Native Underwater Photography Contest returns

Now in its fifth 12 months, Northern Beaches Council is holding its annual Underwater Photography competitors from Thursday 24 July to Sunday 18 August 2025.

The 2025 theme Wonder, sustaining what sustains us aligns with the World Ocean Day theme and offers photographers the chance to showcase the Northern Beaches 5 aquatic reserves and be within the operating for a part of the $4,000 prize pool.

With 80km of iconic shoreline that includes 24 ocean and harbour seashores, 5 aquatic reserves, and 5 intertidal protected areas – together with nationally and globally recognised browsing reserves – photographers are actually spoilt for alternative when deciding the place to seize the proper shot.

“Our coastline is home to an extraordinary array of marine life, from delicate seagrass meadows to majestic sea creatures,” Council Mayor Sue Heins mentioned.

“Each photograph taken helps tell the story of this precious underwater world and the urgent need to protect it for future generations.”

The competitors celebrates all talent ranges and is open to novice {and professional} photographers and videographers.

“I encourage everyone, whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, to grab your camera, dive in, and capture the wonder that lies beneath our waves,” Mayor Heins added.

“Every image you share inspires greater understanding and appreciation for the ocean that sustains us all.”

With eight classes together with a serious award – The Valerie Taylor Underwater Photography Award for Excellence – entrants can enter as much as three photos.

Videographers can submit one reel.

The classes are:

Behaviour: Capturing pure behaviour of marine life.

Macro: Getting up near the subject material.

Threatened Species: Portraying the vulnerability of a threatened species discovered, for instance: black rod cod, gray nurse shark, inexperienced turtle.

Human Connection: Capturing the constructive or destructive connection between an individual(s) and marine life (flora / fauna / megafauna). This might embody monitoring citizen science initiatives or analysis undertaken in one of many Northern Beaches aquatic reserves.

Seascapes (extensive angle): Capturing the uncooked great thing about the underwater vista in one of many Northern Beaches aquatic reserves.

Youth: For the budding younger photographers aged 12 to 17 years outdated. The winner shall be recognised because the Underwater Youth Photographer of the Year 2025.

Reels: Capturing the surprise of the biodiversity in our underwater world. Reel size is 15 to 30 seconds period.

People’s Choice Award: Everyone can vote on-line for his or her favorite finalist picture.

The People’s Choice voting opens Thursday 28 August and runs by means of to Sunday 21 September with winners introduced in November.

For extra details about the competitors and the complete phrases and situations, go to Council’s website.

Read about final 12 months’s winners:

Sluggish finale for Beaches’ 2024 Underwater Photo Comp