DivePhotoGuide (DPG) has announced the winners of its Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2025, awarding a total of $85,000 in prizes. The contest, which received over 2,000 entries, recognizes excellence in underwater photography and videography across nine image categories and one video category.
Overall Winner, Wide Angle – Gold
Yuka Takahashi of Japan won the overall competition with her stunning image, “Synchronized Humpback Whales,” depicting two humpback whales swimming side by side in Mo’orea, French Polynesia. The photograph was taken with a Sony a7R Mark IV camera, a Sony FE 16–35mm F2.8 lens, and a SeaFrogs housing, using settings of F4.5, 1/500s, and ISO 320.
Takahashi described the moment as capturing a rare display of synchronicity between the two whales, who are often seen together. She noted the experience reinforced her belief in the unique personalities of animals and the deep connection one can feel with wildlife.
Wide Angle – Silver
Evgenii Ivkov of Russia earned silver in the Wide Angle category with “Through the Looking Glass,” a photograph of a surfer gliding over the water at Lakey Peak, Sumbawa, Indonesia. The image was captured using a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, a Canon EF 8–14mm F4 Fisheye lens, and a Liquid Eye housing, with settings of F10, 1/2000s, and ISO 1000.
Ivkov detailed the challenges of capturing the image, including navigating powerful waves and the need for precise timing to capture the surfer in a tube.
Macro – Gold
Sunbong Jung of South Korea took gold in the Macro category with “House Cleaning,” a photograph of a bluestriped fangblenny cleaning sand from its burrow in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines. The image was taken with a Canon EOS R5, a Canon RF 100mm F2.8 Macro lens, a Seacam housing, and Retra strobes, using settings of F2.8, 160s, and ISO 400.
Jung described the image as capturing the fangblenny’s systematic and purposeful cleaning process, highlighting its intelligence and determination.
Macro – Silver
Wojtek Męczyński of Poland received silver in the Macro category for “Pregnant Denise,” a photograph of a pregnant Denise’s pygmy seahorse in Lembeh, Indonesia. The image was captured using an OM System OM-1 Mark II, an Olympus M.Zuiko 90mm F3.5 Macro lens, a Nauticam housing, Inon Z-240 strobes, and a Backscatter MW-4300 video light, with settings of F18, F160s, and ISO 200.
Męczyński recounted the fortunate encounter with the seahorse and the effort to capture the image without disturbing the animal.
Traditional – Gold
Chris Gug of the USA won gold in the Traditional category with “King of the Hill,” a photograph of a crab on an anemone in Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. The image was taken with a Nikon Z8, a Nikon Z 105mm F2.8 Macro lens, a Nauticam housing, and Backscatter HF-1 strobes, using settings of F25, 1/25s, and ISO 320.
Gug described the challenges of capturing the image, including bracing the housing in the sand to compensate for the current and achieving a crisp shot with a slow shutter speed.
Traditional – Silver
Galice Hoarau of Norway earned silver in the Traditional category with “Shaw’s Sea Snake,” a photograph of a sea snake in Anda, Bohol, Philippines. The image was captured using a Sony a7R Mark IV, a Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro lens, a Nauticam housing, a Nauticam EMWL-1 with 160° Objective Lens, and Retra Flash Pro Max strobes, with settings of F16, 1/160s, and ISO 640.
Hoarau documented the unusual behavior of the sea snake shedding its skin and the significance of capturing this rare moment.
Unrestricted – Gold
Karyll Gonzalez of the USA took gold in the Unrestricted category with “Even Eyes Deserve a Spa Day,” a composite image of a shrimp cleaning the eye of an eel in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. The image was taken with a Nikon D7200, a Nikon AF-S 60mm F2.8 Macro lens, a Nauticam housing, Sea&Sea YS-D2 strobes, and a 10Bar macro snoot, using settings of F11, 1/250s, and ISO 200.
Gonzalez explained the process of creating the composite image and the significance of capturing the unique interaction between the shrimp and the eel.
Unrestricted – Silver
Fan Ping of China received silver in the Unrestricted category for “Skull at Green Cave Sink,” a photograph of a skull underwater in Meizhou, Guangdong, China. The image was captured using a Sony a7S Mark III, a Sony FE 28–60mm F4–5.6 lens, a Nauticam housing, a Nauticam WACP-1, and a DivePro G18 video light, with settings of F5, 1/400s, and ISO 1600.
Ping described the discovery of the skull and the emotional impact of encountering a relic of the past.
