2026 Sponsors and prizes

Prizes and sponsors for the 2026 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.

(*apart from the Wide Angle category; those top 3 images will get a cash prize and points towards the prize pool)

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.

Location: South Africa.

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.

Location: Anilao, Philippines.

Backscatter

Two separate prizes:

2 x $500 USD voucher for underwater camera equipment at Backscatter.com

Coral Eye

1 Person 5 night stay & 10 air dives.

Location: Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The Crown Estate

Three separate prizes:

£500 GBP cash prize - allocated to the winner of the British Waters Living Together category
£300 GBP cash prize - allocated to the runner-up of the British Waters Living Together category
£200 GBP cash prize - allocated to third place of the British Waters Living Together category

Crystal Blue Resort, Philippines

7 Nights Full accommodation, 6 days x 3 dives (18 Guided boat dives).

Location: Anilao, Philippines.

Dive into Lembeh, Indonesia

All inclusive package of 6 nights with 5 days of 2 guided day dives by speedboat) in a seaview bungalow, for 1 person.

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 until April 2027 (and excludes Oct/Nov 2026).

Location: Sulawesi, Indonesia

Dive Into Raja Ampat, Indonesia

All inclusive package of 6 nights with 5 days of 2 day dives per day in a Garden View Room, for 1 person.

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 until April 2027 (and excludes Oct/Nov 2026).

Location: West Papua, Indonesia

Dive Worldwide

Two separate prizes:

2 x £500 vouchers, minimun spend £1500, valid for 24 months

Divevolk

Three separate prizes:

£500 GBP cash prize - allocated to the winner of the Mobile Phone category
£300 GBP cash prize - allocated to the runner-up of the Mobile Phone category
£200 GBP cash prize - allocated to the third place of the Mobile Phone category

Fourth Element

Four separate prizes:

1 x £250 GBP vouchers for Fourth Element online shop
1 x £100 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 Wide Angle category
1 x £50 GBP vouchers for Fourth Element online shop - allocated to third place of the British Waters Macro category

Gulen Dive Resort

10 Nights 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 Compact category
1x £75 GBP voucher to be spent on any Magic Filter products - allocated to fourth place of the Compact category
1x £50 GBP voucher to be spent on any Magic Filter products

Marelux

Four separate prizes:

1 x Apollo III 2.0 strobe
1 x Apollo S strobe - allocated to the winner of the Compact category
1 x Artemis 4500 RMT video light with remote control
1 x Artemis 1000 RMT target light with remote control - allocated to fourth place of the Up & Coming category

Master Liveaboards

7 nights on Indo Master sailing and diving around Raja Ampat.

Nauticam

Four separate prizes:

1 x Nauticam MFO-1 lens
1 x Nauticam MFO-3 lens - allocated to the winner of the British Waters Macro category
1 x Nauticam MWL-1 lens
1 x Nauticam 32 degrees straight viewfinder

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 third place of the Up & Coming category

Red Sea Diving, Egypt

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. - allocated to the winner of the British Waters Wide Angle category

Valid for 12 months excluding October and November.

Location: Southern Egypt.

Retra

Four separate prizes:

2 x €200 Euro vouchers for Retra-uwt.com
1 x €200 Euro vouchers for Retra-uwt.com - allocated to the runner-up of the Compact category
1 x €200 Euro vouchers for Retra-uwt.com - allocated to third place of the Coral Reefs category

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 Finders

£500 GBP cash prize - allocated to the winner of the Wide Angle category
£300 GBP cash prize - allocated to the runner-up of the Wide Angle category
£200 GBP cash prize - allocated to third place of the Wide Angle category

Scuba Travel

Eight separate prizes:

1 x £750 GBP voucher - allocated to the runner up of the Coral Reefs category
1 x £500 GBP voucher
1 x £200 GBP vouchers - allocated to the runner up of the British Waters Wide Angle category
1 x £200 GBP vouchers - allocated to the runner up of the British Waters Macro category
4 x £100 GBP vouchers

Siladen Resort, Indonesia

1 x 1 person 5 night stay & 10 air dives.

Location: Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Thresher Shark Divers, Philippines

1 x 10 Dive Package for 1 person.

Location: Malapascua, Philippines.

Triton Bay Divers, West Papua, Indonesia

1 week stay, including 3 dives per day (total 15 dives) - allocated to the winner of the Coral Reefs category

Location: West Papua, Indonesia.

Prize allocation for the 2026 competition

The Underwater Photographer of the Year will be given first choice from the prize pool, regardless of their points total
Other than the Wide Angle category, fixed-prize winners as listed below will not receive points towards the prize pool
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