The Underwater Photographer of the Year winners have been announced, after thousands of awe-inspiring images were submitted, showcasing a world mostly hidden to those of us who live above the surface.

This year, a record-breaking 5,500 entries from 500 photographers were sent in. The wide variety of entrants included photos taken in almost every possible body of water, ranging from the polar oceans to swimming pools.

 

 

Each photographer received points for a photo that placed in the top 10 of each category. Then according to a hierarchy of winners, each chose their prize from the pool.

Prizes include expert underwater camera equipment, cash prizes, travel vouchers and wetsuits.

The competition featured twelve main categories: Wide angle, macro, wrecks, behaviour, portrait, black&white, compact, up&coming, British waters wide-angle, British waters macro, British waters ‘living together’ and British waters compact.

 

 

There were two additional categories, Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year and Underwater Photography Book of the Year.

 

Here are some of the most breathtaking winning images:

 Underwater Photographer of the Year and Wide Angle winner

‘Frozen Mobile Home’/ Greg Lecoeur

Up and coming Underwater Photographer of the Year

‘Lemon shark pups in mangrove nursery’/Anita Kainrath

 

 

British Underwater Photographer of the Year

‘Rabbit Fish Zoom Blur’/Nicholas More

Most Promising British Underwater Photographer of the Year

‘Commotion in the Ocean’ /Nur Tucker

Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year

‘Last Dawn, Last Gasp’ /Pasquale Vassallo

 

 

Underwater Photography Book of the Year

‘AQUA, mysteries of the underwater world’/ Pietro Formis

 

Macro Winner

‘Goby Goodness’/Hannes Klostermann

 

Wrecks Winner

‘The Engine’/Tobias Friedrich

Behaviour Winner

‘Octopus Training’/Pasquale Vassallo

 

Portrait Winner

‘Butterfly Effect’/Lilian Koh

 

 

Black & White Winner

‘Layered Thoughts’/Mok Wai Hoe

 

Compact Winner

‘ULUNA LILY’/MANBD

 

British Wide Angle Winner

‘Jewel Reef’/Arthur Kingdon

 

British Waters Living Together Winner

‘Pier nursery’/Dan Bolt

British Waters Compact Winner

‘Smile’/Colin Garrett

SOURCE: GETAWAY