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Organizers
DivePhotoGuide
Underwater Australasia
UW Images
Show Partner
Go Diving Show ANZ
Environmental Partners
Australian Marine Conservation Society
Take 3 for the Sea
Printing Partner
PhotoMart
Sponsors
The full list of sponsors will be revealed in due course.
Supporting Media
PetaPixel
Ocean Geographic
Scuba Diver Mag
UWP Mag
X-Ray Mag
Dive Log Australasia
Plongez
Divernet
Revista Buceadores

Underwater Awards Australasia 2025

The Underwater Awards Australasia 2025 is an underwater imaging competition focused on the Australasian region—a three-way collaboration between the long-established Underwater Australasia, leading underwater photography and videography resource DivePhotoGuide, and underwater imaging equipment and dive gear distributor UW Images.

The winners will be presented at Go Diving Show ANZ in September 2025—the Australian edition of the hugely successful Go Diving Show in the UK. The prestigious judging panel comprises photo judges Tobias Friedrich, Jayne Jenkins, Matty Smith, Tanya Houppermans, Scott Portelli and William Tan; and video judges Philip Hamilton and Ross Long.

The prizes, worth more than A$70,000 in total, include dive trips with the world’s top resorts and liveaboards, as well as the latest underwater photo and video gear. Entrants compete for prizes in 9 categories, with the top image or video among the category winners receiving the distinction of “Best of Show.”

The competition calls for passionate underwater shooters from around the world to submit their most captivating and compelling images and videos from the Australasian region. Shooters are invited to immerse themselves in the challenge of capturing the essence of this extraordinary realm, where every frame tells a story of the delicate balance and breathtaking beauty that characterises our oceans.


SUBMISSIONS OPEN ON JUNE 1ST, 2025

Winners will be revealed on UnderwaterCompetition.com and published by supporting media partners worldwide shortly thereafter. The entry fees are US$10 per image or video entered.

Categories
Important note: Entries to the competition must have been shot in the Australasian region, with the exception of the categories “Sydney,” “Australian,” and “International Waters.” For the definition of “Australasia” for the purposes of the competition, please read the Rules & Guidelines.
PHOTO
Sharks

Any underwater image featuring a shark. Both underwater and split images are permitted.

Sydney

Any image captured in the waters of Metropolitan Sydney. This area is capped by Hornsby Shire and the Northern Beaches Council in the north and the Sutherland Shire in the south. It does not include areas in Greater Sydney like the Central Coast or Shellharbour. Both underwater and split images are permitted.

Conservation

Any image with a focus on marine or freshwater environment and conservation. The subject matter must address a marine or freshwater-related environmental issue, whether it be considered positive or negative. The goal of images in this category is to convey a real-world message.

Australian

Any image showcasing the beauty of Australian waters. Entries are allowed from all Australian states and internal territories. Submissions are not accepted from external territories such as Christmas Island, the Coral Sea Islands and the part of Antarctica claimed by Australia. Both underwater and split images are permitted.

International Waters

Any image shot anywhere around the world. Macro or wide angle, warm or cold water—all images captured by any camera are accepted. Both underwater and split images are permitted. Only exceptional, original images will stand a chance in this highly competitive category.

Tough TG

Any image captured with an OM System or Olympus Tough compact camera. All TG models (TG-1 through TG-7) can be used. Both underwater and split shots are permitted.

Portfolio

Any portfolio comprising six images. The portfolio may be made up of any six images (no more, no fewer), but entrants are encouraged to choose images either following a particular theme (e.g., species, location, color) or demonstrating a range of skills or interests (e.g., behaviors, environments, techniques). Both underwater and split images are permitted. For detailed instructions on submitting a portfolio entry, please see the competition Rules & Guidelines.

Smartphone/Action Cam

Any image captured with a smartphone or action camera. Both underwater and split shots are permitted, as is the use of dome ports and attachments such as wet lenses, and artificial lighting.

VIDEO
Reels Showcase

Any Instagram Reel of 90 seconds or less. At least 50% of the Instagram Reel must consist of underwater video clips. Be as creative as possible and use text, filters and audio to create a fun and entertaining multi-clip video. Note: Submission requires you to first create your Instagram Reel and share it with us, and then finish the submissions process by paying for your entry. For detailed instructions, please see the competition Rules and Guidelines.

