Welcome aboard. The whole UPY crew is rolling out the blue carpet and inviting you to dive into the 28 jaw-dropping winners from the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026 competition—and yeah, they absolutely deliver. This year’s collection is a globe-trotting love letter to water, spanning icy poles to steamy tropics, open ocean to mountain lakes, deep wrecks to hidden caves, splashy rockpools to places you’d never expect—yes, even swimming pools.
Out of 7,900 entries from photographers worldwide, one image floated straight to the top. Australian shooter Matty Smith snagged the big crown with Rockpool Rookies, an irresistibly tender shot of Southern elephant seal pups wobbling their way through first swimming lessons in a Falkland Islands rockpool. Cute? Sure. But there’s muscle behind the magic.
Smith caught the moment on his very first evening, when the sky popped off with color and the pups piled into shallow pools, learning the ropes without mom—who leaves once they’re weaned. To nail the under-over look, Smith even engineered a custom dome housing, blending above-water drama with underwater intimacy in one clean frame.
Judging chair Dr. Alex Mustard called it a hopeful flex for the ocean. Elephant seals were once hunted to the brink for their oil-rich blubber. A century later, they’re back—and thriving. This photo doesn’t just win trophies. It tells a comeback story, loud and clear, straight from the sea.
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1. Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026: "Rockpool Rookies" by Matty Smith, Australia
"Once several weeks old and weaned from their mothers milk, elephant seal pups are abandoned by their parents on shore, left to navigate life alone. On Sealion Island in the Falklands, I watched dozens of them clamber over one another in shallow rockpools, awkwardly learning to swim, and quite engaging to my presence. I’d come here for this moment, to witness and photograph their first solo lessons in life. On the very first evening of my arrival, the sky ignited with colour. I donned my dry suit and rushed into the water, capturing a handful of frames before the light vanished. It turned out to be the defining moment of the trip, and I’m glad I didn’t hesitate."
2. Up & Coming Photographer of the Year 2026: "Lunging Leopard" by Sam Blount, United States
"For years, the leopard seal topped my Antarctic wish list, a predator I dreamed of encountering face to face. I have to say, this dive was everything I could have hoped for: clear water, good lighting, and a playful seal. Leopard seals wield an astonishing array of dominance displays, and this one put them all to use, darting around me with effortless power. Watching that massive mouth lined with sharp teeth charge straight toward me is a thrill I’ll never forget."
3. ‘Save Our Seas Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2026: "Where Innocence Meets Tradition" by
Khaichuin Sim, Malaysia
"In the Faroe Islands, the annual pilot whale hunt known as Grindadráp, remains one of the world’s most controversial traditions. Seen by locals as a cultural heritage and source of food, it is condemned globally for its brutality and impact on marine life. In this poignant scene, a young boy sits atop a slain whale amid blood-red waters, a haunting reflection of how tradition, identity, and ethics collide. It captures not just a moment, but a generational question: what should be preserved, and what should change?"
4. Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2026: "Crowded House" by Natalie Yarrow, UK
"Peering into the crevices of this vibrant barrel sponge, I could see several dark figures moving around like shadow puppets. This turned out to be a large colony of hinge-beak shrimps, living together in very close quarters! While somewhat of a tight squeeze, communal living suits these social and cooperative creatures, as well as providing ‘safety in numbers’ against predators."
5. Wide Angle – Winner: "Happy Baby" by Cecile Gabillon Barats, France
"As a tour leader and photographer in Dominica, I was fortunate to experience a truly magical encounter with a curious juvenile sperm whale. We entered the water at a respectful distance alongside the mother and her calf, watching as the mother prepared to dive in search of food, leaving her youngster at the surface."
6. Wide Angle – Runner Up: "Chamber of Life" by Jinny Kim, Republic of Korea
"In the depths of the East Sea at the height of winter, a male greenling transforms into a brilliant golden sentinel. This vivid coloration, triggered by his spawning hormones, serves both to attract mates and deter rivals. Photographed among the red soft corals of Jumunjin’s artificial reef, the male stands watch over his eggs, guarding them tirelessly until they hatch. The image reflects a moving moment of paternal devotion, an enduring act of protection shaped by instinct and sacrifice."
