There’s something about underwater photography that just hits different. It’s quiet, it’s surreal, and it feels like you’re sneaking into a secret world most people never truly see. The 2025 reFocus Photographer of the Year Awards turned the spotlight deep beneath the surface, and wow—this year’s underwater winners absolutely delivered. These images aren’t just pretty pictures; they’re full-blown visual poems, frozen moments where light, life, and luck collide in the middle of the ocean.
The Underwater category winners showcase everything from raw power to fragile beauty. You’ll see scenes where sunlight slices through endless blue like laser beams, and others where tiny marine creatures steal the show with subtle grace. Every frame tells a story of patience, courage, and insane timing—because let’s be real, the ocean doesn’t pose on command.
Stealing the crown for Underwater Photographer of the Year, Remuna Beca mesmerized the judges with his winning image Radiance. The photograph captures a solitary shark gliding through open water, perfectly framed by radiant sunbeams pouring down like a cathedral of light. It’s powerful yet peaceful—a reminder that even apex predators can look poetic when the ocean decides to flex its magic.
Meanwhile, the People’s Vote Award went to Juan Mora for his soul-stirring image Stillness. Shot in Bahía Solano, Colombia, the photo shows a delicate seahorse clinging to a lone branch in the vast Pacific. Suspended between motion and calm, it’s a quiet moment of resilience—proof that sometimes the softest subjects leave the strongest impact.
Together, these 25 underwater winners celebrate the ocean as both a wild force and a fragile sanctuary. They don’t just make you stop scrolling—they pull you under and make you stay.
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#1. Underwater Photographer of the Year: "Radiance" by Remuna Beca
"A solitary shark glides through the open ocean, framed by rays of sunlight that pierce the blue like a cathedral of light."
#2. Silver: "Sailfish grabbing Sardine" by Joergen Rasmussen
"Sailfish (Istiophorus albicans) are the world’s fastest fish and swims as fast as chetahs run. Speed is important for sailfish but every part of this amazing creature has a function. When hunting, sailfish change color to dark brown with electric blue and purple pulsing patterns. Isla Mujeres, MEX"
#3. Bronze: "Sea Puppy Gaze" by Remuna Beca
"With irresistible puppy-like eyes, an Australian sea lion playfully engages with the camera with curiosity in South Australia’s kelp forests. Listed as Endangered, these rare sea lions face threats from habitat loss, fishing bycatch, and pollution."
#4. Bronze: "Ocean’s Eye" by Hadrien Foucher
"My intention was to show sharks as they truly are: peaceful and deeply misunderstood.
The shark’s eye, usually light grey, appeared blue from the position of my light, placed above and angled downwards. This created a blue shadow over the eye while restoring the warm colours of the skin above it."
#5. People’s Vote Award: "Stillness" by Juan Mora
"In the vastness of the Pacific this delicate seahorse clings to a lone branch, a fragile anchor in an endless blue. Suspended in the currents, that delicate balance between motion and calm. A quiet moment of resilience and grace in the open ocean. Bahia Solano, Colombia."
Honorable Mentions
#6. "Binary code" by Mizael Palomeque
"Eagle ray at Playa del Carmen, Mexico."
#7. "Ball of Mobula Rays" by Joergen Rasmussen
"We heard reports of two large squadrons of mobula rays north of our base. With calm seas, we set out and found thousands. The crystal clear water was alive with motion and the sun rays reflected on their wing-like fins as the glided past in large ball-like formations. Magdalena Bay, BSC, Mexico."
#8. "Yara" by Matt Jacobs
"Freediver Yara under the hull of the Juliet Yacht in the Egyptian Red Sea."
#9. "Whale Shark Shadow" by Joergen Rasmussen
"The monochromatic patterns and iconic shape makes vertical shots from the surface interesting. Two whale sharks swam right below me at different depth moving synchronously. The fading light made the deeper shark look like the shadow of the other adding to the mystique of this picture. Indonesia."
#10. "Fly with me" by Mizael Palomeque
"A curious giant manta swiming towards me. Photo taken off the coast of Isla Contoy, México."
