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.
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
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
- 2 x £50 GBP vouchers for Fourth Element online shop
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
- 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
Four separate prizes:
- 1 x Apollo III 2.0 strobe
- 1 x Apollo S strobe
- 1 x Artemis 4500 RMT video light with remote control
- 1 x Artemis 1000 RMT target light with remote control
Nauticam
Four separate prizes:
- 1 x Nauticam MFO-1 lens
- 1 x Nauticam MFO-3 lens
- 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.
Valid for 12 months excluding October and November.
Location: Southern Egypt.
Retra
Four separate prizes:
- 4 x 200 Euro vouchers for Retra-uwt.com
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
- 1 x £200 GBP vouchers
- 1 x £200 GBP vouchers
- 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)
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
- The Up & Coming, Mobile Phone, British Waters Living Together and Marine Conservation categories all have fixed cash prizes for the top three awarded images
- 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
2026 Category specific prize allocations
Please note that the full prize-allocation list will follow soon.
Category 8 - Up & Coming sponsored by PADI
- £500 GBP sponsored by PADI
- £300 GBP sponsored by PADI
- £200 GBP sponsored by PADI
Category 10 - Mobile Phone sponsored by DIVEVOLK
- £500 GBP sponsored by DIVEVOLK
- £300 GBP sponsored by DIVEVOLK
- £200 GBP sponsored by DIVEVOLK
Category 12 - British Waters Living Together sponsored by The Crown Estate
- £500 GBP sponsored by The Crown Estate
- £300 GBP sponsored by The Crown Estate
- £200 GBP sponsored by The Crown Estate
Marine Conservation sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation
- £500 GBP sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation
- £300 GBP sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation
- £200 GBP sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation
