Spanish photographer Álvaro Herrero (Mekan) is named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025. His photograph ‘Radiant Bond’ shows the special relationship between a mother humpback whale and her newborn calf. The photo was taken in French Polynesia and triumphed over 6,750 underwater pictures entered by underwater photographers from around the world.
Watch this and many more photos, they're truly art. And do read the stories behind them, because each and every one has a tale to tell.
The Winning Photo - Radiant Bond by Alvaro Herrero (Mekan)
Let's start with the top spot. 'Radiant Bond' was elected the underwater photograph of the year. Álvaro Herrero (Mekan) says about his photo:
"A mother humpback whale accompanies her calf to the surface because the baby is still so small and clumsy. 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 favorite 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."
The Jury Report
If you've looked closely at the photo you will understand why the shot taken by Alvaro is so special. This is what was in the jury report.
Judge Tobias Friedrich comments:
"What a shot! We usually see a lot of humpback whale images during the judging of the UPY competitions, but this image made us stop immediately. It really shows the excellence of the photographer seeing the moment and also recognizing the right image afterward while browsing through them on the computer. The light coming from the left upper corner as well as the perfect movement of the humpback whale and calf, in addition to the excellent framing and composition, make this a truly deserved overall winner for the UPY 2025 contest. I was very happy to give this image my final vote as it is an excellent example of a perfectly executed 'classic' shot."
Judge Alex Mustard mentions this:
"A heartwarming interaction between mum and baby, in a perfectly timed pose of both majestic animals that look so comfortable in their underwater home. The photo invites us to observe while giving the whales their space, both in the frame and from the photographer. The spearing light is dramatic, while the shadow the calf is casting on its mother is subtle. Mekan won the title of Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year back in 2022 with the saddest of images of humpback, this uplifting family portrait is a perfect counterpoint."
Judge Peter Rowlands concludes:
"The overall winning image represents us as a Competition, and our community as a hobby/sport/profession, to the world at large for a whole year. And sometimes it is very difficult to decide between them. But this year, for me, this delicate yet powerful study of a mother and calf’s bond says all that is great and good about our world. We face our challenges, true, but the increasing populations of whales worldwide show what can be achieved."
Category Winners of 2025
The winning photos throughout all categories show how diverse life underwater is. It's a celebration of photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world.
Other winners in the International categories included Shunsuke Nakano from Japan with his photo 'Face Off', which shows two extraordinary-looking male Asian sheepshead wrasse jousting over spawning rights. He won the Behaviour category.
Shunsuke Nakano explains in detail what drama we're looking at and the lengths he went to to capture this shot:
"The unique form of this species is characteristic of males, who form harems and claim territories during the breeding season. The one on the left in the photo is the harem king, who has defended his territory for more than ten years and is estimated to be over thirty years old, while the one on the right is a young challenger.
Although I had planned carefully to capture the images, the 2024 season was more difficult to predict than usual, and despite staying there for a week during the breeding season, I was only able to observe this scene once, for just 10 seconds. And this was the only photograph I was able to take. The sight of them fighting in their flashy white outfits was so magnificent I can still remember it vividly."
Abdulaziz Al Saleh, from Kuwait, won the Portrait category with his unique shot 'Hydration' showing camels drinking in the desert from below the water:
"I had the idea of photographing the camels drinking water for about a year and a half. I wanted to photograph them drinking water from the underwater perspective because I did not see any images showing this. The weather was critical, and it took me several weeks to get the best possible shots. The first week the camels were a bit hesitant to drink water while my camera was under the water and only a few gathered to drink, which was not what I wanted. But after several days the camels had already accepted me and my equipment."
Bryant Turffs, from the United States, won the Compact cameras category with 'The Beauty of the Swamp' with a picture of a prehistoric garfish taken in the Everglades with a simple GoPro camera.
Bryant Turffs:
"I captured this image at one of my favorite locations within the Everglades ecosystem. Historically, I primarily dove in saltwater, but I have become enamored by this foreboding environment, with clear waters, light filtering through cypress trees, and the fish species, both native and introduced. I have revisited this spot many times trying to capture various subjects and the light just right. The water levels vary significantly, sometimes completely drying, during different times of year. The fish species are in constant flux, and this location is often dominated by exotics. Ironically, on this occasion, I hadn't invested too much thought and I was enjoying the scenery when this Florida Gar positioned itself perfectly in the frame of my GoPro."
Ruruka from the Republic of Korea was named as ‘PADI’ Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 for his photo 'Underwater Aurora', showing a diver in the multi-colored waters of a cenote sinkhole in Cancún, Mexico. Ruruka purposely visited this cenote during the rainy season, which seas more tannin-rich water draining into the sinkhole, creating the bands of colored water.
Jeung Yul Park (Ruruka):
“From where I live, it’s a very long way to this location, about twenty-four hours by plane. But it is worth the journey because this unique environment perfectly aligns with the type of images I am trying to create.”
"A perfect execution and image", was what judge Tobias Friedrich mentioned about the winning photo in the Macro category by Paolo Bondaschi from Italy. In case you wondered who would have a hairy shrimp as his muse? Well, as you will see, Paolo does.
