.png)
2 days ago
2
The annual competition draws thousands of entries from across the world and brings together images from below the water’s surface that show the diversity and challenges of subaquatic life
-
All photographs courtesy of Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026
Fri 27 Feb 2026 07.00 CET
Winner, British Waters: Macro Mum by Tom Ingram
‘This shot was captured off Porthkerris beach on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, during the UK’s year of the octopus. I wanted to capture a female’s final act of selflessness, as after she lays her eggs she guards, cleans and wafts oxygen-rich water over them to keep them healthy. She doesn’t leave their side, not even to feed herself, and once the eggs hatch she will die. In the bittersweet time I spent with her, I wanted to capture the narrative of her final few weeks by shooting her face on, and encircling her offspring in the background.’
Third, Up and Coming Photographer of the Year: Shared Time by Jinny Kim
‘Heaven’s Gate is a breathtaking section of the Nohoch Nah Chich underwater cave system in Mexico. The experience of entering this space felt like a profound shift from the present into the distant past. Fundamental elements converge in a powerful dance: nature and humanity, light and darkness, and the ephemeral trail of the diver’s rising air bubbles. I aimed to express the intense emotions and sheer awe that overwhelmed me in that ethereal place. It is a moment of pure, raw connection with the planet’s hidden wonders.’
Winner, Underwater Photographer of the Year: Rockpool Rookies by Matty Smith
Several weeks old and weaned from their mothers milk, elephant seal pups are abandoned by their parents on shore, left to navigate life alone. ‘On Sea Lion Island in the Falklands, I watched dozens of them clamber over one another in shallow rockpools, awkwardly learning to swim. On the first evening of my arrival, the sky ignited with colour. I donned my dry suit and rushed into the water, capturing a handful of frames before the light vanished. It turned out to be the defining moment of the trip.’
Runner-up, Behaviour: Together We Can! by Ventura Romero
‘A group of sperm whales were engaged in social behaviour at a depth of about 20 metres in the waters between Réunion and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. While I descended, a sudden movement drew my attention. An oceanic whitetip shark appeared in front of me, briefly approached and retreated. About 30 seconds later, it returned, swimming directly towards me. A group of sperm whales adopting a head-forward formation like a battering ram rapidly ascended toward me and the shark. The shark fled, with the sperm whales in hot pursuit.’
Third, Macro: A Time to Dream by Simon Theuma
‘I have a special spot near Shellharbour, New South Wales, Australia, my local dive site. It’s bursting with life and every dive there feels like an adventure. I always see mosaic seastars, and their bright colours never fail to catch my eye. This time, I was lucky enough to find a tiny commensal shrimp, about 20mm long, nestled on one of the seastar’s arms. The image reminds me of Aboriginal art and Dreamtime stories, speaking of the balance and connection that is woven throughout the marine world.’
Winner, Wide Angle: Happy Baby by Cecile Gabillon Barats
‘I was fortunate to experience a truly magical encounter with a curious juvenile sperm whale in Dominica. We entered the water at a respectful distance alongside the mother and her calf, watching as the mother prepared to dive in search of food, leaving her youngster at the surface. Almost immediately, the calf spun around and approached us, coming remarkably close, mouth wide open to reveal his emerging teeth, rolling playfully upside down. This unforgettable moment will always hold a special place in my heart.’
Runner-up, Wrecks: Living Wreck Country by Jean-Baptiste Cazajous
‘The Donator, or Prosper Schiaffino, is a cargo ship sunk by a mine in 1945 near Le Lavandou in France. It is one of the most famous wrecks on France’s Mediterranean coast. It is an amazing artificial reef: every inch of it is covered in life. Gorgonians, sponges – it’s a beautiful mix of colours. It shelters very important fauna, with thousands of anthias, large schools of all kinds of fish, groupers, dentex and more.’
Winner, Up and Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year: Lunging Leopard Country by Sam Blount
‘For years, the leopard seal topped my Antarctic wish list, a predator I dreamed of encountering face to face. This dive was everything I could have hoped for: clear water, good lighting and a playful seal. Leopard seals wield an astonishing array of dominance displays, and this one put them all to use, darting around me with effortless power. Watching that massive mouth lined with sharp teeth charge straight toward me is a thrill I’ll never forget.’
