About the competition

The Underwater Photographer of the Year Competition began in 2014/15, and is judged by Alex Mustard, Peter Rowlands and Martin Edge. It is an annual competition that celebrates all photography beneath the surface of the sea, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools.

French diver Gabriel Barathieu was named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Gabriel triumphed over 4500 entries from 67 different countries with the "Dancing Octopus".

To view the images as a slideshow, click on the arrows in the top right hand corner of the photos below.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Dancing Octopus. © Gabriel Barathieu/UPY 2017
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Dancing Octopus. © Gabriel Barathieu/UPY 2017
British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Out of the Blue (Kukulkan Cenote, Yucatan Peninsula). © Nick Blake/UPY 2017
British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Out of the Blue (Kukulkan Cenote). © Nick Blake/UPY 2017
Most Promising British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Orca Pod. © Nicholai Georgiou/UPY 2017
Most Promising British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Orca Pod. © Nicholai Georgiou/UPY 2017
Wide Angle category winner. One in a million. © Ron Watkins/UPY 2017
Wide Angle category winner. One in a million (moon jellyfish). © Ron Watkins/UPY 2017
Macro category winner. Prey? © So Eat Wai/UPY 2017
Macro category winner. Prey? (larvae mantis shrimp). © So Eat Wai/UPY 2017
Wrecks category winner. The wreck of the Louilla at sunset. © Csaba Tökölyi/UPY 2017
Wrecks category winner. The wreck of the Louilla at sunset. © Csaba Tökölyi/UPY 2017
Behaviour category winner. Your home and my home. © Qing Lin/UPY 2017
Behaviour category winner. Your home and my home (clown anemonefish). © Qing Lin/UPY 2017
Portrait category winner. Face to face. © ifj. Lorincz Ferenc/UPY 2017
Portrait category winner. Face to face. © ifj. Lorincz Ferenc/UPY 2017
Compact cameras category winner. I've got my eye on you! © Jenny Stromvoll/UPY 2017
Compact cameras category winner. I've got my eye on you! © Jenny Stromvoll/UPY 2017
Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Oceanic in the sky. © Horatio Martinez/UPY 2017
Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Oceanic in the sky. © Horatio Martinez/UPY 2017
British waters wide angle category winner. Eye to eye. © Melvin Redeker/UPY 2017
British waters wide angle category winner. Eye to eye. © Melvin Redeker/UPY 2017
British waters macro category winner. dragon display. © Kirsty Andrews/UPY 2017
British waters macro category winner. dragon display (cuttlefish). © Kirsty Andrews/UPY 2017
British waters compact category winner. dragon display. © Simon Yates/UPY 2017
British waters compact cameras category winner. Scottish Fireworks Anemone. © Simon Yates/UPY 2017

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