from Misool, Raja Ampat — full-frame wide-angle reef photography demonstrating the capabilities of new mirrorless systems in the field. (^[14])

June

• 2021-06-01: Nikon announces Z-mount 105mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/2.8 macro lenses — filling a major gap in the native Z-mount lens lineup for macro underwater photographers. (^[15])
• 2021-06-04: Inon announces the Z330 Type 2 and D200 Type 2 strobes — updated versions featuring a new fly-eye diffusion panel for smoother light distribution. (^[16])
• 2021-06-11: Hawaii bans shark fishing and the retention of sharks in state waters — joining a growing list of U.S. states protecting shark populations. (^[17])

July

• 2021-07-09: Nauticam ships the NA-FX3 housing for the Sony FX3 at $4,051. (^[18])
• 2021-07-19: Sea & Sea announces the YS-D3 Mark II strobe — an updated version addressing reliability concerns from the original YS-D3. (^[19])
• 2021-07-29: Wetpixel cenote photography workshop with Natalie Gibb in Mexico’s Yucatan — one of the first in-person workshops to resume post-COVID. (^[20])

August

• 2021-08-06: ADEX Pixel and Wetpixel Masters of Underwater Imaging discussion series launches — a joint digital forum series connecting Asian and global underwater photography communities. (^[21])
• 2021-08-23: UK government announces a ban on shark fin imports and exports, making the UK one of the largest economies to prohibit the trade. (^[22])
• 2021-08-31: Sea & Sea announces 210mm dome ports — designed to provide improved corner sharpness for wide-angle lenses in Sea & Sea housings. (^[23])

September

• 2021-09-06: RED ships the V-Raptor — 8K VV (Vista Vision) sensor, first camera to use the new DSMC3 brain architecture, $24,500. The camera is subsequently housed by Gates Underwater for cinema production. (^[24])
• 2021-09-09: David Doubilet publishes Two Worlds: Above and Below the Sea — the first major book from the prolific National Geographic underwater photographer in over 20 years. (^[25])
• 2021-09-10: Fisheye Co. (Japan) acquires Sea & Sea — a landmark consolidation in the underwater housing and strobe market. (^[26])
• 2021-09-14: Canon announces the EOS R3: 24.1MP stacked BSI CMOS, 30fps, Eye Control AF, $5,999 — a sport-oriented mirrorless positioned above the R5. (^[27])
• 2021-09-16: GoPro ships the HERO10: 5.3K/60p video, 23MP stills, GP2 processor doubling frame rates — an incremental but significant update for underwater action camera users. (^[28])

October

• 2021-10-02: Fisheye Co.’s acquisition of Sea & Sea confirmed publicly — the historic Japanese manufacturer of housings and strobes changes hands within the Japanese dive industry. (^[29])
• 2021-10-04: CMAS World Underwater Photo and Video Championships take place in Porto Santo, Madeira — the first major in-person underwater photography competition since the COVID shutdown in 2020. (^[30])
• 2021-10-12: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021: Laurent Ballesta wins the Overall title and the Underwater category with “Creation,” an image of camouflage grouper spawning at Fakarava; Alex Mustard wins the Natural Artistry award. (^[31])
• 2021-10-21: Sony announces the A7 IV: 33MP BSI CMOS, 4K/60p, $2,599 — positioned as the primary stills-and-video hybrid for enthusiast underwater photographers. (^[32])
• 2021-10-26: Nikon announces the Z 9: 45.7MP stacked BSI CMOS, 120fps, 8K/60p, no mechanical shutter — the first mirrorless camera to eliminate the mechanical shutter entirely, $5,499. Widely anticipated to succeed the D6 as Nikon’s underwater flagship. (^[33])
• 2021-10-28: Inon announces a housing for the Canon EOS R5 — marking Inon’s entry into the full-frame mirrorless housing market. (^[34])

November

• 2021-11-05: The Galapagos Marine Reserve is expanded by 45% at COP26, adding 60,000 km² of ocean protection and creating a new protected corridor connecting the Galapagos, Cocos, Malpelo, and Coiba reserves — a landmark conservation achievement. (^[35])
• 2021-11-16: Wetpixel Virtual Trade Show replaces the in-person DEMA Show for the second consecutive year, running three days of online product launches and presentations. (^[36])
• 2021-11-26: DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2021 results: Martin Broen wins Best of Show. (^[37])

December

• 2021-12-08: Ikelite announces a comprehensive redesign of its DS strobe line: DS230, DS162, DS160 II, and DS51 II — the most significant overhaul of the Ikelite strobe lineup in years. (^[38])
• 2021-12-14: Anilao Underwater Shootout 2021 results announced — the first in-person Philippine shootout to resume after COVID. Dennis Corpuz wins the DOT Photographer of the Year award. (^[39])
• 2021-12-21: Vladimir Mladenovic introduces Marelux — a new Austrian/European housing manufacturer targeting the premium mirrorless housing segment, beginning with systems for Sony full-frame bodies. (^[40])

References

• ^[41] — articles processed for the 2021 timeline