2023 Sponsors & prizes
Prizes and sponsors for the 2023 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition
We at the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition believe that, while prizes are an important part of any serious photography contest, it is the prize that money can-not buy which makes our awards uniquely attractive to underwater photographers. This comes from the worldwide media exposure that we generate for our winners and their photography.
That said, we are very proud that many of the leading companies in the diving and underwater photography world choose to sponsor UPY and we hope all entrants will consider using their products in the future.
If your company wants to sponsor a prize in a future UPY competition, please get in touch.
Placings in UPY categories that do not have dedicated prizes get you points, and points get you prizes!
A single photographer can only take home one prize from the prize pool and as many of the fixed category prizes that they win. Photographers with the most points get first pick, we will contact you in order to get your selection.
Prize allocation for the 2023 competition:
- The Underwater Photographer of the Year will be given first choice from the prize pool, regardless of their points total
- The Wide Angle, Macro, Compact, Up & Coming and Marine Conservation categories will have their own dedicated prize-pools (see below) and winning images will not accrue 'points' towards the overall prizes
- All other UK categories also have their own dedicated prize-pools and winning images will not accrue 'points' towards the overall prizes
- All remaining prizes will be given on a 'points-make-prizes' basis, with each photographer only receiving one prize (with the exception of those awarded in the Compact or UK Categories, see above)
- Please note: physical prizes may incur import duty. Vouchers have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash
- Note full terms and conditions of each prize is not listed here
2023 Category specific prize allocations
Category 1. Wide Angle
Winner: £1000 GBP sponsored by Marelux
Runner up: £600 GBP sponsored by Marelux
Third: £400 GBP sponsored by Marelux
Category 2. Macro
Winner: £1000 GBP sponsored by Marelux
Runner up: £600 GBP sponsored by Marelux
Third: £400 GBP sponsored by Marelux
Category 7. Compacts
Winner: Backscatter $500 voucher
Runner up: Retra €200 voucher
Third: Magic Filters £75 voucher
Category 8. Up & Coming
Winner: Nauticam WACP-C lens
Runner up: Retra €200 voucher
Third: Magic Filters £100 voucher
Category 9. British Waters Wide Angle
Winner: MV Halton
Runner up: Scuba Travel £200 voucher
Third: Fourth Element £50 voucher
Category 10. British Waters Macro
Winner: Nauticam MWL-1 lens
Runner up: Scuba Travel £200 voucher
Third: Fourth Element £50 voucher
Category 11. British Waters Living Together
Winner: £500 GBP sponsored by The Crown Estate
Runner up: £300 GBP sponsored by The Crown Estate
Third: £200 GBP sponsored by The Crown Estate
Category 12. British Waters Compact
Winner: Nauticam CMC-1 lens
Runner up: Nautilus £250 voucher towards Fantasea lens or Marelux Soft
Third: Scuba Travel £100
'Save Our Seas Foundation' Marine Conservation
Winner: £500 GBP sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation
Runner up: £300 GBP sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation
Third: £200 GBP sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation
A-Z of sponsors and prizes
Agulhas House
1 person, 7 nights with 8 reef dives and 2 baited dives package.
Includes all transfers, meals, cylinder, weights, nitrox and Marine permit.
Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort, Anilao, Philippines
7 day, 6 night in resort with 10 dive package.
Prize cannot be claimed during Easter Holyweek or between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
Backscatter
Two separate prizes:
1 x $500 USD voucher for underwater camera equipment at Backscatter.com - allocated to the winner of the Compact category.
1 x $500 USD voucher for underwater camera equipment at Backscatter.com
Crystal Blue Resort, Philippines
7 Nights Full accommodation, 6 days x 3 dives (18 Guided boat dives).
Dive into Lembeh
1 x 6 night stay with 5 days of diving (2 day boat dives per day).
This is full board and includes transfers and Nitrox (published price value of USD$1835).
This prize not valid during October or Xmas / New Year week.
Fourth Element
Three separate prizes:
1 x £250 GBP vouchers for Fourth Element online shop
1 x £50 GBP vouchers for Fourth Element online shop - allocated to third place of the British Waters Macro category.
1 x £50 GBP vouchers for Fourth Element online shop - allocated to third place of the British Waters Wide Angle category.
Gulen Dive Resort, Norway
https://www.gulendiveresort.com/
10 Nights Nudibranchs and Macro: Nudibranch and macro diving on our house reef and local sites in the strait outside the resort. Easy access in and out directly from the dive centre. Perfect for shooting pictures or video.
Included in your stay
- 10 Nights Accommodation in shared twin rooms.
- 20 Macro Dives.
- Tanks, weights and air for all dives.
- Airport Pickup and delivery
Magic Filters
Three separate prizes:
1x £100 GBP voucher to be spent on any Magic Filter products - allocated to third place of the Up & Coming category.
1x £75 GBP voucher to be spent on any Magic Filter products - allocated to third place of the Compact category.
1x £50 GBP voucher to be spent on any Magic Filter products
Marelux
6 separate prizes:
£1000 GBP - allocated to Winner of Wide Angle category
£1000 GBP - allocated to Winner of Macro category
£600 GBP - allocated to Runner Up of Wide Angle category
£600 GBP - allocated to Runner Up of Macro category
£400 GBP - allocated to Third place of Wide Angle category
£400 GBP - allocated to Third place of Macro category
Nauticam
Four separate prizes:
1 x Nauticam WACP-C lens - allocated to the winner of Up & Coming category
1 x Nauticam MWL-1 lens - allocated to the winner of the UK Macro category
1 x Nauticam SMC-1 lens
1 x Nauticam CMC-1 lens - allocated to the winner of the UK Compact category
Red Sea Diving
1 x 7 nights accommodation in a deluxe chalet for one person at Marsa Shagra, Marsa Nakari or Wadi Lahami, plus 5 days diving and transfers from Marsa Alam airport for one person.
Valid for 12 months.
Save Our Seas Foundation
Three separate prizes:
1 x £500 GBP Cash prize - allocated to the winner of the Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation category.
1 x £300 GBP Cash prize - allocated to the runner up of the Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation category.
1 x £200 GBP Cash prize - allocated to third place of the Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation category.
Scuba Travel
Eight separate prizes:
1 x £750 GBP voucher
1 x £500 GBP voucher
1 x £200 GBP voucher - allocated to the runner up of the British Waters Wide Angle category.
1 x £200 GBP voucher - allocated to the runner up of the British Waters Macro category.
1 x £100 GBP voucher - allocated to the third place of the British Waters Compact category.
3 x £100 GBP vouchers
Scubalamp
Three separate prizes:
1 x $600 USD voucher for ScubaLamp products
1 x $300 USD voucher for ScubaLamp products
1 x $100 USD voucher for ScubaLamp products
The Crown Estate
https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/
Three separate prizes:
1 x £500 GBP Cash prize - allocated to the winner of the British Waters Living Together category.
1 x £300 GBP Cash prize - allocated to the runner up of the British Waters Living Together category.
1 x £200 GBP Cash prize - allocated to third place of the British Waters Living Together category.
Thresher Shark Divers, Philippines
1 x 10 Dive Package for 1 person with Thresher Shark Divers. Accomodation not included.
Triton Bay Divers, West Papua, Indonesia,
1 week stay, including 3 dives per day (total 15 dives)
Retra
Four separate prizes:
1 x 200 Euro voucher - allocated to Runner Up of Compact category
1 x 200 Euro voucher - allocated to Runner Up of Up & Coming category
1 x 200 Euro voucher for Retra-uwt.com
1 x 200 Euro voucher for Retra-uwt.com