Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 winners
Photos: Abdulaziz Al Saleh, Enric Gener, Bryan H. Blauvelt, Ruruka, Alvaro Herrero (Mekan), Jenny Stock, Wojciech Dopierala, Bryant Turffs and Shunsuke Nakano / UPY 2025
The winners of the 2025 Underwater Photographer of the Year contest have been announced, showcasing spectacular underwater scenes. The UK-based contest began in 1965, though it appeared in its current form in 2014/2015. It celebrates work across 13 categories, including Portrait, Behavior, Wrecks, Coral Reefs and Macro, with three categories focused on photos taken in British waters.
This year, the contest saw 6750 entries with photographers coming from 28 different countries. Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE served as judges this year. You can find out more and see additional winners at the Underwater Photographer of the Year website.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: ‘Radiant Bond’
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Credit: Alvaro Herrero (Mekan)/UPY 2025
Nationality: Spain
Image caption: Radiant Bond
Country taken: French Polynesia
Location: Mo’orea
Camera: Nikon Z7 II
Lens: Nikkor Z 14-24mm 2.8 s
ISO: 1100
Aperture: F8
Shutter: 1/640
Lighting used: Natural Light
Housing: Isotta
Back story: A mother humpback whale accompanies her calf to the surface for its first breath early in the morning. The youngster is releasing a few bubbles as it rises, perhaps this is because it is still learning to control its breathing, or it is simply experimenting with its own body.
Every year, during the southern winter, I travel to French Polynesia to photograph these majestic animals. My favourite time of day is the early morning, because the light is soft and angled, allowing me to find the perfect angle to clearly define the shape of these animals in blue. For me, this photo is one that shows a mother’s love for her calf, communicating both the fragility and beauty of our oceans, and revealing one of the amazing species with whom we share our home world.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Macro winner
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Credit: Paolo Bondaschi/UPY 2025
Nationality: Italy
Image caption: Magic backlit
Country taken: Anilao, Philippines
Location: Secret Bay, Anilao
Camera: Canon EOS R7
Lens: EF-S60mm f/2.8 Macro USM + wet lens AOI UCL-90PRO
ISO: 100
Aperture: F16.0
Shutter: 1/200
Lighting used: Backscatter MF-1 + Backscatter snoot OS-1
Housing: MARELUX MX-R7
Back story: At the end of this dive, I spotted a couple of underwater photographers focused on shooting and it piqued my curiosity about what they were photographing. I signalled to my guide to check what they were shooting. After realizing that it was one of my favourite subjects, a hairy shrimp, I waited patiently for my turn and used the time to plan and prepare for the shot. I chose to shoot it in profile, backlight with a snoot. My guide and my buddy played a fundamental role in expertly managing the light of the snoot. After a few test shots to find the right setting, I finally got the photo I was looking for.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Wrecks winner
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Credit: Alex Dawson/UPY 2025
Nationality: Sweden
Image caption: Deep wreck
Country taken: Egypt
Location: Gulf Fleet No 31 wreck at Shaabruhr Umm Qammar
Camera: Nikon Z9
Lens: 8-15 fisheye
ISO: 800
Aperture: F4.5
Shutter: 1/80
Lighting used: ambient light
Housing: Nauticam Z9
Back story: The wreck sits on the reef at around 104m depth. When she sank she got wedged between the reef wall and a small reef so there is a swim through under the wreck. We did 25 min bottom time and about 2 1/2 hours of deco to produce this image.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Behavior winner
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Credit: Shunsuke Nakano/UPY 2025
Nationality: Japan
Image caption: Face Off
Country taken: Japan
Location: Sado,Niigata
Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: af nikkor 28-70mm f3.5-4.5 d with Nauticam WACP-1
ISO: 200
Aperture: F16
Shutter: 1/250
Lighting used: INON Z330
Housing: Nauticam NA D850
Back story: This is a photo of two male Asian sheepshead wrasse fighting. The unique form of this species is characteristic of males, who form harems and claim territories during the breeding season. The one on the left in the photo is the harem king, who has defended his territory for more than 10 years and is estimated to be over 30 years old, while the one on the right is a young challenger.
