Summary
Dragon by Australian filmmaker Kat dos Remedios, a film about weedy seadragons breeding in Port Phillip Bay, has won Best of Show at the Underwater Awards Australasia 2026.
The film first earned Gold in Reels Showcase before taking the overall prize. Dos Remedios documented the 2025 breeding season in Victoria through the appearance of newly hatched animals. Winners were announced on September 5 at the Go Diving Show ANZ in Sydney.
The photography Gold winners
Annika Dahlberg won Conservation with “Trapped in the Blue”, documenting a young humpback whale entangled in rope off Niue before its rescue. Talia Greis won Sydney with “Dragon Clinger”, Jake Wilton took Australian with “Coastal Hunters”, and Simone Caprodossi won International Waters with “Crowded Spotlight”.
From smartphones to tough compacts
Enrico Somogyi won Smartphone/Action Cam with “Halimeda Ghostpipe”. Qian Kun took Tough TG with “Anemone Tenant”, while Tom Healy won Only Water with “The Best of Both Worlds”.
The Invisible portfolio
Giacomo Marchione won Portfolio Gold for “The Invisible”, a six-image body of work exploring small and often hard-to-see marine life. Its strength lies in patient observation and a consistent visual language rather than one spectacular frame.
Nine categories with a conservation focus
The competition offered prizes worth nearly A$70,000. Judges included Tobias Friedrich, Matty Smith, Scott Portelli and Jayne Jenkins, with Ross Long judging video and Ray Collins as special guest. The event also supported the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Take 3 for the Sea.
What we think
This year’s winners show the breadth of underwater imaging, from long-form behavioural observation to smartphone photography. Giving Best of Show to “Dragon” rewards time, subject knowledge and storytelling rather than one dramatic instant.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Best of Show?
Australia’s Kat dos Remedios with “Dragon”.
How many categories were there?
Nine photography and moving-image categories.
Where were the winners announced?
At the Go Diving Show ANZ in Sydney on September 5, 2026.