Judges
Jayne Jenkins

Jayne Jenkins was born and raised in Wales, and learned to dive in the chilly waters along the rugged Welsh coastline before moving to Australia in 1973. She has been actively involved in many facets of the diving industry for over four decades. Jayne is a regular editorial contributor to Scuba Diver Australia and New Zealand, and her underwater images have won her many awards. A proud Fellow International of the Explorers Club, Jayne is one of only three Australians to be inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame. Jayne has been a judge for numerous photo competitions, including the Photo Competition for World Oceans Day organised by the United Nations.

Matty Smith

Matty Smith is based in Newcastle, Australia, having emigrated from the UK in 2007. He has over 25 years of photography experience, with 17 of those underwater. He is a speaker and writer on various photographic techniques, but his biggest passion is teaching photography workshops in person to emerging students. He has been published by the likes of the BBC’s Blue Planet II documentary, National Geographic, BBC Wildlife magazine, Ocean Geographic, and many others. Matty has over 30 international awards to his name. An ambassador for Nikon Australia, he is sponsored by Aquatica Digital and is an Ocean Geographic Master Photographer.

Philip Hamilton

Philip Hamilton is a filmmaker, photographer and author, best known for his passion and dedication to ocean conservation. He has over 30 years of diving and sailing experience and has documented most marine animals on the planet, from the blue whales to the smallest critters. Philip has amassed an extensive collection of video footage and stills, which he regularly donates to conservation programs, scientists, and NGOs. He published his first marine conservation book, Call of the Blue, in 2018, with the second edition released in 2024. His multi-award-winning debut film, Ocean Souls (2020), an unprecedented collaboration of over 100 filmmakers and 25 scientists, is an emotive documentary showcasing the largest diversity of cetaceans ever seen on film and highlighting new scientific discoveries. He also produced the feature film Collision (2022), an impactful documentary about vessel collisions with whales. Philip’s latest film, Remote Places, tackling the conservation issues and environmental threats the world’s most far-flung places are facing, will be released in 2025.

Ross Long

Ross Long is a multi-award-winning ocean, travel and lifestyle photographer and writer based in Byron Bay, Australia. Ross is a tenacious visionary with big ideas and a passionate artist and conservationist who truly loves his work. He is always creating, forever a student, and brimming with wanderlust. His purpose is to evoke emotion and inspire people to set out on their own adventures. He has worked with various tourist boards and high-profile brands, including Tourism Australia and GoPro.

Scott Portelli

Scott Portelli is a multi-award-winning wildlife, nature, aerial and underwater photographer. Scott has spent thousands of hours in remote locations across the globe filming and photographing nature, wildlife, and the underwater environment. Among his many accolades, he has received multiple awards at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2016, 2022) and has twice been crowned overall winner of the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year (2021, 2024). His conservation and nature documentaries have been honored at various film awards and festivals, including Nature’s Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards (2018) and the Sienna International Photography Awards (2021). Scott is known for his wildlife and photography workshops, tours and lectures, showing enthusiasts and experts alike the best way to get the most out of their photography, especially in challenging locations.

Tanya Houppermans

Tanya Houppermans is an underwater photographer/videographer and shark naturalist who has won numerous international awards for her photography including the Grand Prize in the Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition, First Place in the Portrait Category in the Underwater Photographer of the Year Competition, and an unprecedented three First Place awards in the World Shootout “Sharks” category. Her images have appeared in publications around the world, including National Geographic. In 2023, Tanya was elected as a Fellow into the Explorers Club due to her discoveries in shark science. She is an ambassador for Isotta.

Tobias Friedrich

Tobias Friedrich first started taking pictures underwater with a DSLR in 2007. He is based in Wiesbaden, Germany, conveniently close to Frankfurt Airport, a major hub that facilitates his international travels for assignments around the globe. His images have been published in prestigious magazines and newspapers around the world, and numerous underwater photography competitions have honored his work, resulting in over 50 accolades, including 30 first-place awards. Notably, he was crowned “Underwater Photographer of the Year” in the prestigious UPY competition in 2018 and named “German Photographer of the Year” in the World Shootout contest in 2019.

William Tan

William Tan has been fascinated with the creatures of the sea since childhood. While studying at the Johns Hopkins University (USA), much of his spare time was spent gazing at the extensive marine collection of the nearby National Aquarium in Baltimore. A violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, William earned his scuba diving certification in 1994. Thereafter, without his prized antique Italian violin, he travels extensively between concert seasons throughout the Pacific region photographing marine life for scientific institutions, camera and housing manufacturers, tourism organizations, dive magazines and resorts.

Prizes
The full list of prizes will be revealed in due course.