Making a Splash: Underwater Photography Competition 2025 Winners Revealed!

It’s that point of 12 months once more, and we’re completely satisfied to announce the winners of the Northern Beaches Council’s fifth Underwater Photography Competition.

With the theme “Wonder: sustaining what sustains us”, photographers from all walks of life dived deep to seize the magic beneath the waves and remind us why our oceans matter.

This 12 months’s total winner, Nicole Sroba, takes house the distinguished Valerie Taylor Underwater Photography Award for Excellence 2025 for her shot, Hooked. For her effort, she went house with a shocking glass sculpture, Golden Sunset depicting the golden kelp present in Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve.

The judges praised her work for its creativity and coronary heart.  

“This year’s theme—Wonder: sustaining what sustains us—is powerfully reflected in this image from North Harbour Aquatic Reserve. A vulnerable grey nurse shark glides through shafts of light, trailing fishing lines. Framed by pylons, the composition evokes both beauty and concern,” Judge and award-winning underwater photographer, Peter McGee mentioned.

The People’s Choice Award was a crowd favorite, with voting open to your complete group. Congratulations to Xina Hudson, who gained the hearts of our voters together with her gorgeous Living Shield {photograph}.

Xina’s playful tackle underwater life introduced smiles and a way of journey to all who noticed it—proof that typically, probably the most magical moments are those we share collectively.

With over 225 entries this 12 months, the competitors was extra vibrant than ever, due to photographers of all ages and expertise ranges getting concerned. From macro close-ups to action-packed behaviour pictures, each submission was a celebration of our native marine world.

Drop by the Belgrave Cartel in Manly and take a look at the exhibition from Sunday 30 November to Sunday 7 December or view the profitable photos by way of Council’s web site.

The exhibition guarantees a visible feast for ocean lovers, households and anybody eager for a little bit of inspiration. Don’t miss your probability to marvel on the wonders captured by our gifted group.

Overall – Valerie Taylor Underwater Photography Award for Excellence 2025

Winner  
Nicole Sroba (Hooked)

Winners within the 8 classes are:

1.    Behaviour: Capturing pure behaviour of marine life.

Winner
Peter Hutchins (The Chase)

Runner Up                                                                                               
Taj Burrows (Face Off)

High Commended                                                   
Xina Hudson (Living Shield)                                            

2.    Macro: Getting up near the subject material.

Winner
Alexander Gunter (Wandering Sea Anemone)      

Runner Up                          
Teya McEwan (Camouflage with a smile)                                              

Highly Commended
Taj Burrows (The Waiting Game)                                          

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

Winner  
Nicole Sroba (Hooked)

Runner Up
Lesley Spencer (Wondrous Weedy Wanderings)                                                            

Highly Commended
Eddy Price (One of these items shouldn’t be like the opposite)                            

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

Winner
David Bellas (Reaching Out)                                            

Runner Up
Peter Hutchins (Wings of Resilience)                                                            

Highly Commended
Alana Abercrombie (Cuttlefish Paparazzi)                            

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

Winner
David Bellas (Cuttlefish Pursuit)                                                  

Runner Up
Mark Endres (Ghost Fleet)                                          

Highly Commended
Strath Clarke (Cruising)                            

6.    Youth: For the budding younger photographers aged 12 to 17 years outdated.

Winner – Underwater Youth Photographer of the 12 months 2025
Emily Sonter (A Dazzling Display)

Runner Up   
Raphael Hampartzoumian (Eye to Eye)  

Highly Commended          
Evelyn Christopher (Hide and Seek)                          

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

Youth Reels (12 to 17 years)

Winner
Jesse Loffel (The Usual Suspect)

Runner Up                                               
Ezra Boulton (Usual Fish Different Location)

Highly Commended                                                   
Otto Lourecco (Stop Bugging Me)                                                

Open Reels (18+ years)

Winner
Emilie Pettersson (Belonging)                        

Runner Up
Lauren Elder (Strike a Pose)      

Highly Commended                  
Kim Dunbar (Locals of Cabbage Tree Bay)                                      

8. People’s Choice – Voted on-line
Xina Hudson (Living Shield)

Judges included Katherine Roberts – Senior Curator on the Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Peter McGee – a multi award profitable native nature and underwater photographer, SCUBA diver and conservationist and avid diver and distinguished underwater photographer, Jayne Jenkins.