Although I had planned carefully to capture the images, the 2024 season was more difficult to predict than usual, and despite staying there for a week during the breeding season, I was only able to observe this scene once, for just 10 seconds. And this was the only photograph I was able to take. The sight of them fighting in their flashy white outfits was so magnificent I can still remember it vividly.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Portrait winner
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Credit: Abdulaziz Al Saleh/UPY 2025
Nationality: Kuwait
Image caption: Hydration
Country taken: Kuwait
Location: Al Wafra desert
Camera: Nikon Z8
Lens: Nikkor 8-15mm fisheye
ISO: 100
Aperture: F18
Shutter: 1/100
Lighting used: Inon Z330 (dual)
Housing: Nauticam NA-Z8
Back story: I had the idea of photographing the camels drinking water for about one and half a years. I wanted to photograph them drinking water from the underwater perspective because I did not see any images showing this. The weather was a critical, and it took me several weeks to get the best possible shots. The first week the camels were a bit hesitant to drink water while my camera was under the water and only few gathered to drink, which is not what i wanted. But after several days the camels had already accepted to me and my equipment.
After my first week of shooting the Camels, I changed to electronic synch cords for my strobes instead of fibre-optic cables because of problems. And finally the shots came together.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Coral Reefs winner
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Credit: Catherine Holmes/UPY 2025
Nationality: United Kingdom
Image caption: Kaleidoscope of Colour
Country taken: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Location: Gorgonian Passage, Wayil Batan Island, Misool
Camera: Nikon D500
Lens: Nikon Fisheye. 8-15 (3.5-4.5) @12mm
ISO: 320
Aperture: F11
Shutter: 1/160
Lighting used: Retra Pro strobes- with diffusers
Housing: NA-D500. Nauticam
Back story: Raja Ampat, Indonesia, is a magical destination where the colour, beauty, biodiversity and dense fish life can almost be an overload on the senses- a celebration of healthy reef life. I was lucky to find perfect conditions with clear water and schooling baitfish swirling amongst the canyons of a large coral bommie, adorned with verdant soft corals.
I aimed to capture the reef teeming with life and colour to inspire us all to protect this valuable habitat. All around the world, our oceans, and in particular the coral reefs, are under threat. They are vital habitat for the myriad of species they support, and critical for the oceans health. Climate change, pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing all threaten this environment, and the devastating outcomes are seen worldwide with bleached and dying reefs, with dwindling fish life. Awareness is essential to protect and sustain these precious environments for the future.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Black & White winner
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Credit: Enric Gener/UPY 2025
Nationality: Spain
Image caption: Chasing Dolphins
Country taken: Egypt
Location: Red Sea
Camera: Canon5D Mark IV
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm 1:2.8 L III USM
ISO: 160
Aperture: F4
Shutter: 1/500
Lighting used: No Lighting
Housing: SeaCam
Back story: This image was captured in the northern Red Sea during a freediving expedition in search of bottlenose dolphins. The moment portrays an intimate mating ritual, where several males—four visible in the picture, though others were nearby—were playfully chasing a female. It was a dynamic and ritualistic display, with the males engaging in friendly skirmishes and occasionally mating with the female, their bodies joining briefly for just a few seconds. Notably, the female was not attempting to escape; she actively participated, playing along and waiting for them. The entire group swam gracefully and at a slow, deliberate pace, creating a mesmerizing underwater scene.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Up & Coming winner
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Credit: Ruruka/UPY 202
Nationality: Korea
Image caption: Aurora Underwater
Country taken: Mexico
Location: Cancun
Camera: Nikon Z8
Lens: Nikon Z 24-50mm F4 with Nauticam WACP-1
ISO: 800
Aperture: F9
Shutter: 1/60s
Lighting used: Natural Light
Housing: Nauticam NA-Z8
Back story: I first travelled to Cancun, Mexico, for a shoot two years ago, and since then, I’ve been captivated by its charm. These days, I find myself visiting Cancun frequently. From where I live, it’s a very long journey – about 24 hours by plane – but this place perfectly aligns with the direction of my photography and offers a variety of shooting opportunities. To capture this particular photo, I visited during the rainy summer season and worked with a local Korean guide as my model.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Compact winner
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Credit: Bryant Turffs/UPY 2025
Nationality: United States
Image caption: The Beauty of the Swamp
Country taken: United States
Location: Everglades National Park
Camera: GoPro Hero 7 Black
Lens: AOI 0.73x Ultra Wide Lens
ISO: 791
Aperture: F2.8
Shutter: 1/180
Lighting used: N/A – Available
Housing: GoPro Supersuit
Back story: I captured this image at one of my favourite locations within the Everglades ecosystem. Historically, I primarily dove in saltwater, but I have become enamoured by this foreboding environment, with clear waters, light filtering through cypress trees, and the fish species, both native and introduced. I have revisited this spot many times trying to capture various subjects and the light just right. The water levels vary significantly, sometimes completely drying, during different times of year. The fish species are in constant flux, and this location is often dominated by exotics. Ironically, on this occasion, I hadn’t invested too much thought and I was enjoying the scenery when this Florida Gar positioned itself perfectly in the frame of my GoPro.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: British Waters Wide Angle winner
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Credit: David Alpert/UPY 2025
Nationality: United Kingdom
Image caption: The Curious Seal
Country taken: United Kingdom
Location: Lundy Island
Camera: Canon 5D MKiii
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L iii USM
ISO: 200
Aperture: F8
Shutter: 1/200
Lighting used: 2 x Inon Z330 Strobes
Housing: Nauticam
Back story: North Devon is easily one of the most beautiful coastlines in Britain. High jagged cliffs pounded by an unforgiving sea. With the second highest tide change in the world, the outgoing current whips up against waves and wind rolling in from the North Atlantic. Stand back and marvel.
