After unveiling the winners and runners-up of the DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2025, DPG is excited to announce the six winners of this year’s Mentor Prizes. Each of the photo pros on our prestigious judging panel selected one of the contest’s finalists to receive the special prize—an hour-long one-on-one video chat session to review their portfolio and give them handy tips and advice to help make their underwater photography even better.

Jury chair and Nauticam ambassador Nicolas Remy selected Grega Verc for his finalist photo in the Wide Angle category, a beautifully composed shot of a diver exploring the interior of the famed MV Karwela wreck in Malta. The Mentor Prize from National Geographic photographer Jennifer Hayes goes to Byron Conroy for his cute filefish creatively captured with a slow-shutter background, a finalist in the Macro category, while Isotta ambassador Álvaro Herrero (Mekan) chose Portfolio category finalist Miesa Grobbelaar for her wonderful set of minimalist top-down portraits.

For Aquatica ambassador Jill Heinerth, it was Talia Greis’ endearing half-and-half duck—a finalist in the Over-Under category, of course—that was most deserving of her Mentor Prize, while Seacam ambassador Aaron Wong picked Allison Vitsky Sallmon to receive his Mentor Prize for her wonderful capture of jostling California sea lions, which was a finalist in the Cold Water category. Finally, Verona Chadwick was selected by Marelux ambassador Kate Jonker for her finalist entry in the Traditional category, a vibrant shot of a blenny popping out of the coral.

Hearty congratulations to all six talented winners, who will soon be video-chatting with their “mentors” to talk about all things underwater photography, as well as receiving dive torches by sponsors Marelux, Dive Lantern, and Subnox. We would also like to extend a very special thanks to our judges for generously offering their time. If you haven’t already enjoyed the winning images and videos in this year’s DPG Masters, head over to UnderwaterCompetition.com.
 

DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2025
MENTOR PRIZE WINNERS

Finalist (Wide Angle) – “The Staircase” by Grega Verc (Slovenia)
 

MENTOR

Nicolas Remy

Shooting Location: Gozo, Malta

Equipment and Settings: Nikon Z7, Nikon AF-S 8–15mm f/3.5–4.5 Fisheye, Isotta housing, Inon Z-330 strobes (f/10, 1/13s, ISO 2500)

Photographer’s Comment: “While diving in Gozo, we explored the wreck of the MV Karwela, which rests at a depth of 130 feet and is well known for its iconic staircase. Together with my dive buddy, we made several attempts to capture the scene, carefully balancing the ambient light, his torch beam, and the composition. After refining our positioning and timing, everything finally came together, allowing me to capture this image.”

Finalist (Macro) – “Peek-a-boo” by Byron Conroy (UK)
 

MENTOR

Jennifer Hayes

Shooting Location: Lembeh, Indonesia

Equipment and Settings: Sony A7R Mark V, Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro, Nauticam housing, Retra Flash Pro Max strobes (f/5, 1/15s, ISO 50)

Photographer’s Comment: “A juvenile filefish on the seabed in the Lembeh Strait, a macro shooter’s paradise. This little fish was hiding in-between the polyps of the soft coral. To attract the most attention on the subject, I used an open aperture to create a super sharp fish and a bokeh coral and background. I also slowed down the shutter to be able to ‘burn in’ the blue background so it would contrast with the yellow of the fish.”

Finalist (Portfolio) – “Top Down Portfolio” by Miesa Grobbelaar (Australia)
 

MENTOR

Álvaro Herrero (Mekan)

Shooting Location: Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Equipment: Nikon D800, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5-4.5 Fisheye, Ikelite housing. Settings (clockwise from top-left): f/7.1, 1/500s, ISO 160; f/8, 1/500s, ISO 200; f/9, 1/400s, ISO 200; f/8, 1/500s, ISO 200; f/7.1, 1/500s, ISO 250; f/9, 1/400s, ISO 250

Photographer’s Comment: “One of my favorite ways to shoot is from straight above. Seeing an animal that way strips everything back. There’s no clutter, just shape, shadow, and movement. I’m drawn to minimalism, especially when the ocean becomes a clean backdrop and the animals naturally create their own lines through it. This series is about that simplicity and the calm clarity you only get from looking straight down. There’s real beauty in how little is needed. This portfolio brings together six quiet encounters, all brief and unplanned. Each image comes from a moment when an animal passed beneath me, completely in its element, doing exactly what it was already there to do. From above, the movement tells the story—gentle turns, steady paths, natural rhythms. Nothing forced, nothing interrupted. These weren’t moments about chasing a shot, but about being patient and letting things unfold. I love creating art through photography, and working with marine life always keeps me grounded. You can’t control the ocean or the animals, so I’m constantly looking for new ways to see what’s already there. These images are part of that process—simple, honest encounters, captured over the Ningaloo Reef.”

Finalist (Over-Under) – “Dawn Dip” by Talia Greis (Australia)
 

MENTOR

Jill Heinerth

Shooting Location: Northern New South Wales, Australia

Equipment and Settings: Nikon D850, Nikon AF-S 16–35mm f/4, Isotta housing, Inon Z-330 strobes (f/14, 1/100s, ISO 1600)

Photographer’s Comment: “A cheeky portrait of a duck, executed using a split shot in order to capture the colors above and below the surface. This particular individual was the obvious ‘leader’ of the pack, and had a certain way of asserting dominance and confidence when faced with a camera.”

Finalist (Cold Water) – “Unsupervised” by Allison Vitsky Sallmon (USA)
 

MENTOR

Aaron Wong

Shooting Location: Santa Barbara Island, CA, USA

Equipment and Settings: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Canon EF 8–15mm f/4 Fisheye, Sea&Sea housing, Sea&Sea YS-D3 strobes (f/9, 1/200s, ISO 640)

Photographer’s Comment: “California sea lion rookeries are much like an unchaperoned party of preschoolers. On this very early morning dive, I did my best to steady myself next to a shallow, kelp-covered rock while a mass of sea lion pups bombarded me enthusiastically from all angles. One pup in particular was quite a show-off, excitedly demonstrating advanced sea lion skills such as blowing bubbles, inspecting my port, and biting on kelp strands!”

Finalist (Traditional) – “Blenny on the Lookout” by Verona Chadwick (Australia)
 

MENTOR

Kate Jonker

Shooting Location: Anilao, Batangas, Philippines

Equipment and Settings: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV, Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, AOI housing, Backscatter MF-2 strobe, Backscatter OS-1 snoot (f/22, 1/200s, ISO 200)

Photographer’s Comment: “This coral blenny was living inside one of a number of gaps in a large coral mound. The very shy fish hid in his hole, unwilling to come out until he was ready to do so. Prior to my approach, I set up the focal distance and snoot position using a similar coral. My 60mm macro lens allowed me to position myself not too close and wait patiently. Remaining very still, I observed the little blenny venture out of his hiding place, and at that moment I managed to capture this shot.”