Runner-up, Portrait: Screaming Swallower by Steven Kovacs
‘Every year off the coast of Florida, from late July to early October, snaketooth fishes or swallowers make an appearance. Fish in this family are renowned for their ability to consume prey larger than themselves, with mouths and stomachs capable of expanding to accommodate prey up to twice their length and 10 times their weight. I was very lucky one night to come across this beautiful individual, fully displaying its elegant fins. It suddenly decided to yawn and I was able to react quickly enough to capture this image.’
Runner-up, Coral Reefs: Sunset Patrol by Renee Capozzola
‘This image of a shark patrolling a vibrant coral reef at sunset was shot in Fakarava, a coral atoll in French Polynesia’s Tuamotu archipelago renowned for its pristine ocean environment. Designated a Unesco biosphere reserve in 1977, sharks thrive here in their natural habitat. Sharks signify a balanced reef ecosystem so it is my hope that this image can help serve as a model for successful conservation and sustainability.’
Runner-up, Macro: Jaws Country by Fabian Becker
‘In Bohol, Philippines, lizardfish are common and easily overlooked reef inhabitants. They are surprisingly skittish at close range, requiring a slow and deliberate approach. I carefully positioned a strobe behind the subject, backlighting the head to completely isolate it from the environment. Combined with a very low shooting angle, it allowed the impressive jawline to emerge, complemented by the subtle textures of the skin and the reflective quality of the eyes, transforming a lizardfish into something almost sculptural.’
Winner, Save our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year: Where Innocence Meets Tradition by Khaichuin Sim
‘In the Faroe Islands, the annual pilot whale hunt known as grindadráp remains one of the world’s most controversial traditions. In this scene, a young boy sits on top of a slain whale amid blood-red waters, a haunting reflection of how tradition, identity and ethics collide. It captures not just a moment, but a generational question: what should be preserved, and what should change?’
Winner, Compact: Alpine Lookout by Andrea Michelutti
‘After years of waiting, I dived into the cold alpine Lake Cornino near my home in north-eastern Italy. Its clear waters rise from a spring, making it a gem among the mountains. Life is sparse, but I spotted a freshwater crayfish. It swam toward me until it was touching my wet lens. The composition I’d planned for years is built on the transition from green vegetation to deep-blue water, with mountain peaks framed in Snell’s window – a phenomenon by which an underwater viewer sees everything above the surface through a cone of light.’
Winner, British Waters Wide Angle: A Meeting of Giants by Evan Johnston
‘These sharks in the Sea of the Hebrides in Scotland had just stopped feeding and formed a tight shoal, before breaking off and swimming in slow rhythmic circles, eventually spiralling into the deep. This behaviour is known as a torus and is thought to be a courtship behaviour and the precursor to mating – although that remains a mystery. It felt like an ancient ritual that happens out of sight from the world and was an incredible moment to witness and capture.’
Winner, Black and White: Coral Window by Shunsuke Nakano
‘Light enters the wreck near Sado island, Japan, through a window, a square cut into history and now taken over by life. Choosing to shoot in black and white, I am inviting the viewer to contrast the thick, straight human-made lines with the delicate and intricate patterns of nature. Gorgonians (sea fans) fan outward like frozen breath, turning rust into art. Between them, a lone wrasse punctuates the frame. The window no longer looks out; it invites us to look in, framing the story of nature reclaiming metal.’
Third, Portrait: White Spirits by Merche Llobera
‘Floating on a board with my head and arms submerged, I experienced something truly unforgettable. The belugas came and went freely, meeting my gaze, vocalising and observing with unmistakable curiosity. I travelled to Churchill, Canada, specifically to photograph belugas, but I never anticipated such close, voluntary interactions. My intention was simply to be present, to enjoy the moment, and to create the best image possible, while always allowing the animals to set the pace.’
Runner-up, Wide Angle: Chamber of Life by Jinny Kim
‘In the depths of the East Sea near the province of Gangwon-Do in South Korea at the height of winter, a male greenling fish transforms into a brilliant golden sentinel. This vivid coloration, triggered by his spawning hormones, attracts mates and deters rivals. Photographed among the red soft corals of Jumunjin’s artificial reef, the male stands watch over his eggs, guarding them tirelessly until they hatch. The image reflects a moving moment of paternal devotion, an enduring act of protection shaped by instinct and sacrifice.’Explore more on these topics
