UPY 2025

About PADI

PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the most recognized dive training organization worldwide with over 30 million divers and counting. PADI Dive Instructors undergo rigorous training to ensure your scuba certification class is fun and safe.

"As the world’s largest purpose-driven diving organisation, PADI is committed to making the underwater world accessible for all and creating positive ocean change.
Sponsoring the 'Up & Coming' category in the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 competition aligns with our mission to inspire ocean exploration and conservation. Images have the power to tell impactful stories, with this category celebrating emerging underwater photographers who are capturing the beauty and wonder beneath the surface while inspiring more people to learn to scuba dive so they can join in on seeking adventure and saving the ocean.”

Dave Murray, Managing Director for PADI EMEA

“Our Up & Coming Category is incredibly important to the UPY team. We are so proud that it provides a brilliant platform to showcase the work of new talent in underwater photography. We are very excited to be collaborating with PADI, with their world-leading reputation for developing the skills of both new and existing divers. Thanks to PADI’s world-wide reach these images and the stories of the photographers behind them will inspire a huge global audience."

Alex Mustard, Chair of the judging panel

“At the Up & Coming category of Underwater Photographer of the Year we like to award new talented photographers that haven’t been awarded yet in photography competitions. We are especially looking for unusual and different perspectives, but also perfect, classic shots. PADI is an ideal sponsor for this category as this award is for divers that are either new into diving and want to become better or are a long time in the field and want to master a new challenge. With better dive skills, through PADI courses, you will also become more relaxed and eventually improve photography as well." 

Tobias Friedrich, UPY Judge

PADI are sponsors of the Up and Coming category.