7. Macro – Winner: "Calm at the Heart of Turmoil" by SeongCheol Cho, Republic of Korea
"While diving in Tulamben with my guide, Jaye, I encountered a commensal shrimp living within a naturally spiralling whip coral. Something I had long hoped to see. The coral’s deep, rich green formed a striking nest for the brightly coloured shrimp resting inside."
8. Macro – Runner Up: "JAWS" by Fabian Becker, Germany
"In Bohol, Philippines, lizardfish are common and easily overlooked reef inhabitants, typically encountered resting motionless on sand or rubble. With this image, I wanted to move beyond the predictable image of a sedentary ambush predator, and reveal an unexpected view of the species."
9. Wrecks – Winner: "The Guns of the Nagato" by Niclas Andersson, Sweden
"IJN Nagato is a famed Japanese battleship from which Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is said to have issued the order to attack Pearl Harbor. Seized by the United States at the end of World War II, she was later towed to Bikini Atoll and used as a target ship during Operation Crossroads, the early nuclear weapons tests. Today Nagato rests upside down at roughly 52 meters, making it a demanding but highly rewarding dive."
10. Wrecks – Runner Up: "Living wreck" by Jean-Baptiste Cazajous, France
"The Donator, or Prosper Schiaffino, is a cargo ship wreck that was sunk by a mine in 1945. It is one of the most famous wrecks on the French coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. This wreck is an amazing artificial reef. Every inch of it is covered in life. Gorgonians, sponges—it’s a beautiful mix of colors."
11. Behaviour – Winner: "Clownfish Hatchout" by Kazushige Horiguchi, Japan
"This photograph captures the exact moment clownfish eggs hatch in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. In the late afternoon, my close friend Koji Matsuda told me that the eggs would hatch that day. Even before hatching, the parent clownfish carefully guarded the eggs, constantly watching for predators as they waited for the moment to come."
12. Behaviour – Runner Up: "Together we can!" by Ventura Romero, Spain
"A rare and unexpected behavioural observation. A group of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) were engaged in social behaviour at a depth of approximately 20m. While descending and attempting to align the camera housing viewfinder with my mask to frame the scene, a sudden movement in my right peripheral vision drew my attention."
13. Portrait – Runner Up: "Screaming Swallower" by Steven Kovacs, United States
"Every year off the coast of Florida, from late July to early October, Kali colubrina, a fish belonging to the family Chiasmodontidae and commonly known as snaketooth fishes or swallowers, makes an appearance during blackwater dives. Fish in this family are renowned for their ability to consume prey larger than themselves, with mouths and stomachs capable of expanding to accommodate prey up to twice their length and ten times their weight."
14. Coral Reefs – Winner: "Underwater Meteor Shower" by Dr. Tom Shlesinger, Israel
"Corals are animals, and this is how they reproduce. Revealing the hidden world of coral reproduction exposes one of the ocean’s most extraordinary spectacles. Like clockwork, thousands of corals across hundreds of kilometers synchronize to release egg-and-sperm bundles into the open sea."
15. Coral Reefs – Runner Up: "Sunset Patrol" by Renee Capozzola, United States
"This half and half image of a shark patrolling a vibrant coral reef at sunset was shot in Fakarava, a coral atoll in French Polynesia’s Tuamotu Archipelago renowned for its pristine ocean environment. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977, sharks thrive here in their natural habitat due to strong protections."
16. Black & White – Winner: "Coral Window" by Shunsuke Nakano, Japan
"Light enters the wreck through a window, a square cut into history and now taken over by life. Choosing to shoot in black and white, I am inviting the viewer to contrast the thick, straight manmade lines with the delicate and intricate patterns of nature. Gorgonians fan outward like frozen breath, turning rust into art."
17. Black & White – Runner Up: "Silver-Tone Seductress" by John Pfisterer, United States
"In addition to my seascape and marine life images, I’ve been lucky enough to work with fashion models, freedivers, and sometimes even mermaids in a range of environments. This particular image was shot in a pool set up like an above water studio."
18. Up & Coming – Runner Up: "Dancing with Light" by Khaichuin Sim, Malaysia
"My wife was snorkeling at the surface while I was below on scuba, in the mangroves of Casa Cenote. As I encountered this magical scene, sunlight filtered through the canopy above, creating ethereal beams that illuminated the crystal-clear water. I used hand signals to ask my wife to free-dive to the perfect spot, where she gracefully suspended herself underwater, appearing to dance with the light."
