2025 Sponsors & prizes
Prizes and sponsors for the 2025 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 high regard that everyone has for this particular competition and 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 2025 competition:
- The Underwater Photographer of the Year will be given first choice from the prize pool, regardless of their points total
- The Up & Coming, British Waters Living Together and Marine Conservation categories all have fixed cash prizes for the top three awarded images
- We are still finalising this list so other categories may be allocated specific prizes. Please check back regularly
- Physical prizes may incur import duty. Vouchers have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash
- Full terms and conditions of each prize are not listed here
2025 Category specific prize allocations
Category 8. Up & Coming sponsored by PADI
Winner: £500 GBP
Runner up: £300 GBP
Third: £200 GBP
Category 12. British Waters Living Together sponsored by The Crown Estate
Winner: £500 GBP
Runner up: £300 GBP
Third: £200 GBP
'Save Our Seas Foundation' Marine Conservation sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation
Winner: £500 GBP
Runner up: £300 GBP
Third: £200 GBP
A-Z of sponsors and prizes
Agulhas House
1 person 7 nights 8 reef dives 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.
Alami Alor
Basic Diver Package (2 boat dives per day) for the 2025 season (March 15 - December 14)
- 7 nights in ocean front AC bungalow with full board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, tea, snacks, drinking water & airport transfers)
- 5 diving days with 2 morning boat dives per day = 10 dives
- Complimentary Nitrox 32% for Nitrox certified divers
- Unlimited unguided house reef diving
Backscatter
Two separate prizes:
2 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
All inclusive package of 6 nights with 5 days of 2 guided day dives by speedboat in a seaview bungalow, for 1 person.
This includes: full board accommodation, unlimited tea, local coffee, water, 2 guided day dives by speedboat per day, plus access to the house-reef between 8AM to 6PM
This prize is valid for travel up until April 2026 and excludes October/November
Dive Into Raja Ampat
https://diveintorajaampat.com/
All inclusive package of 6 nights with 5 days of 2 day dives per day in a Garden View Room, for 1 person.
This includes: full board accommodation, unlimited tea, local coffee, water, 2 guided day dives by speedboat per day, plus access to the house-reef between 8AM to 6PM
This prize is valid for travel up until April 2026 and excludes October/November
Fourth Element
Three separate prizes:
- 1 x £250 GBP vouchers for Fourth Element online shop
- 1 x £100 GBP vouchers for Fourth Element online shop
- 2 x £50 GBP vouchers for Fourth Element online shop
Magic Filters
Three separate prizes:
- 1x £100 GBP voucher to be spent on any Magic Filter products
- 1x £75 GBP voucher to be spent on any Magic Filter products
- 1x £50 GBP voucher to be spent on any Magic Filter products
Marelux
Two separate prizes:
- 1 x Pair of Marelux Apollo III strobes with Lumilink Wireless Trigger
- 1 x Soft Pro Snoot
Nauticam
1 x 50% discount Voucher Prize for Nauticam.com, up to a purchase price of $3000 USD (giving a $1500 USD discount)
PADI
Three separate prizes:
- £500 GBP cash prize - allocated to the winner of the Up & Coming category.
- £300 GBP cash prize - allocated to the runner up of the Up & Coming category.
- £200 GBP cash prize - allocated to the runner up of the Up & Coming 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 excluding October and November
Save Our Seas Foundation
Three separate prizes:
- £500 GBP cash prize - allocated to winner of the Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation category.
- £300 GBP cash prize - allocated to runner up of the Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation category.
- £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.
- 2 x £200 GBP vouchers.
- 4 x £100 GBP vouchers.
The Crown Estate
https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/
Three separate prizes:
- £500 GBP cash prize - allocated to the winner of British Waters Living Together category.
- £300 GBP cash prize - allocated to the runner up of British Waters Living Together category.
- £200 GBP cash prize - allocated to third place of British Waters Living Together category.
Thresher Shark Divers, Philippines
1 x 10 Dive Package for 1 person with Thresher Shark Divers. Accommodation not included.
Triton Bay Divers, West Papua, Indonesia,
1 week stay, including 3 dives per day (total 15 dives).
