Another competition has ended with an impressive 5,355 entries out of which 973 became hotshots that we consider the first round of judging to the annual competition. We are so proud to be having a constant flow of new talent coming in. Our goal is and always have been to promote young talent and give them a stage to show off their photos and launch a career as underwater photographers.

Thank you to all the contestants and judges, Winners will be released to the press later in March.

Tony has been a longtime member on UnderwaterPhotography.com. He has won numerous medals and awards over the years, demonstrating incredible talent with a wide variety of professional photos in all categories. With over 611 entries, 13,187 total votes for his photos and 18 medals won since he joined the contest, Tony is a clear choice for this year's World Champion!

Steve's unique style is easy to spot among the thousands of entries in the contest. With great attention to detail, Steve is constantly evolving, trying out new techniques and experimenting with various subjects and lenses. We have had the pleasure of enjoying 374 of his entries to the contest since 2012, with wonderful imagery from all around the world. Thanks for the inspiration Steve!

Tanya is the most recent rising star on UnderwaterPhotography.com. She did what we all want to do - left the corporate world and dove all-in, to become a professional underwater photographer. Since joining the contest in 2014, she has already submitted 157 amazing entries in all categories, but her Shark and Wreck shots are the ones which truly stand out and define her style. Tanya has an excellent eye for composition and a talent for capturing the true nature of her subjects with superb sharpness and detail. We can't wait to see more of her work!