About the competition

The Underwater Photographer of the Year Competition is an annual competition that seeks to celebrate photography beneath the surface of the sea, lakes, and rivers, and is judged by Alex Mustard, Peter Rowlands and Martin Edge.

Find out on the Underwater Photographer of the Year Competition website.

View previous year's winners: 

British Waters Compact Winner. Playtime? (Grey seal) © Martin Edser/UPY 2019

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 2020 (and Wide Angle Category Winner): Frozen mobil home (crabeater seals and iceberg).
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2020 (and Wide Angle Category Winner): Frozen mobil home (crabeater seals and iceberg in the Antarctica peninsula). © Greg Lecouer/UPY 2020
Behaviour Category Winner: Octopus training (octopus in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Naples).
Behaviour Category Winner: Octopus training (octopus and soccer ball in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Naples, Italy). © Pasquale Vassallo/UPY 2020
Compact Category winner: Ulana lily (water lily in Uluna Lake, Manado, Indonesia)
Compact Category winner: Ulana lily (water lily in Uluna Lake, Manado, Indonesia). © MANBD/UPY 2020
Up & Coming Category Winner: Shark nursery (lemon shark pups in the Bahamas).
Up & Coming Category Winner: Shark nursery (lemon shark pups in the Bahamas). © Anita Kainrath/UPY 2020
British Waters Wide Angle Category winnerL Jewel reef (Isles of Scilly, UK).
British Waters Wide Angle Category winner: Jewel reef (Isles of Scilly, UK). © Arthur Kingdon/UPY 2020
British Waters Macro Category winner: Like Water for Silk (common froglet, Surrey, UK).
British Waters Macro Category winner: Like Water for Silk (common froglet, Surrey, UK). © Laura Storm/UPY 2020
British Waters Living Together Category winner: Pier nursery (invertebrates and fish at Paignton Pier, Devon, UK).
British Waters Living Together Category winner: Pier nursery (invertebrates and fish at Paignton Pier, Devon, UK). © Dan Bolt/UPY 2020
British Waters Compact Category winner: Smile (bottlenose dolphin in Portland Harbour, Dorset, UK).
British Waters Compact Category winner: Smile (bottlenose dolphin in Portland Harbour, Dorset, UK). © Colin Garrett/UPY 2020

Subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine

Save 44% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine

Get 13 issues of BBC Wildlife Magazine for only £3 per issue! Plus, free UK delivery

SUBSCRIBE TODAY