Over-Under – Gold
Anton Sorokin of the USA won gold in the Over-Under category with “Sierran Gold,” a photograph of a newt in the Sierra Nevada mountains, California, USA. The image was taken with a Nikon D810, a Nikon AF-S 8–15mm F3.5–4.5 Fisheye lens, a Nauticam housing, and Seacam strobes, using settings of F16, 1/60s, and ISO 400.
Sorokin highlighted the unique blue coloration of the newt due to a genetic mutation and its importance as an indicator of ecosystem health.
Over-Under – Silver
Suliman Alatiqi of Kuwait earned silver in the Over-Under category with “Marine-Adapted from Head to Toe,” a photograph of a bird on the water in the Midriff Islands, Mexico. The image was captured using a Nikon D850, a Nikon AF-S 8–15mm F3.5–4.5 Fisheye lens, a Nauticam housing, with settings of F10, 1/125s, and ISO 100.
Alatiqi detailed the adaptations of the brown booby to its marine environment and the effort to capture the image with a close-focus wide-angle technique.
Conservation – Gold
James Ferrara of the USA won gold in the Conservation category with “Survivor,” a photograph of a diver untangling a sea turtle in Sri Lanka. The image was taken with a Sony a7R Mark V, a Sigma 15mm F1.4 Fisheye lens, a Nauticam housing, using settings of F11, 1/250s, and ISO 320.
Ferrara recounted the experience of freeing the turtle, which was already missing a flipper, and the importance of raising awareness about the impact of human activities on marine life.
Conservation – Silver
Daniel Taylor of Mexico received silver in the Conservation category for “Entangled Fates,” a photograph of a shark with a fishing line in its mouth in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The image was captured using a Canon EOS R, a Canon RF 15–35mm F2.8 lens, a Nauticam housing, with settings of F11, 1/500s, and ISO 800.
Taylor described the encounter with the shark and the dangers of shark fishing, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts.
Cold Water – Gold
Francesco Visintin of Italy won gold in the Cold Water category with “Blue Crayfish,” a photograph of a blue crayfish in Tuscany, Italy. The image was taken with a Nikon Z8, a Nikon AF-S 8–15mm F3.5–4.5 Fisheye lens, an Isotta housing, and Isotta RED64 strobes, using settings of F16, 1/25s, and ISO 800.
Visintin explained the rarity of the blue coloration in the crayfish and its significance as an indicator of ecosystem health.
Cold Water – Silver
James Ferrara of the USA earned silver in the Cold Water category with “Killer Light,” a photograph of an orca in Norway. The image was captured using a Sony a7R Mark V, a Sigma 15mm F1.4 Fisheye lens, a Nauticam housing, using settings of F4, 1/250s, and ISO 800.
Ferrara described the extraordinary weather conditions and the fortunate encounter with the orca, highlighting the importance of timing and trust in wildlife photography.
Compact – Gold
Manuel Wüthrich of Switzerland won gold in the Compact category with “Tree of Life,” a photograph of a diver in a cenote in Mexico. The image was taken with a Sony RX100 Mark VII, a Nauticam housing, a Nauticam WWL-C, and three X-Adventurer M8000 video lights, using settings of F2.8, 1/50s, and ISO 1600.
Wüthrich described the unique atmosphere of the cenote and the symbolism of the roots reaching into the water.
Compact – Silver
Johan Letang of France received silver in the Compact category for “In Meditation,” a photograph of a sea turtle in Tahiti, French Polynesia. The image was captured using a Canon G7X Mark III and a Nauticam housing, with settings of F2.2, 1/1600s, and ISO 800.
Letang recounted the encounter with the unusually calm turtle and the feeling of witnessing a moment of serenity.
Portfolio – Gold
Tom Shlesinger of Israel won gold in the Portfolio category with “Oceans of Life: Coral’s Annual Miracle,” a series of photographs documenting coral reproduction in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Eilat, Israel. The images were taken with a Sony a1, a Sony FE 12–24mm F2.8 lens, a Nauticam housing, and Retra Flash Pro Max strobes, using settings of F16, 1/60s, and ISO 400.
Shlesinger described the project as a scientific journey to document the intricate reproductive phenomena of corals.
Portfolio – Silver
Frank Aron of Germany received silver in the Portfolio category for “Orange, Black and Green: The Colors of Diving in Flooded Slate Mines,” a series of photographs taken in Nuttlar, Germany. The images were captured using a Sony a7C, a Sony FE 28mm F2.8 lens, a Nauticam housing, a Nauticam WWL-1, and Bigblue VL65000P and other video lights, using settings of F8, 1/30s, and ISO 2500.
Aron explained his goal of showcasing the color contrast between the rusty remains and the slate walls of the flooded mines.
The DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition donates 15% of proceeds to marine conservation efforts. More information and all winning images can be found on the DPG website.
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