Underwater Awards Australasia, 10 Centennial Circuit (2026)

18/09/2025

“Here Be Dragons” by Lewis Burnett |

🔹Category: Australian - Honourable Mention
🔹Subject: Leafy Seadragon
🔹Location: Fleurieu Peninsula, SA, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: Sony a1, Nauticam housing, dual Inon Z-330 strobes (f/20, 1/60s, ISO 125)

“Perhaps one of our ocean’s most majestic creatures, the leafy seadragon is the jewel in the crown of the Great Southern Reef. Endemic to the frigid shores of southern Australia, these stunning animals are a highlight of any dive down here!” Lewis Burnett

18/09/2025

“Playtime” by Rowan Dear |

🔹Category: Australian - Honourable Mention
🔹Subject: Australian Fur Seal
🔹Location: Narooma, NSW, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: Sony a7 Mark IV, Ikelite housing, dual Inon Z-330 strobes (f/8, 1/200s, ISO 320)

“A playful seal zips along the seagrass and the swell next to the island, which it inhabits in Narooma, on the far south coast of New South Wales. The motion and the colours of the seagrass make for a satisfying, contrasting image while showing off the home of these charismatic mammals.” Rowan Dear

18/09/2025

“Freshwater Life” by Andrew Watson |

🔹Category: Australian - Bronze
🔹Sponsor: Cinebags & Ocra Torches |
🔹Subject: Water Lily
🔹Location: Crater Lakes National Park, QLD, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: Canon EOS R5, Aquatica housing, dual Ikelite DS160 strobes (f/13, 1/160s, ISO 200)

“One of my favourite freshwater places to shoot is the Crater Lakes National Park on the Atherton Tablelands. Here, water lilies thrive on the fringes of the lakes, rimmed by tropical rainforest. Shooting with a fisheye lens and just below the surface allowed me to create this unusual perspective, where the tendrils of the water lily forest are reflected and appear to seep into the rainforest world above. The use of strobes brings out the orange hues of the leaf undersides, providing a lovely contrast to the surrounding greens.” Andrew Watson

18/09/2025

“Entourage” by Laura Gourgas |

🔹Category: Australian - Silver
🔹Subject: Manta Ray
🔹Location: Ningaloo Reef, WA, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: Canon EOS R5, Isotta housing (f/8, 1/500s, ISO 200)

For the past three years, I’ve been lucky to live and work on the Ningaloo Reef—one of the few places in the world where manta rays can be seen year-round. This individual, known as Cherub, is #63 in the Ningaloo ID catalogue. First sighted here as a juvenile, she’s grown into a confident female and has been regularly encountered ever since. On this day, she was bottom feeding—gliding just above the sand with her mouth wide open and cephalic fins unfurled to funnel plankton-rich water through her gills. Around her swirled a vibrant entourage of reef fish, including juvenile golden trevally, using her as shelter from predators. I hovered nearby, waiting for the right light and moment to dive down and capture the scene. The shimmering colours of the fish added movement and contrast, helping to create one of my favourite images from the reef. This photo is a small glimpse into the richness of life that Ningaloo continues to nurture—and the awe I still feel after years of diving with these graceful giants.” Laura Gourgas

18/09/2025

“Minke Elegance” by Marcia Riederer |

🔹Category: Australian - Gold
🔹Sponsor: Walindi Resort |
🔹Subject: Minke Whale
🔹Location: Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef, QLD, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Nauticam housing (f/7.1, 1/200s, ISO 500)

“The sea is calm, and I cling to the mermaid line trailing behind the boat. Then, from the blue, a shadow begins to form. It grows larger, clearer—sleek grey 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.” Marcia Riederer

16/09/2025

“Long Tail, Wide Eyes” by Megan Shea-Graff |

🔹Category: Portfolio - Honourable Mention
🔹Location: Malapascua, Philippines
🔹Equipment and Settings: (Slide 1-6) Sony a7R Mark III, Ikelite housing (f/14, 1/125s, ISO 400); Sony a7R Mark III, Ikelite housing (f/11, 1/125s, ISO 320); Sony a7R Mark III, Ikelite housing (f/8, 1/200s, ISO 320); Sony a7R Mark III, Ikelite housing (f/11, 1/125s, ISO 320); Sony a7R Mark III, Ikelite housing (f/8, 1/200s, ISO 320); Sony a7R Mark III, Ikelite housing (f/14, 1/125s, ISO 400)

