17 Breathtaking Winning Photos from the 2025 Underwater Photographer of the Year

The 2025 Underwater Photographer of the Year contest has once again unveiled a breathtaking collection of award-winning images, showcasing the beauty and mystery of the world beneath the waves. This year’s competition saw its largest-ever number of entries, with winners hailing from 30 different countries, capturing everything from mesmerizing marine life to surreal and unexpected underwater scenes.

Beyond stunning wildlife shots, the winning photographs feature Olympic athletes gliding through pools, camels viewed from inside a water butt, and even an astonishing shipwreck over 100 meters deep. Each image not only mesmerizes with its visual artistry but also offers a unique glimpse into the fascinating world that lies beneath the surface of our planet.

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17 PHOTOS

#1. Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: "Radiant Bond" by Alvaro Herrero, Spain

"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."

#2. Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: "Aurora Underwater" by Ruruka

#3. ‘Save Our Seas Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2025: "1 / 200.000.000" by Robert Marc Lehmann

#4. British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: "The Curious Seal" by David Alpert

#5. Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2025: "Fluo Spiny Squat Lobster" by James Lynott

#6. Wide Angle, Runner Up: "Ethereal Moonscape" by Alvaro Herrero

#7. Macro, Winner: "Magic backlit" by Paolo Bondaschi, Italy

#8. Macro, Runner Up: "Dazzling Donut Doto" by Bryan H. Blauvelt, USA

#9. Wrecks, Winner: "Deep wreck" by Alex Dawson, Sweden

#10. Wrecks, Runner Up: "Deep Sea Birds" by Wojciech Dopierala, Poland

#11. Behaviour, Winner: "Face Off" by Shunsuke Nakano, Japan

#12. Behaviour, Runner Up: "The Moment" by Eduardo Acevedo, Spain

#13. Portrait, Winner: "Hydration" by Abdulaziz Al Saleh, Kuwait

#14. Portrait, Runner Up: "Amazon River Dolphin Silhouette’ by Hussain Aga Khan, Switzerland

#15. Coral Reefs, Winner: "Kaleidoscope of Colour" by Catherine Holmes, UK

#16. Coral Reefs, Runner Up: "Gardens of the Caribbean Reef Shark" by Jenny Stock, UK

#17. Black & White, Winner: "Chasing Dolphins" by Enric Gener, Spain