The Underwater Awards Australasia 2026 is now accepting entries. The premier underwater imaging competition focused on the Australasian region is a three-way collaboration between Dive Photo Guide, Underwater Australasia, and UW Images. This year, entrants are competing for prizes in nine categories—including the unique new special category “Only Water”—with the top image or video among the category winners receiving the distinction of “Best of Show.” The prestigious judging panel comprises photo judges Tobias Friedrich, Matty Smith, Scott Portelli and Jayne Jenkins; video judge Ross Long; and special category judge Ray Collins.
The prizes, worth almost AU$70,000, include dive trips with the world’s top resorts and liveaboards as well as the latest underwater imaging equipment and dive gear—even an underwater photography drone and an underwater scooter with photographic platform. The competition will culminate in an exhibition and awards ceremony in September 2026. The exhibition will feature high-quality metal prints of the finalist entries in the photo categories. The prints will be available for purchase at the show, with half of the proceeds going to Environmental Partners Australian Marine Conservation Society and Take 3 for the Sea. Winners will be published in the 2027 Australian Marine Conservation Society calendar, with proceeds from sales going to marine conservation. All entry fees from the Conservation category will be donated to the competition’s Environmental Partners.
Head over to UnderwaterCompetition.com to find out more about the categories, prizes and judging panel, and make sure to read the rules and guidelines carefully before submitting. Entry fees are US$10 per image or video entered. The competition closes on July 19th, 2026.
