Mote photo contest helps protect reefs

That next coral reef photo you take could be the one that not only advertises protecting the reefs, but gain you a nice prize.

Mote Marine Laboratory's Protect Our Reefs Photo Contest is on, and the winning photo will adorn campaign materials for Mote's Protect Our Reefs specialty license plate in 2010. Sales of the Reef Plate will fund coral reef research, conservation and education.

The grand prize winner will also get a Key West getaway for two, including a two-night stay at the Island City House Hotel in Old Key West, a half-day dive trip for two from Captain's Corner Dive Center to the USS Vandenberg, a ship recently sunk off Key West as an artificial reef and a Fury Water Adventures "Commotion On The Ocean" Sunset Sail for two.

Photos should show vibrant scenes from natural Florida coral reefs with live corals and other marine life. You can submit one image per week (Sunday begins each new week) until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2010.

See each week's semi-finalist photos on Mote's Protect Our Reefs Facebook page. The grand prize winner will be chosen from the nine semi-finalists.

Visit the contest site for more information, contest rules and to submit your photo.

For a little inspiration, visit this site and scroll down to "Kids Care About Coral Reefs."