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

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

#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."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17 Breathtaking Winning Photos from the 2025 Underwater Photographer of the Year
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#9. Wrecks, Winner: "Deep wreck" by Alex Dawson, Sweden

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keywords: Breathtaking photos | Winning photos | Award winners | Underwater photographer | Photo contest | Beauty of nature | Marine life | Underwater scenes

     

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