UPY 2025

Competition categories

UPY 2025 has twelve main categories (and one additional category below):

1. Wide Angle: For wide angle images shot anywhere in the world. Wreck photos are welcome in this category, but you will probably want to enter them in category 3. Open to all.
2. Macro: For close-up/macro images shot anywhere in the world. Open to all.
3. Wrecks: for wide angle to macro images shot on wrecks. The wreck can be the main subject, or simply the setting for a marine life, macro or diver photograph. Photos can be taken anywhere in the world. Open to all.
4. Behaviour: for wide angle to close-up and macro images showing interesting natural behaviour of underwater life. These images can be shot anywhere in the world. Open to all.
5. Portrait: for wide angle to close-up and macro images depicting a sense of character of the chosen subject. These images can be shot anywhere in the world. Open to all.
6. Coral Reefs: for wide angle, portrait, behaviour, documentary and macro underwater images celebrating the scenery, life, importance or challenges facing tropical coral reefs. Open to all.
7. Black & White: for black and white images of any underwater subject (macro or wide angle) shot anywhere in the world. Toning and tinting is permitted. Black and white photos are eligible in all categories, but are more likely to be successful here. Open to all.
8. Up & Coming: This category is sponsored by PADI and is for wide angle or close-up/macro images shot anywhere in the world (including the UK). Open only to underwater photographers who have not previously won a major international photography competition, or do not have work regularly printed in paying publications or are not brand ambassadors for underwater equipment (including camera) manufacturers. 
   The aim of this category is to showcase the work of new talent.
9. Compact: for wide angle or close-up/macro images shot anywhere in the world (including the UK) with a compact camera (includes photos from phones and stills from GoPro and other action cameras, does not include interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras). Open to all.
10. British Waters Wide Angle: for images shot anywhere in UK waters*. Open to all.
11. British Waters Macro: for close-up/macro images shot anywhere in UK waters*. Open to all.
12. British Waters Living Together: This category is sponsored by The Crown Estate, and encourages underwater images showing nature and man's activities in the sea - living together. “The seabed and marine waters around the UK are home to a vast array of species and natural habitats; it is also a place for people to enjoy recreational activities; as well as providing valuable natural resources such as renewable energy and food. To celebrate this wide ranging value of the British Seas, we are looking for strong, striking images (both macro and wide angle) that showcase nature and human activities on the UK seabed.” Open to all. Free to enter (up to 5 images).

Additional categories

'Save Our Seas Foundation' Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year

The 'Save Our Seas Foundation' Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year is open to both underwater and "above water" photos.  Open to all photographers (even those who are not underwater photographers).

This category has a separate entry system. This is a single image category and photographers may enter up to 5 images. Photos can be taken underwater or above the water but must highlight a marine conservation story (both positive and negative stories are eligible). Freshwater themed images are also allowed.

Images will be judged without captions (but entrants can assume that the judges will be aware of most major marine conservation topics). The winning images will, however, be displayed with a full caption.

This category is free to enter. The winning photographer will be named the 'Save Our Seas Foundation' Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2025, and will be promoted alongside the other UPY winners.

Important information

You can enter as many of the categories as you wish and can enter as many images into each categories as you wish (up to the allowed number of images you have selected and paid for on registration). Each image can only be entered in one category (colour and black & white versions of a shot are considered as separate images). All nationalities of photographers can enter all categories.

Entries into the Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year Award and the British Waters Living Together category are free and do not count towards your total number of entries in the other categories.

* UK Waters are defined as coastal seas, lakes, rivers etc within the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and the waters of British Channel Islands, Isle of Man. It does not include aquariums or swimming pools. It does not include the waters of British Overseas Territories. 
Photos taken in the UK can be entered in all categories, apart from Coral Reefs. Compact camera photos can be entered in all categories.