Manly's Beauty Features in 2025 Underwater Photography Competition winners Images
On Thursday, 27 November 2025 the council was delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 Underwater Photography Competition, now in its fifth year, shining a spotlight on the extraordinary talent and passion within the local community.
All of the winners bar one took their photos in the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve in Manly. The sole winner outside this marine reserve was Nicole Sroba's ''Hooked'' which was photographed in the North Harbour (Sydney) Aquatic Reserve, also at Manly.
Nicole was this year’s overall winner, and recipient of the prestigious Valerie Taylor Award for Excellence, for her evocative image.
The council stated ''This Award recognises a long-time Manly resident who has a lifelong passion for the ocean, ocean conservation and a love of underwater photography.''
Judges praised Nicole’s work, stating: ''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.''
The council stated ''Over 950 people expressed their view on the People’s Choice Award with the outstanding winner being Xina Hudson for her image, Living Shield.''
Mayor Sue Heins congratulated Nicole, Xina and all participants, saying,
“It’s inspiring to see so many locals and visitors sharing their unique perspectives of our coastline.
“Congratulations to all our entrants, finalists and winners. Your passion for our local waters is clear in every image.
“The calibre of entries this year was truly outstanding, and Nicole’s work reminds us how precious and spectacular our marine life really is.
“Competitions like this highlight the community’s deep connection to our natural environment and the importance of protecting it for future generations.”
The competition encourages amateur and professional photographers of all ages and backgrounds to capture the beauty and diversity found at the stunning 5 Aquatic Reserves on the peninsula, with a $4,000 prize pool on offer.
Everyone is invited to explore these remarkable images, including Nicole’s award-winning Hooked and Xina’s popular choice Living Shield on Council’s website or in person at Belgrave Cartel, Manly exhibition from Sunday 30 November - Sunday 7 December 2025.
Overall - Valerie Taylor Underwater Photography Award for Excellence 2025
Winner: Nicole Sroba (Hooked)
Photographer's statement: Grey nurse sharks are a critically endangered species along the East Coast of Australia. Despite the protections in place, many individuals like the one captured in this image still suffer from fishing pressures and swim dragging hooks and lines.
''Hooked'': © Nicole Sroba
Winners in the 8 categories are:
1. Behaviour: Capturing natural 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 close to the subject matter.
Winner: Alexander Gunter (Wandering Sea Anemone)
Runner Up: Teya McEwan (Camouflage with a grin)
Highly Commended: Taj Burrows (The Waiting Game)
3. Threatened Species: Portraying the vulnerability of a threatened species found, for example: black rod cod, grey nurse shark, green turtle.
Winner: Nicole Sroba (Hooked)
Runner Up: Lesley Spencer (Wondrous Weedy Wanderings)
Highly Commended: Eddy Price (One of these things is not like the other)
4. Human Connection: Capturing the positive or negative connection between a person(s) and marine life (flora / fauna / megafauna). This could include monitoring citizen science projects or research undertaken in one of the Northern Beaches aquatic reserves.
Winner: David Bellas (Reaching Out)
Runner Up: Peter Hutchins (Wings of Resilience)
Highly Commended: Alana Abercrombie (Cuttlefish Paparazzi)
5. Seascapes: (wide angle): Capturing the raw beauty of the underwater vista in one of the peninsula's aquatic reserves.
Winner: David Bellas (Cuttlefish Pursuit)
Runner Up: Mark Endres (Ghost Fleet)
Highly Commended: Strath Clarke (Cruising)
6. Youth: For the budding young photographers aged 12 to 17 years old.
Winner – Underwater Youth Photographer of the year 2025: Emily Sonter (A Dazzling Display)
Runner Up: Raphael Hampartzoumian (Eye to Eye)
Highly Commended: Evelyn Christopher (Hide and Seek)
7. Reels: Capturing the wonder of the biodiversity in our underwater world. Reel length is 15 to 30 seconds duration.
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 online: Xina Hudson (Living Shield)
Living Shield. ©Xina Hudson
Photographer's statement: Tiny fish shelter among the tentacles of a jellyfish -a pulsing island of safety in the open sea. Glimpsing the quiet wonder of marine life sustaining itself, serves as a reminder that even the smallest exchanges uphold the balance that sustains us all.
Judges included Katherine Roberts – Senior Curator at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Peter McGee – a multi award winning local nature and underwater photographer, SCUBA diver and conservationist and avid diver and distinguished underwater photographer, Jayne Jenkins.