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James Ferrera’s striking shot of an open-mouthed leopard seal has been voted as the winner of the Underwater Awards Australasia 2025 by the competition’s organisers, DivePhotoGuide (DPG), UW Images, and Underwater Australasia.
The winners of the second edition of the underwater photography and videography competition were announced on stage over the weekend at the Go Diving Show ANZ in Sydney, Australia.
Entrants competed in nine categories for prizes worth more than AU$70,000 in total, including dive trips with some of the world’s top resorts and liveaboards, as well as the latest underwater photo and video gear.
The prestigious judging panel comprised photo judges Tobias Friedrich, Jayne Jenkins, Matty Smith, Tanya Houppermans, Scott Portelli and William Tan; and video judges Philip Hamilton and Ross Long.
The Best of Show accolade went to James Ferrara’s leopard seal photo, winner of the International Waters category.
Other category winners comprise Vadim Belakhov (Sharks), Neil Vincent (Conservation), Talia Greis (Sydney), Marcia Riederer (Australian), Jake Wilton (Portfolio), Luciano Morales Corinaldesi (Smartphone/Action Cam), Imogen Manins (Tough TG), and Laura Gourgas (Reels Showcase).
The top shots in each category are shown below – all the winners, honourable mentions and runners-up can be found at UnderwaterAwards.com.
Best in Show and Winner, International Waters Category
‘Wide Open’, by James Ferrera, USA
The story: When it comes to photographic subjects in Antarctica, the leopard seal sits at the top of my list. Known for their mix of curiosity and aggression, they’re a dream subject for any underwater photographer.
While these powerful predators often rest on ice floes to conserve energy after a big meal, I was fortunate enough to spend time in the water with this one.
At first, it was standoffish, keeping its distance, but as the encounter progressed, it became increasingly curious. By the end, it was opening its mouth and flashing its teeth—a clear display of dominance, a reminder of who’s in charge!
Though I felt a jolt of nerves, the thrill of experiencing my dream scenario kept me focused, present, and absolutely in awe.
Location: Antarctica
Shot with: Sony α7R Mark V, Nauticam housing, 2x ONEUW ONE 160X Mark II strobes; 1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 800
Winner, Australian Category
Minke Elegance, by Marcia Riederer, Australia
The story: The sea is calm, I cling to the mermaid line trailing behind the boat. Then, from the blue, a shadow begins to form. It grows larger, clearer—sleek gray skin, a white blaze on the side—and suddenly I’m staring into the eye of a dwarf minke whale.
It doesn’t rush. Instead, it glides in a slow, deliberate arc, as if weighing me up. I stay still. The whale draws closer, its presence filling the water around me. For a moment, I wonder, am I observing it, or is it studying me?
Scientists still don’t know why minkes approach humans, but it feels like we are both simply curious about each other. It’s a rare and humbling privilege to share space with such a remarkable creature, a reminder that the ocean is full of wonders and we should take better care of it.
Location: Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef, QLD
Shot with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Nauticam housing, natural light; 1/200s, f/7.1, ISO 500
Winner, Conservation category,
Crocodile and Plastic Bottle, by Neil Vincent, Australia
The story: While watching the crocodiles catch diamond-backed mullet at Cahill Crossing, Arnhem Land, NT, a tourist on the bank threw a water bottle into the water near a crocodile.
Reflexively, it snapped at the bottle, crushed it a couple of times, and then swallowed it. In the heat of the hunt, crocodiles don’t understand plastic water bottles.
I still don’t understand why people use plastic water bottles – and I certainly don’t understand the stupidity of people!
Location: Kakadu National Park, NT, Australia
Shot with: Nikon D850; 1/2000s, f/8, ISO 560
Winner, Portfolio Category
Ningaloo, a Living Tapestry, by Jake Wilton, Australia
The story: This portfolio showcases a series of extraordinary moments from Ningaloo Reef, Australia’s largest fringing reef and one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems.
A manta ray glides through a living veil of schooling fish in the shallow lagoon; a freediver drifts among the haunting remains of a whale skeleton resting on the seafloor; and a southern giant petrel – a rare visitor from the Antarctic – swoops in to inspect the camera, adding an unexpected encounter far from its usual range.
On the sand flats, a tiger shark patrols with quiet precision, hunting for unsuspecting prey and in Coral Bay, spangled emperors school tightly above the coral gardens, captured in a striking above-and-below perspective.
In deeper waters, a whale shark moves through a dense baitball, reliant on faster predators like tuna and sharks to break it apart.
Together, these six images reveal the diversity, vitality, and raw drama of Ningaloo. Each frame reflects not only the abundance of life that flourishes here but also the rare and fleeting interactions that make this reef a truly remarkable place to explore and protect.