Bondaschi says about his winning photo:
"At the end of this dive, I spotted a couple of underwater photographers focused on shooting and it piqued my curiosity about what they were photographing. I signaled to my guide to check what they were shooting. After realizing that it was one of my favorite subjects, a hairy shrimp, I waited patiently for my turn and used the time to plan and prepare for the shot. I chose to shoot it in profile, backlight with a snoot. My guide and my buddy played a fundamental role in expertly managing the light of the snoot. After a few test shots to find the right setting, I finally got the photo I was looking for."
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK, and David Alpert was named British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 for his image 'The Curious Seal', which challenges misconceptions that British waters are murky and lifeless.
David Alpert says:
“My photo is from Lundy Island, a marine protected area since 1973. British seals are delightfully curious and more interactive than any other species I have dived with around the world. Briefly, I become one of the privileged few, crossing the bridge, able to make a connection with a wild animal.”
German photographer, Robert Marc Lehmann, was named ‘Save Our Seas Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2025, with his photo ‘1 in 200,000,000’, taken in Indonesia. Lehmann’s photo shows fishermen hauling a large tiger shark ashore.
Robert Marc Lehmann comments:
"This tiger shark is just one of around 200 million sharks that lose their lives every year at the hands of humans. Since I was six years old (35+ years ago), I have been intensively studying sharks. In all these years, hardly anything has changed and that is frustrating. Sharks protect their habitat, the sea, through their ecological function as 'health police'.
Over a billion people depend on the sea every day and we all breathe the oxygen that is largely produced in the sea. If we continue to eradicate the animals that guard our largest and most important habitat, we are taking away our own livelihood. And that's why I've been fighting for people to see and understand sharks through my eyes. Every time I take a photo like this, it hurts, but through imagery, I can inspire millions of people to understand sharks and their situation and make a difference."
Judge Alex Mustard says about this cruel photo:
“The composition is immersive and the timing, capturing the fisherman’s gesture, is decisive. Although an everyday occurrence and legal almost everywhere, the man reaching out to stop the photo reveals what his conscience reckons on what they are doing. A picture that takes you straight into the story.”
About Underwater Photographer of the Year
Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK. In 2025 the contest attracted 6,750 underwater pictures, with the awarded photographers coming from 28 different countries. The contest has 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour, and Wreck photography, and includes three categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. The winners were announced in an award ceremony in central London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich, and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE. The contest was first run in 1965 when Phil Smith was named Underwater Photographer of the Year.
About The Crown Estate
In managing the seabed around England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, The Crown Estate works in partnership with customers and stakeholders to support the long-term sustainable development of the seabed. From awarding seabed rights to sharing their knowledge and data, their small expert team directly manages their relationships with customers and partners with a commitment to delivering high levels of customer service. The Crown Estate sponsors the British Waters Living Together category hosts the UPY award ceremony, and supports an annual print display at the Go Diving show in the UK.
About PADI
PADI® is the largest purpose-driven diving organization with a global network of 6,600 dive centers and resorts, 128,000 professional members, and more than 30 million certified divers to date. For over fifty years, PADI has undeniably been the Way the World Learns to Dive, setting the standard for the highest quality dive training, underwater safety, and conservation initiatives while evolving the sport of diving into a passionate lifestyle. PADI sponsors the Up & Coming category, championing new talent in underwater imaging.
About the Save Our Seas Foundation
The Save Our Seas Foundation has funded over 425 projects in 85 countries around the globe since its inception in 2003. Focusing primarily on sharks and rays, each project strives for deeper understanding and more innovative solutions in marine research, conservation, and education. The Save Our Seas Foundation is a sponsor of the Marine Conservation category, which is free to enter and provides a valuable platform for these important images.
This photo from the top 3 in the category Save our Seas sends you off on a positive note. It was shot by Giacomo Rossi. Esperanza, a boat symbolizing hope for ocean conservation, embodies the mission to preserve marine resources. Organizations like Pelagios Kakunja tirelessly work to protect sharks in the Sea of Cortés, Mexico.
Giacomo Rossi:
"I was privileged to document the tagging and release of juvenile sharks, including hammerheads and a surprise juvenile tiger shark. Most inspiring was Pedro, a former shark fisherman turned into a conservationist, who helped with the tagging and handling of the tiger shark. His transformation underscores the power of change and collaboration in conservation efforts. The Sea of Cortés was once a place where sharks were so abundant that children on the beach would play by tossing small stones at their dorsal fins. Sadly, this abundance is now a thing of the past. Today, we must strive to bring a new 'Esperanza'—a New Hope—for the ocean and its incredible life."
Enjoyed the Dive?
Did you enjoy the deep dive into underwater photography? Maybe your dream is to make the perfect scuba picture yourself and perhaps be the next Underwater Photographer of the Year? A good start would be to follow UPY and its linked organizations to understand not awesome pictures serve more purposes than meets the eye. Preservation of all the beauty that Earth's biggest surface has is paramount for the entire circle of life on the planet. So, thanks for your attention, and hope to see you again watching the Water Wildlife next year.
This article's header image 'Ethereal Moonscape' ©Álvaro Herrero (Mekan)/UPY 2025 was the runner-up photo of this year.
Click here to look back on the previous edition of UPY.
