The ocean doesn’t mess around—and neither do the winners of the 2025 DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition. This year’s edition delivered 28 absolutely stunning award-winning images that prove underwater photography is part science, part patience, and part straight-up magic. From massive marine encounters to quiet, intimate underwater moments, these photos pull you deep below the surface and refuse to let go.
More than 2,000 entries poured in from underwater photographers and filmmakers across the globe, all competing in nine image categories and one video category. Every frame tells a story shaped by pressure, light, timing, and trust in the ocean. This isn’t easy shooting—conditions change fast, visibility is unpredictable, and you usually get one shot before the moment disappears forever.
The highest honor of the competition, DPG Grand Master 2025, went to Yuka Takahashi. Her Gold-winning Wide Angle image, “Synchronized Humpback Whales,” was crowned the best overall entry. Captured in the crystal-clear waters of Mo’orea, the photograph shows humpback whales moving in perfect harmony—massive, graceful, and almost unreal. The scale, symmetry, and timing make it the kind of image you stare at and forget to blink.
Beyond the top prize, the full collection of 28 winning photos showcases just how diverse underwater storytelling can be. You’ll find dramatic wide-angle scenes, detailed close-ups, surreal lighting, and moments that feel more like dreams than documentation. Together, these images celebrate technical mastery, creative vision, and a deep respect for life below the waves.
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#1. DPG Grand Master Winner – "Synchronized Humpback Whales" by Yuka Takahashi, Japan
Location: Mo’orea, French Polynesia
#2. Traditional – Gold: "King of the Hill" by Chris Gug, United States
Location: Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
#3. Traditional – Honorable Mention: "Alternative Refuge" by Keigo Kawamura, Japan
Location: Ose, Japan
#4. Traditional – Bronze: "Showrunner at Night" by Andi Voeltz, Germany
Location: Red Sea, Egypt
#5. Macro – Gold: "House Cleaning" by Sunbong Jung, South Korea
Location: Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
#6. Macro – Silver: "Pregnant Denise" by Wojtek Męczyński, Poland
Location: Lembeh, Indonesia
#7. Macro – Bronze: "Nurse" by Rómeó Bodolai, Hungary
Location: Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
#8. Wide Angle – Silver: "Through the Looking Glass" by Evgenii Ivkov, Russia
Location: Sumbawa, Indonesia
#9. Wide Angle – Bronze: "Balance of Nature" by Suliman Alatiqi, Kuwait
Location: Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
#10. Wide Angle – Honorable Mention: "Smokescreen" by Peter McGee, Australia
Location: Cabbage Tree Bay, Sydney, Australia
#11. Over-Under – Gold: "Sierran Gold" by Anton Sorokin, United States
Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA, USA
#12. Over-Under – Silver: "Marine-Adapted from Head to Toe" by Suliman Alatiqi, Kuwait
Location: Midriff Islands, Mexico
#13. Over-Under – Bronze: "Sunset Stroll" by Anita Verde, Australia
Location: Heron Island, Queensland, Australia
#14. Conservation – Gold: "Survivor" by James Ferrara, United States
Location: Sri Lanka
#15. Conservation – Silver: "Entangled Fates" by Daniel Taylor, Mexico
Location: Baja California Sur, Mexico
#16. Conservation – Bronze: "Helping Hand" by Dan Mele, U.S. Virgin Islands
Location: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
#17. Portfolio – Gold: "Oceans of Life: Coral’s Annual Miracle" by Tom Shlesinger, Israel
Location: Eilat, Israel
#18. Portfolio – Silver: "Orange, Black and Green: The Colors of Diving in Flooded Slate Mines" by Frank Aron, Germany
Location: Nuttlar, Germany
#19. Portfolio – Bronze: "Kelp Forests of Juan de Fuca" by Jeffrey Martel, United States
Location: Port Angeles, Washington, USA
#20. Compact – Gold: "Tree of Life" by Manuel Wüthrich, Switzerland
Location: Cenote Dos Pisos, Mexico
#21. Compact – Silver: "In Meditation" by Johan Letang, French Polynesia
Location: Tahiti, French Polynesia
#22. Compact – Bronze: "The Guardian" by Vadim Belakhov, Australia
Location: Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia
#23. Unrestricted – Gold: "Even Eyes Deserve a Spa Day" by Karyll Gonzalez, United States
Location: Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
#24. Unrestricted – Silver: "Skull at Green Cave Sink" by Fan Ping, China
Location: Meizhou, Guangdong, China
#25. Unrestricted – Bronze: "Glimmering Depths" by Catherine Holmes, United Kingdom
Location: Red Sea, Egypt
#26. Cold Water – Gold: "Blue Crayfish" by Francesco Visintin, Italy
Location: Tuscany, Italy
#27. Cold Water – Silver: "Killer Light" by James Ferrara, United States
Location: Norway
#28. Cold Water – Bronze: "Courting Sockeye Salmon" by Thomas Kline, United States
Location: Eyak Lake, Alaska
In Summary
What is the DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition?
- It’s a global underwater photography and filmmaking contest celebrating excellence in underwater imagery across multiple categories.
Who won DPG Grand Master 2025?
- Yuka Takahashi won DPG Grand Master 2025 for her Gold-winning Wide Angle photo “Synchronized Humpback Whales.”
Where was the winning photo taken?
- The image was captured in Mo’orea, French Polynesia.
How many entries were submitted in 2025?
- More than 2,000 entries were received from underwater photographers and filmmakers worldwide.
What makes these underwater photos special?
- They combine technical skill, perfect timing, creative vision, and rare access to underwater life.
