Winners of Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021 awards show the epic beauty of our oceans

‘We hope that this year’s stunning collection of winning images provides a welcome escape to everyone who enjoys them and a chance to reconnect with the underwater world,’ say judges

Sharks’ Skylight was named the best image (Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021/Renee Capozzola)

Our oceans are on display from a new, mesmerising perspective in the 2021 Underwater Photographer of the Year awards.

Although the awards celebrate underwater photography in all its forms, “from muddy ponds and swimming pools to deep underground and out into the open ocean”, the majority of the winners and runners up shine a light on the world’s seas, rivers and marine life.

This year’s awards were split into 12 main categories: Wide Angle; Macro; Wrecks; Behaviour; Portrait; Black and White; Compact; Up and Coming; British Waters Wide Angle; British Waters Macro; British Waters 'Living Together'; British Waters Compact.

There were two extra awards too: the Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year and the Underwater Photography Book of the Year.

The overall Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021 was awarded to American photographer Renee Capozzola, with her shot entitled “Sharks’ Skylight”.

A striped marlin picked up the Behaviour award (Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021/Karim Iliya)

Taken from beneath the waves in French Polynesia, it shows the sharks swimming above, in water so clear that birds can be seen flying through the air as the sun sets.

“It took many attempts, but on this one particular evening, the water was calm, the sunset was vibrant, and I got extremely lucky with the composition as well,” said Capozzola.

‘Tying in’ nabbed best Up and Coming photographer for SJ Alice Bennett (Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021/SJ Alice Bennett)

“Since many shark species are threatened with extinction throughout the world, it is my hope that images of these beautiful animals will help promote their conservation.”

The judges praised the composition, light, colour and contrast, declaring that the picture was “pretty much perfect.”

The Up and Coming photographer of the year was named as SJ Alice Bennett from Mexico, whose entry “Tying in” captures divers in an underwater cave.

“The combination of incredible lighting and shallow depth of field empower this image with originality and truly capture the spirit of adventure that the photographer was striving for,” said the judges.

Other highlights included a striped marlin on the prowl in Mexico, which picked up the Behaviour award; a characterful Asian sheepshead wrasse, which won best Portrait; and a new caledonian carp displayed against a backdrop of vibrantly coloured leaves, which snagged the Compact prize.