It the good ol' days, underwater photography was difficult. If you could capture something interesting clearly you were doing well. These days underwater camera kit is hugely capable and folks bring back pictures from their first trips that would probably have won major competitions 10-15 years ago.
A lot of the old pros jokingly complain that digital make it too easy and these days and anyone get a picture to come out. But I like to see this problem the other way round. These days it is the photographer's eye that is all important.
Something I always have said is that I can teach anyone how to take a photo, exposure, f/stops and the rest, but you cannot teach someone how to "see" a photo. Sometimes an eye can be developed (no pun intended 
), but often people do not have a critical enough eye as to what a good photo is. Back in the day, I would usually think 2 or 3 photos that on a roll of 36 to was good, but people would look at others also and think they were fine
I believe we are seeing a shift in who is taking the best underwater pictures. 10+ years ago all the good images came from a small handful of familiar faces. These days a quick browse on Wetpixel POTW or Flickr etc reveals some stunning images coming from hundred of people.
I am not sure if it just a function of better equipment and the ease of taking photos, both of which have helped ALOT above and below water, but also the fact that the means of distribution and viewing has changed radically. 10 years ago the internet was barely here for the vast majority of people. The only way people could see photos, more so underwater photos, was in magazines or groups who got together, and for the most part magazines were very difficult to break into and photo editors would have their selection of photographers. Many people may not have been having heir work seen.
Another factor is more people are diving than before. 10 - 15 years ago it was more of an extreme activity, now it seems more like anyone can do it. Take a look at the age requirements constantly being lowered for certifications and people who show up on dive boats to dive. How many people carry Nitrox cards now? 15 years ago it was voodoo - nowadays some divers will often look at someone without a Nitrox card as a rank beginner.
And there is also more people taking Photos. PADI, for instance, has expaanded their photo offering to include digital photography courses.
Another barrier that has also dropped - the cost of equipment. Nowadays you can get into shooting for alot less than before. A good point and shoot system can be had inexpensively and can deliver good results. Of course not the same as a nice dSLR rig, but a good photo is a good photo no matter where it comes from (Like Ansel Adams 
) So for a few hundred dollars someone can starrt shooting now.
Of course on the techincal side, exposures, crops and the rest had to be alot closer to being right on the shot itself when sumbitting photographs and being able to make a print was more difficult. Nowadays, Photoshop and the rest makes it alot easier to make the photo look right.
Whether people are shooting with DSLRs or compact cameras it is now the eye of the photographer, the compositions they choose, the stories they communicate, the creativity they bring to their photos, that really make images stand out. If they are blessed with the eye, people are producing stunning images with very little shooting experience.
True, but I also see many that are not. Just like the old days of saying that is a nice picture when someone's thumb is in the frame, I see that often also still. Just as there are many more good pictures, there are many more bad pictures 