#11. "Killer Kiss" by Christina Ford
"The dazzling blue of the South Seas Killer Clam shimmers with life, born from iridocytes—tiny cells that bend and reflect sunlight into waves of color. This radiant light nourishes symbiotic algae within its tissues, powering the clam’s vibrant glow and sustaining its underwater vitality."
#12. "Big Baby" by Brittany Ilardi
"In the winter, the Polynesian islands are full of migrating humpback whales, coming to breed and raise their babies. This young female calf definitely did not know the meaning of personal space. She kept swimming circles around me until mom decided that playtime was over."
#13. "Turtle Garden" by Gillian Shark
"I was watching these green sea turtles for a while. At one point I could anticipate where the slight current would take them and myself. I waited for the turtles to get into the position I had in mind and dived down to take this photo. Thanks to the healthy coral it felt as if I was in a garden."
#14. "Blanket Octopus in flight" by Joergen Rasmussen
"Female blanket octopuses carry a large, folded “blanket” beneath their mantle that can unfurl into vivid, flowing colors. This display may help them appear larger to deter predators. We’ve also seen them hover with the blanket open, possibly using it to lure prey in the open ocean. The Philippines."
#15. "Below" by Brittany Ilardi
"In the winter, the Polynesian islands are full of migrating humpback whales, coming to breed and raise their babies. This large male swam right under me during a heat run. These action packed events occur when several males chase after a single female in hopes of mating with her."
#16. "Phenomenon" by Ryo Minemizu
"Beneath the sea exist forms beyond imagination, quietly unseen. Many are larvae and juveniles, long overlooked, yet from birth they bear remarkable adaptations, using them to survive each fleeting moment. I capture and present these extraordinary manifestations of life as “Phenomenon.”"
#17. "Down in Front" by Brett Freliche
"Visibility was extremely limited in the Hudson Bay, and I had to rely on the beluga whales to approach me. On the final day of the expedition, I found this pod of extremely curious and vocal beluga whales. They would approach me within a few feet, enabling me to get this image."
#18. "Curious Sea Lion" by Fritz Koller
#19. "Close encounter" by Cecilia Gutierrez Navarro
"Female bullsharks at Playa del Carmen, México"
#20. "Open Wide" by Brett Lobwein
"A Leopard Seal, taken in Antarctica."
#21. "Matriarch" by Brittany Ilardi
"As apex predators, orcas are a sign of a healthy ecosystem. They are matriarchal, with females passing important knowledge down to younger generations. This mother spent the day teaching her calf valuable life lessons, as we watched for hours."
#22. "The Orange Veil" by Juan M Guzman
"Capture of a Sea Nettle Jellyfish (Chrysaora genus) against the ocean, likely taken during a dive in the Philippines. The photograph beautifully highlights the ethereal, translucent bell and the vibrant orange oral arms, making the creature look like a jewel suspended in the vastness of the sea."
#23. "Through the Looking Glass" by Remuna Beca
"A solitary West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) floats peacefully in the crystal-clear waters of a North Florida spring, its reflection mirrored perfectly on the still surface above, like a window into another world."
#24. "Thresher Portrait" by Juan M Guzman
"Before sunrise, in the deep ocean shadows, thresher unveils its mystery, breath synchronized with its fleeting ascent. In the intense blue, its powerful tail traces the perfect motion, a moment stolen from the depths, where patience and nature unite in a portrait of wild grace."
#25. "The Courtship Vortex" by Brittany Ilardi
"Hundreds of mobula rays swoop in and out of a rare mating vortex. Thousands of these rays come to Baja in the late spring to breed."
In Summary
What are the 2025 reFocus Photographer of the Year Awards?
- An international photography competition celebrating outstanding visual storytelling across multiple genres, including underwater photography.
Who won Underwater Photographer of the Year in 2025?
- Remuna Beca won for his photograph Radiance, featuring a shark illuminated by dramatic rays of sunlight.
Who won the People’s Vote Award in the underwater category?
- Juan Mora won with Stillness, a serene image of a seahorse in the Pacific Ocean near Bahía Solano, Colombia.
Why is underwater photography special?
- It reveals hidden marine worlds, blending technical skill with patience, storytelling, and environmental awareness.
Where were these underwater photos taken?
- Locations span oceans worldwide, including the Pacific near Colombia and open-sea environments rich in marine life.