19. Compact – Winner: "Alpine lookout" by Andrea Michelutti, Italy
"After years of waiting, I dived into a cold Alpine lake near my home in northeastern Italy. Its clear, deep-blue waters rise from a spring, making it a gem among the mountains. Low nutrients favour green algae growth, the constant low temperature (around 9–11 °C) contributes to the water’s clarity and unique colour."
20. Compact – Runner Up: "Veins of the Earth" by Manuel Wüthrich, Switzerland
"Cenotes have always fascinated me – these ancient windows into the underworld where light, water and geology meet. In the Cenote Dos Pisos, I discovered a chamber whose ceiling was pierced by powerful roots. They reached deep into the water like veins, connecting the subterranean world with the life above."
21. Smartphone – Winner: "The Roar" by Jack Ho, China
"While shooting on the sandy seabed at 15 meters in the Lembeh Strait, Indonesia, I found this well-camouflaged frogfish patiently lying in wait for prey. I waited for at least 15 minutes. To get a clean shot against the messy background, I aimed a macro light at its head to capture the split second it opened its huge mouth. Luckily, I got the perfect moment."
22. Smartphone – Runner Up: "The curious gaze of grey shark" by Clotxa, Spain
"This image was taken in the South Pass of Fakarava, inside the legendary “Wall of Sharks.” Carried effortlessly by the strong current, I had no time to plan or compose, only to feel, observe, and react. Suddenly, a gray reef shark filled my frame, its gaze calm, curious, and powerful. Behind it, other sharks fade into soft blur, hinting at the hundreds surrounding us."
23. British Waters Wide Angle – Winner: "A Meeting of Giants" by Evan Johnston, UK
"What started out with 2 large sharks feeding at the surface turned into 3, then 4, then 5 over the course of the day. At some point most of the sharks had gone, and after watching the last tail fade away, I turned around and was greeted with the image here."
24. British Waters Wide Angle – Runner Up: "Dusk Encounter" by Kirsty Andrews, UK
"2025 has truly been the Year of the Octopus in southern England, as these eight-armed wonders have taken over coastal reefs in significant numbers. Porthkerris in Cornwall has been a particular hotspot for divers to see them. As dusk fell and darkness started to descend, I followed a large, confident individual, patrolling and making fascinating poses as it moved."
25. British Waters Macro – Winner: "Mum" by Tom Ingram, UK
"2025 was undoubtedly the Year of the Octopus. Being such an imposing creature underwater, these intelligent and charismatic animals had brought delight not just to me but many fellow UK divers. Throughout 2025 I’ve been treated to an array of natural behaviour, ranging from hunting pray to mating, but in this case I wanted to capture a females final act of selflessness, as after she lays her eggs she diligently guards, cleans and wafts oxygen rich water over them to keep them healthy."
26. British Waters Macro – Runner Up: "Riding the Storm" by Sandra Stalker, UK
"Blackfaced blennies are flirty little things at certain times of the year, the females are also very camouflaged against their weedy backgrounds. On this dive under Swanage pier there were pairs everywhere doing their little dances, posing, and flitting about."
27. British Waters Living Together – Winner: "Life Under the Pier" by Valerie Reid, Netherlands
"Last summer, I was fortunate to dive in my native west coast of Scotland after many years, and this pier dive was a particular highlight. The man-made steel piles provide a great substrate for marine life to grow and flourish. I managed to find a pile where the dead man’s fingers soft coral had its polyps out."
28. British Waters Living Together – Runner Up: "Mr & Mrs" by Dan Bolt, UK
"Last year I purchased several vintage, or no longer in production, wet-lenses and had a lot of fun experimenting. This shot was taken with the tiny Inon bugeye lens which gives an extreme distortion at a tiny working distance. Using the small AOI poly-carbonate housing is definitely an advantage when getting up close to subjects, and these two velvet swimming crabs weren’t too bothered by my intrusion."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPY 2026?
The Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026 competition celebrating the world’s best underwater images.
Who won Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026?
Australian photographer Matty Smith.
What photo won the top prize?
Rockpool Rookies, featuring Southern elephant seal pups.
How many images were submitted?
Over 7,900 entries from photographers worldwide.
Why is this image important?
It symbolizes ocean resilience and the recovery of once-endangered elephant seals.