Diving windows are limited so I based myself in the area for two months last year, exploring different locations. This shot shows a grey seal off Lundy Island, a marine protected area since 1973. Seals are delightfully curious creatures, more interactive than any other species I have dived with around the world. Briefly, I become one of the privileged few, crossing the bridge into the world of a sentient wild animal.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: British Waters Macro winner
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Credit: Dan Bolt/UPY 2025
Nationality: United Kingdom
Image caption: The Hitch Hiker
Country taken: UK
Location: Scotland
Camera: OM Systems OM-1
Lens: Panasonic 45mm macro
ISO: 250
Aperture: F13
Shutter: 1/250th
Lighting used: 2x Sea & Sea YS-D3Duo
Housing: AOI UH-OM1
Back story: Occasionally in my time under the water I have come across this medusa ‘Neoturris pileata’ in the open water but had not taken a decent photo of one. On this occasion however, my buddy and I were specifically targeting them and other similar creatures to try to explore the idea of UK ‘blackwater’ photographic opportunities. Of the many, many(!), images I took that day, this one revealed a larval crustacean within the bell of this medusa. The frames either side of this capture actually show that the larval crab (or lobster) is actually on the outside of the bell, but in this instant it was perfectly on the opposite side from me and hence the effect of being contained within the transparent body.
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: British Waters Living Together winner
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Credit: Dan Bolt/UPY 2025
Nationality: United Kingdom
Image caption: Rusty Haven
Country taken: Scotland
Location: Loch Carron
Camera: OM Systems OM-1
Lens: Olympus 14-42mm with Nautocam WWL-1
ISO: 640
Aperture: F7.1
Shutter: 1/50
Lighting used: 2x Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo
Housing: AOI UH-OM1
Back story: This images shows nature’s ability to make the best of a bad situation. The iron block and heavy chain are actually holding a small barge in-place on the surface where local scallop divers store their equipment. The barge itself is a floating reef system all of it own, and the anchor blocks have attracted many species too.
I was actually practising for a different underwater photography competition when I took this shot. For a couple of days before an on-the-day ‘splash in’ competition, this crab was consistently in this position, or very close by. Sadly on the day it was no-where to be seen! Happily for me though that meant I was able to use my practice photos for UPY!
‘Save Our Seas Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year
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Credit: Robert Marc Lehmann/UPY 2025
Nationality: Germany
Image caption: 1 / 200.000.000
Country taken: Indonesia
Camera: CANON R5
Lens: CANON EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM with EF to RF Mount
ISO: 1000
Aperture: F5.6
Shutter: 1/6400
Lighting used: n/a
Housing: n/a
Back story: This tiger shark is just one of around 200 million sharks that lose their lives every year at the hands of humans.
Since I was six years old (35 years+), I have been intensively studying sharks. In all these years, hardly anything has changed and that is frustrating. Sharks protect their habitat, the sea, through their ecological function as “health police”. Over a billion people depend on the sea every day and we all breathe the oxygen that is largely produced in the sea. If we continue to eradicate the animals that guard our largest and most important habitat, we are taking away our own livelihood. And that’s why I’ve been fighting for people to see and understand sharks through my eyes. Every time I take a photo like this, it hurts, but through imagery I can inspire millions of people to understand sharks and their situation and make a difference.
