Record number of photos entered Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023where photographers fight for honor, glory and big prizes in 13 categories.

Kat Zhou from the US has been named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023 and Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023 – among others with these fantastic images:

“Boto encantado”, 1st place in the “Up & Coming” category. Photo: © Kat Zhou/UPY2023

He also received an honorable mention for two more images in this class, and placed 3rd in the macro – a very strong effort from a newcomer.

– I’m very flattered, and the title means a lot to me. “I’m still a little shocked, but I’m so glad the jury liked my photo,” said Kat Zhou.

Here are the winning photos:

“Make love not war”, first place in the “Behavior” category. Photo: © Yury Ivanov/UPY2023

“The Swarm”, British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023. Photo: © Ollie Clark/UPY2023

“Trunk”, 1st place in the “Portrait” category. Photo: © Suliman Alatiqi/UPY2023

“Egg Eater”, ranked first in the “British Waters Macro” category. Photo: © Kirsty Andrews/UPY2023

“Crack rock blenny”, ranked first in the “British Waters Compact” category. Photo: © Tony Reed/UPY2023

“Unsung”, 1st place in the “Marelux Macro” category. Photo: © Shane Gross/UPY2023

“Machine with a saddle”, 1st place in the category “Wreckage”. Photo: © Brett Eldridge/UPY2023

“El Blanco – The White”, ranked first in the “Black & White” category. Photo: © Don Silcock/UPY2023

“Wild seas of islands”, Most Promising British Underwater Photographer of 2023. Photo: © Theo Vickers/UPY2023

“Klunzinger’s wrasse in motion”, ranked first in the “Abridged” category. Photo: © Enrico Somogyi/UPY2023

“Pipe reef”, 1st place in the category “British Waters Living Together”. Photo: © Dan Bolt/UPY2023

“Hopeless”, 1st place in the category “Save our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation”. Photo: © Alvaro Herrero/UPY2023

Underwater Photographer of the Year aims to celebrate underwater photography in all its forms, and the winning images represent a variety of genres.

The competition was started by Alex Mustard and Martin Edge in 2014, and was their first sit on the jury along with Peter Rowlands and Tobias Friedrich.

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Here you get an overview of the photo competition

– As always, the winning image is a delightful reminder that underwater photography offers incredible diversity. Enjoy the photos that have been taken around the world, the organizers wrote.

Photos of the winners in the competition are available in the yearbook, along with the stories behind the photos and the judges’ comments. The yearbook can be downloaded for free Here.