“This portfolio is dedicated to the elusive thresher shark. With its signature long tail, wide eyes, and expressive face, this is an ocean predator like no other. If you’ve ever had the privilege of diving with thresher sharks, you’ll know just how unique they are. Their wide-eyed expressions, as if permanently caught by surprise, perfectly reflect their shy and cautious nature. These sharks are remarkably sensitive to their surroundings, often darting away at the slightest sound, bubble, or sudden movement. Capturing them up close requires patience, stillness, and a quiet mutual trust. The encounters captured in these shots may last only a few seconds, but when you meet eyes with a thresher shark and find yourself staring back at each other, time truly stands still.” Megan Shea-Graff

16/09/2025

“Alor Traditional Fishing” by Max Holba |

🔹Category: Portfolio - Honourable Mention
🔹Location: Alor Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
🔹Equipment and Settings: (Slide 1-6) Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Nauticam housing, dual Inon Z-240 strobes (f/18, 1/160s, ISO 200); Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Nauticam housing, dual Inon Z-240 strobes (f/11, 1/160s, ISO 200); Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Nauticam housing, dual Inon Z-240 strobes (f/8, 1/125s, ISO 200); Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Nauticam housing, dual Inon Z-240 strobes (f/9, 1/100s, ISO 200); Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Nauticam housing, dual Inon Z-240 strobes (f/8, 1/40s, ISO 100); Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Nauticam housing, dual Inon Z-240 strobes (f/22, 1/250s, ISO 200)

“The locals of Alor in Indonesia use handwoven baskets made from bamboo and the rattan plant as an efficient way to catch fish. These “Bubu” are carefully placed in the reef and weighed down using heavy rocks. Via a funnelled opening on either side of the basket, fish and other species such as morays find their way in—but not out! The baskets are retrieved via breath-hold diving, without the help of fins, often to 50 feet or more. Entirely unique to Alor, this method is not only fascinating to observe, it also shows us that traditional fishing methods with minimal impact to the underwater world do still exist and can in fact sufficiently provide for a family.” Max Holba

16/09/2025

“The Great Southern Reef” by Lewis Burnett |

🔹Category: Portfolio - Bronze
🔹Sponsor: Sundive Byron Bay |
🔹Location: (Slide 1-6): Yorke Peninsula, SA, Australia; Fleurieu Peninsula, SA, Australia; Fleurieu Peninsula, SA, Australia; Geographe Bay, WA, Australia; Geographe Bay, WA, Australia; Geographe Bay, WA, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: (Slide 1-6) Sony a1, Nauticam housing, Backscatter Mini Flash 2 (MF-2) strobe, Backscatter Optical Snoot (OS-1) (f/11, 1/40s, ISO 125); Sony a1, Nauticam housing, dual Inon Z-330 strobes (f/20, 1/60s, ISO 125); Sony a1, Nauticam housing, Backscatter Mini Flash 2 (MF-2) strobe, Backscatter Optical Snoot (OS-1) (f/16, 1/320s, ISO 125); Sony a1, Nauticam housing, Backscatter Mini Flash 2 (MF-2) strobe, Backscatter Optical Snoot (OS-1), Inon Z-330 strobe (f/22, 1/2s, ISO 125); Sony a1, Ikelite housing, dual Inon Z-330 strobes (f/13, 1/320s, ISO 125); Sony a1, Ikelite housing, dual Inon Z-330 strobes (f/11, 1/320s, ISO 125)

“Diving the Great Southern Reef is like stepping into a whole new world. Its frigid, kelp-lined shores may not seem inviting at first, but it doesn’t take long to realise you’re somewhere special once you put a mask on and go for a swim! Teeming with colourful, endemic and rare species, it is a diverse reef system that we’re so lucky to have on our doorstep. This portfolio shows just a small fraction of the diversity found in these waters, but I hope it captures viewers’ imaginations enough to encourage them to take the plunge and explore this fantastic part of the world.” Lewis Burnett

