Contribute to Ocean Archive: 10 Minutes That Future-Proof Your Work | Ocean Archive

URL: https://oceanarchive.net/stories/bidra-10-minuter

The files are only the beginning. What makes them valuable is the information around them.

Guide

The files are only the beginning. What makes them valuable is the information around them.

Ocean Archive Editorial

January 8, 2026

5–7 min read

Thank you for contributing. Ocean Archive is built so your material can live long — and be used responsibly by others. Here's the fastest way to make it easy for us (and safe for you).

1) CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE

Photo (single images or series)

Video (short clips or longer sequences)

Both (ideal: visuals + a line of context)

2) EXPORT: KEEP ORIGINALS, SEND A MASTER

Prefer original files or the highest quality you have.

If you export: avoid aggressive compression.

Naming suggestion: YYYYMMDD_Location_Depth_Creator_001

3) ADD THREE LINES OF METADATA (MINIMUM)

Where: location/region (and coordinates if possible)

When: date/time (or best estimate)

How: depth + method/gear (camera/lighting if relevant)

4) ADD THE "WHY" LINE (MOST IMPORTANT)

Answer: "Why did you press record?"

Examples:

"Documenting visibility after a storm"

"First observation of species X at this site"

"Wreck detail for photogrammetry reference"

5) RIGHTS: CLEAR, SIMPLE

Choose one level:

Archive only (no public publishing)

Publish in Ocean Archive Magazine (with credit)

Open licence (optional later)

6) DELIVERY

Link (Drive/Dropbox) or upload portal (when available)

Contact email + preferred credit line

Before you submit

Original/master quality

Standard file naming

Location + date + depth

Context (2 sentences)

Rights level selected

Credit line included

Contribute material

RELATED MEDIA

IN THE ARCHIVE

Archive search: coming soon

PHOTO

OA-0030

Contributor example

Nordic Waters

Short clip example

Baltic Sea

Sample underwater clip with complete metadata.

Archive Use

DOCUMENT

OA-0032

Metadata template (placeholder)

Reference

2026

Downloadable template for submission metadata.

Open