Also this year the winners of the “Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025” were announced, the most important underwater photography competition in the world.
Since 1965, when the British Phil Smith triumph for the first time triumph, they passed by years and now it is the time to celebrate the victory of the Spaniard Alvaro Herrero, who conquered the entire jury with his megattera.
The photo entitled “Radiant Bond” portrays a megattera mother with her newly born puppy in the seas of French Polynesia. A moving scene rewarded both for the strength of the subject and for the aesthetic perfection of photography.
‘Aurora Underwater’ of Ruruka has conquered the title of “emerging photographer of the year”. Its image portrays a diver in Mexican waters: the judges have rewarded it for the high technical standard and a perfect postproduction!
Let’s move on to the “Macro” category where he won “Magic Backlit” by Paolo Bondaschi, who portrayed a specimen of “hairy” shrimp, also known as Gambero Alga (Phycocaris Simulans).
‘Deep Wreck’ by Alex Dawson conquered the jury in the “Wrecks” category with the image of a wreck located about 104 meters deep on the coral reef.
Moving on to the “Behaviour” category we find the photo “Face Off” by Shunsuke Nakano, which portrays two male specimens of Labro Asian intent on fighting each other.
‘Abdulaziz’s Hydraction at Saleh portrays camels intent on drinking water. What makes this image special is “the point of view”: photography has been taken underwater, adding an unusual and fascinating perspective to the scene.
In the “Coral Reefs” category we find ‘Kaleidoscopo of Color’ by Catherine Holmes, which portrayed the coral reef of life and color to inspire all of us to protect this precious habitat.
Finally, in the “Black & White” category, Enric Gener’s “Chasing Dolphins” triumphed triumphed, taken in the northern Red Sea during an expedition in search of dolphins. The photographer immortalized some male specimens as they chased a female.
If you want to admire all the winning photos of the various categories, here you will find the official website of the competition.
SOURCE: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025
