Spectacular Winning Photos of The 2022 Underwater Photographer of the Year

Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2022: Giants of the night. © Rafael Fernandez Caballero/UPY 2022

From backyard frogs to whale sharks, the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022 competition showcases the best new marine and freshwater pictures from at home and around the world.

This year’s competition received over 4,200 underwater images, submitted by photographers from 71 countries.

This year’s judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE: “Restriction on travel over the last year may have stopped many photographers visiting their favourite waters, but it hasn’t stifled their creativity,” comments judge Mustard. “The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest aims to celebrate underwater photography in all its forms and we are delighted that many of this year’s awarded images come from home countries and some are even taken in swimming pools.”

Rafael Fernandez Caballero has been named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022 for his image of five whale sharks feeding together in the Maldives.

More: Underwater Photographer of the Year, Instagram

British Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2022: Great white split © Matty Smith/UPY 2022

Macro category winner: Mimicry. © Javier Murcia/UPY 2022

Wrecks category winner: Abandoned ship. © Alex Dawson/UPY 2022

My Backyard Winner 2022: All You Need Is Love © Pekka Tuuri/UPY 2022

Portrait category winner: Rapunzel on Fire. © Thomas Heckmann/UPY 2022

Black and White category winner: Sarah’s Underwater World. © Kerrie Burow/UPY 2022

Compact category winner: Peace. © Enrico Somogyi/UPY 2022

Up and Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022: Supernova in paradise © Quico Abadal/UPY 2022

British Waters Wide Angle category winner: Gannet Storm. © Henley Spiers/UPY 2022

British Waters Macro category winner: Best Buddies. © Dan Bolt/UPY 2022

British Waters Living Together category winner: A peaceful coexistence. © Lewis Michael Jefferies /UPY 2022

British Waters Compact category winner: Rock pool star. © Martin Stevens/UPY 2022

‘Save Our Seas Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2022: Big appetite. © Thien Nguyen Ngoc/UPY 2022