The Underwater Photographer of the Year competition has returned, celebrating the beauty and mystery of the world beneath the waves.
Spanning 13 categories, the contest challenges photographers to capture everything from delicate macro details to expansive, dramatic underwater landscapes. This year, interest in underwater photography reached new heights, with a record-breaking 7,000 submissions from over 600 photographers worldwide.
Taking the top honor for 2025 is Spanish photographer Álvaro Herrero, whose stunning image, Radiant Bond, earned him the Underwater Photographer of the Year title. His breathtaking shot offers an intimate glimpse into the bond between a mother humpback whale and her newborn calf, capturing a moment of pure connection in the vast ocean.
Herrero’s winning image received high praise from the judges for its flawless composition, expert lighting, and ability to capture a rare and breathtaking moment in nature.
Tobias Friedrich, one of the UPY judges, highlighted the image’s standout qualities, stating: “The soft light streaming from the upper left corner, combined with the graceful movement of the humpback whale and her calf, along with impeccable framing and composition, makes this a truly deserving winner of the UPY 2025 contest.”
The Underwater Photographer of the Year awards celebrate talent across 13 categories, such as Portrait, Behavior, Coral Reefs, and Macro. Let us look at some of the winners.
Radiant Blond by Alvaro Herrero (Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025) Credit: Alvaro Herrero/UPY2025
<p><span class=”widget__captionText” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Aurora Underwater by Ruruka (Up & Coming Winner) </span><span class=”widget__captionCredit” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Credit: Ruruka/UPY 2025</span></p><figure><span class=”widget__captionCredit”><br></span></figure><div></div>
<p><span class=”widget__captionText” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Deep wreck by Alex Dawson (Wrecks, Winner) </span><span class=”widget__captionCredit” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Credit: Alex Dawson/UPY 2025</span></p><figure><span class=”widget__captionCredit”><br></span></figure><div></div>
<p><span class=”widget__captionText” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Face Off by Shunsuke Nakano (Behaviour, winner) </span><span class=”widget__captionCredit” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Credit: Shunsuke Nakano/UPY 2025</span></p><figure><span class=”widget__captionCredit”><br></span></figure><div></div>
<p><span class=”widget__captionText” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Chasing Dolphins by Enric Gener (Black and white, winner) </span><span class=”widget__captionCredit” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Credit: Enric Gener/UPY 2025</span></p><figure><span class=”widget__captionCredit”><br></span></figure><div></div>
<p><span class=”widget__captionText” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>The Beauty of the Swamp by Bryant Turffs (Compact, winner) </span><span class=”widget__captionCredit” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Credit: Bryant Turffs/UPY 2025</span></p><figure><span class=”widget__captionCredit”><br></span></figure><div></div>
Kaleidoscope of Colour by Catherine Holmes (Coral reefs, winner) Credit: Catherine Holmes/UPY 2025
Magic backlit by Paolo Bondaschi (Macro, winner) Credit: Paolo Bondaschi/UPY 2025
Magic backlit by Paolo Bondaschi (Macro, winner) Credit: Paolo Bondaschi/UPY 2025
<p><span class=”widget__captionText” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>The Hitch Hiker by Dan Bolt (British Waters Macro, winner) </span><span class=”widget__captionCredit” style=”font-family: Lato, sans-serif; background-color: initial;”>Credit: Dan Bolt/UPY 2025</span></p><figure><span class=”widget__captionCredit”><br></span></figure><div></div>
Hydration by Abdulaziz Al Saleh (Portrait, winner) Credit: Abdulaziz Al Saleh/UPY 25
Photo courtesy: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025
