Academic competitions are a great way for students to get involved in their passions and interests. First, challenges give them a concrete goal to work towards, the kind of structure that focuses and refines effort, while pushing them to the limits of what they can do. In addition, winning competitions looks quite impressive to colleges, showcasing just how good a student is in relation to their peers.ÌýWe’ve discussed various academic challenges and competitions before, and today we’re going to zoom in on another: . As the name suggests, this challenge specifically focuses on underwater robotics, a particularly tricky field as electricity and water generally don’t get along (or rather, get along far too well). In this article, we’re going to explore what this challenge is, how it works, and whether it’s right for you. Let’s jump right in!
The SeaPerch Curriculum
SeaPerch falls into two categories, both designed to help students explore robotics. The first is , a series of modules designed for use by educators to introduce students to robotics and how they work in an aquatic environment. Now, you do not need to partake in the curriculum to compete in SeaPerch, but doing so is a useful way to get a grounding on the basics of underwater robots.
Now, much of this does involve making purchases from SeaPerch, especially kit parts for robotics. Their goal is education, but robot parts cost money. You do not need to take part in their curriculum materials or become an educational partner of their program, especially since this choice is best left up to your school.
If you are part of a robotics club, however, then it may be worth investigating what they offer, both for curriculum materials and otherwise. Do not feel pressured to buy something just because it exists; Arduino and related 3D printing resources can often work just as well, if not better. Students in middle school may benefit more from beginning with a kit, but in high school, the process of making the parts yourself can teach you quite a bit.
The SeaPerch Competition
The SeaPerch is held annually, and is invitation only. There are two ways a team can qualify to be invited to the competition:
- Regional Qualifiers
- Wildcard invitation
A full breakdown of what the competition entails can be found , but we’re going to sum it up for you briefly. Each robot must complete two tasks in the pool, and obstacle course and a mission course:
- : The robot must navigate through a series of hoops underwater. Points given are based on time it takes the robot to do this.
- : Each year, the competition introduces a mission which the robot must complete, with certain objectives it must secure.Ìý
In addition to the physical actions the robot must take, each team is required to provide to cover their process for creating and programming their robot. This has both required and optional components. While some of these are optional, exceptional completion of them can lead to additional awards.
This is the most common way to qualify, as volunteer coordinators around the world hold competitions for students near them. These are all associated with the main event, but are all administered separately, and so vary a lot in terms of scale and scope, from ten teams to two hundred.
Each registered event gets a limited number of spaces to send the top qualifying teams to the main event. While each competition is different in the specifics, they all make teams face the same core challenge. This generally consisted of navigating through a specific underwater obstacle course in a pool, using a robot you built. The exact specifics do change from year to year; you can see the details for the 2026 challenge .
Wildcard Applications
Students may also apply to head directly to the final competition through wildcard applications. These are intended for teams who do not have access to a regional competition. Teams which attend regional competitions may still apply for one of these spots, but preference will be given to teams who did not have the option to attend regionals.
Applications must include team information, a brief overview of their ROV design, and a statement about what participation at the international challenge means to you. All applications need to be completed by the teams themselves, not by coaches or others associated with the team. These applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Wildcard spots are limited, and when they’re full, they’re full.
Eligibility and Logistics
The tournament is open to elementary, middle, and high school students. Teams do not have to be associated with a school, though many are. There are students compete in: middle school, high school, and open. The classes have variations in their rules for robot design and modifications. Awards are available in all three classes. Note that the open class is intended primarily for college students, but high school students and others can and do compete in it.
Students travelling to the international competition must be accompanied by a . All teams qualifying for the finals must register, and pay the non-refundable registration fee. This is currently $350 per team and $80 per team member or chaperone. Teams are limited to twelve total members, up to four of whom may be chaperones.
Here is the timeline of SeaPerch:
- Regional events are hosted according to the schedule of volunteers; they may be held at any point between October and April. You may find your regional event (if it exists).
- Wildcard applications may be submitted from December 1 to February 1, though these are processed on a rolling basis.
- Wildcard invitations are issued February 11.
- Registration is open for the finals from early January to early April; all teams must register before the deadline, even if they win a regional competition.
- The final competition is held at the end of May.
Awards
are available for all three classes in the competition, and for multiple categories within each. The prize in each case is the award itself; there are no scholarships or monetary awards associated with the contest. What you get, generally, is the prestige of having won, much like in other academic competitions like Odyssey of the Mind.
Scoring for the event is done by category; you are scored both on the and on your . The rubrics they use are fairly straightforward. Note that optional documentation does not contribute to overall score, and is not scored generally, but can still qualify you for specific awards.
Is SeaPerch Right for You?
There are many possible competitions out there, and many of them are quite a serious time commitment. Building a robot takes quite a while, so the question is whether or not this is a good opportunity for you to pursue. The answer is, of course, that it depends, so we’ll look at some things that recommend it, and the kind of students who would benefit most from participating.
The first major commendation point is that SeaPerch is open to elementary and middle school students, and has a bracket for middle scholars specifically. Middle schoolers are always more limited than high schoolers when it comes to serious competitions available to them, so anything that lets them explore engineering and compete at this level is notable.
For older students, this is a good opportunity if you are especially interested in robotics and engineering. There are numerous different robotics competitions out there, each with their own unique twists; it is entirely possible to participate in multiple of these, and gain an overlapping portfolio of skills.
If you aren’t particularly interested in robotics or engineering, then this likely isn’t a good way to spend your time, though it can still be an exciting thing to participate in. High school students should determine based on their prior skills whether to compete in the high school or open division.
Final Thoughts
SeaPerch is one opportunity amongst hundreds, but for certain students, it can be a great way to show off what you care about, and how well you can actualize your passions. We hope this article has given you needed insight into SeaPerch, and let you determine whether or not it’s the right place for you to spend your energy.
Finding the right extracurriculars to meet your passions and let you explore them fully is often a challenge for students. There are so many possibilities, and so many of them may not be worth the time invested. If you are looking for help finding activities that are a good use of your precious time, then ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.
