Underwater Creatives Academy Code of Ethics

The Underwater Creatives Academy (UWCA) promotes the highest standard of professionalism, business ethics, and photography. UWCA users, students, and members are required to follow the Code of Ethics in the course of their business operations. Failure to follow the Code of Ethics may result in termination of access to the UWCA platform, loss of membership, and a permanent ban on all future association with UWCA. Additionally, failure to follow the Code of Ethics means the user, student, or member is operating outside the guidelines and standards established by UWCA.

Duty to the Public

1. UWCA users, students, and members shall abide by this Code of Ethics, the Code of Conduct, and any and all certification and course standards to the best of their abilities.
2. UWCA users, students, and members shall not engage in practices that are unsafe, could cause damage to the environment, or result in discredit towards the photography, and specifically the underwater photography industry.
3. UWCA users, students, and members shall be professional, fair, honest, act in good faith, and follow all other principles of the UWCA Code of Conduct when dealing with the public.
4. UWCA users, students, and members shall never discriminate in any and all business activities on the basis of race, color, age, gender, religion, nationality, family status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, or disability, and shall comply fully with all Federal, State, Local, and Tribal laws as they relate to discrimination.
5. UWCA users, students, and members shall be represent UWCA in the highest regard and be truthful in off business service offering and professional and personal qualifications.
6. UWCA users, students, and members shall not:
   • subject clients, models, or any other individual to any condition, situation, or risk of safety.
   • use unproven and unsafe methods of underwater photography including but not limited to tethering individual underwater, over-weighing, working in high currents or water that is beyond the capabilities of the client/model, or any other act which may result in an accident or injury to an individual.
   • conduct underwater photography sessions without the use of a dedicated safety swimmer (1 safety swimmer for each client in the water) as is in accordance with the requirements of all training courses and programs developed by UWCA.
   • disregard any concerns of clients, models, or other individuals on-site, and always ensure any concerns are addressed to their satisfaction and in a safe manner.
7. UWCA users, students, and members shall at all times maintain the privacy of their clients and other UWCA users, students, and members at all times.
8. UWCA users, students, and members shall act in the best interest of clients unless doing so violates a law, statute, ordinance, or this Code of Ethics.
9. UWCA users, students, and members shall for all photography work use a written contract that specifies the services to be performed, the fees, timelines, receivables, and addresses the liability concerns of underwater portrait photography. In additional, UWCA users, students, and members shall insure all contract indemnify UWCA for any liabilities that occur as a result of their work.
10. UWCA users, students, and members shall comply with all government rules and licensing requirements of the jurisdiction where they conduct business. UWCA users, students, and members shall also maintain an appropriate amount of liability insurance in the event an accident occurs in the course of their business operations.

Duty to the Continue Education

1. UWCA users, students, and members will at all times maintain current qualification for CPR and First Aid and require an individual in their employ (employees and independent contractors) who participate in underwater photoshoot activities to also maintain current CPR and First aid qualifications.
2. UWCA users, students, and members who earn professional qualification, badges, or certifications shall review all materials and pass an examination to maintain their qualification once every two years.
3. UWCA users, students, and members commit to continuing to improve themselves and the industry to continued participation in community forums, events, and discussions as well as through continued education through UWCA courses and otherwise in an effort to maintain the highest standards of safety and professionalism possible.

Duty to the Profession and to UWCA

1. UWCA users, students, and members shall at all times strive to improve the underwater portrait photography industry by being involved in the industry through continued growth, education, training, and general discussion that benefits not just the UWCA users, students, and members, but all who participate.
2. UWCA users, students, and members shall work with UWCA in promoting safe and professional underwater portrait photography and assist in disseminating and publicizing UWCA courses, training, membership, and communities.
3. UWCA users, students, and members shall not engage in any acts or practices that are deemed to be damaging, destructive, or seditious to any UWCA user, student, member, UWCA staff, leadership, partners, instructors, or founders. Any actions that result in an accusation for violation of this Code of Ethics, the Code of Conduct, or the Terms of Use will result in a ethics review by UWCA leadership and may result in termination of relationship, expulsion from courses, events, and/or memberships, and future bans on all interactions with UWCA.
4. UWCA users, students, and members shall abide by the requirements of this Code of Ethics, the Code of Conduct, and the Terms of Use which defines the use of all acceptable and unacceptable conduct for UWCA owned materials, platforms, and programs.

While members are welcome to join other associations, with respect to photography and underwater photography activities, UWCA users, students, and members must give equal or greater prominence in their marketing materials (print and online) to the Underwater Creatives Academy.

This document is subject to change without notice. The date of last update is March 1, 2025.