16/09/2025

“Edge of Two Worlds” by Gabriel Guzman |

🔹Category: Portfolio - Silver
🔹Sponsor: Inon |
🔹Location: Lady Elliot, Great Barrier Reef, Australia; Jellyfish Lake, Raja Ampat, Indonesia; Mackay Cay, Great Barrier Reef; Vava’u, Tonga; Lady Elliot, Great Barrier Reef, Australia; Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: (Slide 1-6) Nikon Z7 II, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/500s, ISO 200); Nikon Z7 II, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/250s, ISO 400); Nikon D810, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/800s, ISO 800); Nikon D810, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/400s, ISO 400); Nikon D810, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/640s, ISO 640); Nikon Z7 II, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/400s, ISO 400)

“This portfolio is composed entirely of split shots, a style I truly enjoy and have been exploring whenever I get the chance. For this series, I selected six different marine species, all photographed with a similar technique. Some subjects were easier to approach, while others demanded more patience and precision. In most of the images, the sky plays an important role, whether it is the warm light of a sunset, the textures of clouds, or the vibrant colours of dawn. Below the surface, marine life reveals its own beauty, from a small, simple jellyfish to the powerful presence of a humpback whale. Each photograph is a moment where two environments meet naturally, showing how both worlds complement each other and create a single, unified scene.” Gabriel Guzman

16/09/2025

“Ningaloo: A Living Tapestry” by Jake Wilton |

🔹Category: Portfolio - Gold
🔹Sponsor: Doris Smart Housing |
🔹Location: Ningaloo Reef, WA, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: (Slide 1-6) Nikon Z7 II, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/500s, ISO 200); Nikon Z7 II, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/250s, ISO 400); Nikon D810, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/800s, ISO 800); Nikon D810, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/400s, ISO 400); Nikon D810, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/640s, ISO 640); Nikon Z7 II, Aquatica housing (f/9, 1/400s, ISO 400)

“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 freediver drifts among the haunting remains of a whale skeleton resting on the seafloor, while above, a manta ray glides through a living veil of schooling fish in the shallow lagoon. In Coral Bay, spangled emperors school tightly above the coral gardens, captured in a striking above-and-below perspective. 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, while 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.” Jake Wilton

14/09/2025

“After the Cyclone” by Andrii Slonchak | .slonchak_photography

🔹Category: Conservation - Honourable Mention
🔹Subject: Guitarfish
🔹Location: Manta Bommie, North Stradbroke Island, QLD, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: Canon EOS R7, Ikelite housing, dual Ikelite DS230 strobes (f/8, 1/125s, ISO 200)

“The ocean has an incredible capacity to heal, but it also remembers what we leave behind. This photograph was taken shortly after Cyclone Alfred had swept through the region. The storm’s powerful swells tore debris from the land and carried it into the sea. On my first dive after the cyclone, I came across this guitarfish with what appears to be a discarded name badge lanyard looped tightly around its head and cutting into the flesh. It was a confronting reminder of how easily our waste finds its way into the ocean. For marine animals, such entanglements are not just uncomfortable. They can be fatal, restricting movement and eventually leading to starvation or infection. Cyclones are natural events, but the flood of rubbish they release into the ocean is not. This image is a call to action—what we discard on land does not disappear. Every piece of litter we prevent from entering the environment is one less threat to the creatures who call the ocean home.” Andrii Slonchak

14/09/2025

“Broken but not Beaten” by David Baxter |

🔹Category: Conservation - Honourable Mention
🔹Subject: Seadragon
🔹Location: Portsea, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
🔹Equipment and Settings: Canon EOS R5 II, Nauticam housing, dual Backscatter Hybrid Flash (HF-1) strobes (f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200)

“During a dive at Portsea Pier, I found this unfortunate seadragon, which had been seriously injured—likely by fishing line. The poor animal was unable to feed, and over the course of about two weeks, diving and observing it, I watched it slowly starve.” David Baxter

Underwater Awards Australasia

18/09/2025

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