Location: Ninglaoo Reed, Western Australia
Shot with: Nikon Z7 II and Nikon D810; Aquatica housing.
Winner, Sharks Category
Sunbather in the Shallows, by Vadim Belakhov, Australia
The story: The Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) is an Australian endemic species found from southern Queensland to Tasmania and across to Western Australia.
Recognisable by their blunt heads and harness-like markings, these sharks are commonly seen resting motionless during the day, often wedged between rocks or lying on algae-covered seabeds.
I encountered this individual calmly resting in a shallow patch of vibrant green macroalgae, fully exposed to the midday sun filtering through clear water. The scene felt unusually serene and visually striking. I approached slowly and took the shot. Ambient light defined the tones, while my strobe filled in subtle detail without disturbing the natural mood.
These sharks pose no threat to humans and often allow a slow, careful approach, making them ideal subjects for close-focus wide-angle photography. This individual remained perfectly still, seemingly unfazed by my presence.
Port Jackson sharks are nocturnal feeders, using strong jaws and molar-like teeth to crush sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans. In winter, they return to the same coastal sites to breed, and divers frequently encounter their distinctive spiral egg cases lodged in rocky crevices.
This image reflects the quiet beauty of southern Australia’s overlooked urban-adjacent marine life.
Location: Port Philip Bay, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Shot with: Olympus Tough TG-6, 2x Backscatter Hybrid Flash 1 (HF-1); 1/400s, f2.8, ISO 100
Winner, Smartphone/Action Cam Category
Green Turtle Stack, by Luciano Morales Corinaldesi, Argentina
The story: Ningaloo Reef is a place of infinite possibilities, where anything and everything might appear. Still, nothing prepared me for what unfolded in Lighthouse Bay, where I’d just visited a manta cleaning station.
On my way back across 500 metres of sand flats, I was stunned by the sight of three turtles stacked atop one another—a truly unforgettable moment.
Since mating can be taxing for females, I paid close attention to any signs of disturbance and kept enough distance so as not to cause distress.
How this story ended, I cannot say, but I’d like to think that next season, green turtle hatchlings might carry the sequel forward.
Location: Lighthouse Bay, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Shot with: GoPro HERO11; 1/350s, fr/2.5, ISO 163
Winner, Sydney Category
The Conductor, by Talia Greis, Australia
The story: A giant cuttlefish drifts gracefully through the shallows of Shark Point, a stunning yet demanding shore dive nestled in Clovelly.
These magnificent creatures make their seasonal debut in Sydney’s waters at the peak of winter, offering divers a rare chance to encounter them in crystal-clear visibility amid a thriving marine ecosystem.
With moments like these, who needs to travel all the way to Whyalla?
Location: Shark Point, Sydney, New South Wales
Shot with: Sony α1, Isotta housing, 2x Inon Z-330 strobes; 1/100s, f/11, ISO 400
Winner, Tough TG Category
Mosely’s Glistening Brood, by Imogen Manins, Australia
The story: Known as ‘Mosely’ in the SeadragonSearch database, this weedy seadragon has returned to Flinders Pier each year since 2018 to court, mate, and carry a precious brood of eggs.
On an early morning dive, I was delighted to encounter this very relaxed and photogenic seadragon once more, his freshly placed brood glistening as sunlight streamed through the water.
In this image, I wanted to capture not only Mosely but also the thick meadow of sea nymph (Amphibolis antarctica), which forms such an important part of the habitat at Flinders.
Location: Flinders, Western Port Bay, Victoria, Australia
Shot with: Olympus Tough TG-6, Backscatter M52 Wide Angle Air Lens, 1x Backscatter MW-4300 light; 1/800s, f/2.8, ISO 100
Winner, Reels Category
The Coral Chain Reaction, by Laura Gourgas, Australia/France
The Story: The Ningaloo Reef has given me countless unforgettable moments, but few compare to witnessing the annual coral spawning.
Being in the water as the reef releases its tiny bundles of life is surreal—the ocean transforms into drifting clouds of colour and movement, the energy in the water shifts, and you can sense the reef awakening. That single event sparks an entire web of life.
Plankton blooms, krill gather, and soon the giants arrive—whale sharks and oceanic mantas, drawn here to feast. From turtles to reef sharks, and countless other species, every part of this ecosystem depends on the coral as its foundation.
This reel is a collection of moments I’ve captured over the years, choosing those rare times when the spawning, the feeding, and the life of the reef all aligned. Despite recent bleaching events, it’s a powerful reminder of Ningaloo’s resilience—and why protecting it is so vital.
Location: Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Shot with: Canon EOS R5 and Isotta housing; DJI Mavic 3 Pro
Head to the Underwater Australasia Competition results page for the complete list of winners and runners-up, and the prizes they have earned
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