Beautiful images from the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2016 contest

Beautiful images from the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2016 contest

The winners of the UPY2016 contest have been announced featuring a breath-taking array of underwater photos – see the winners and a few more of our favourites.

Published: February 18, 2016 at 2:00 pm

This stunning photo of a seahorse in the waters of Trieste, entitled Gold, has wonthe Underwater Photographer of the Year 2016 contest.Italian underwater photographer Davide Loprestiwon the competition, beating offentries from 54 different countries towin prestigious photography award.

Davide Lopresti (Italy) - Gold

© Davide Lopresti/UPY 2016
© Davide Lopresti/UPY 2016

Winner: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2016

Winner: International Macro

Pier Mane (South Africa) - Three Pillars - Practice, Patience & Luck!

© Pier Mane/UPY 2016
© Pier Mane/UPY 2016

Winner: Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year

Winner: Up & Coming

Dan Bolt (UK) - Catshark Supernova

© Dan Bolt/UPY 2016
© Dan Bolt/UPY 2016

Winner: British Underwater Photographer of the Year

Winner: British Waters Macro

Marty Engels Dunmore - Fired up and "almost" ready to go

© Marty Engels Dunmore/UPY 2016
© Marty Engels Dunmore/UPY 2016

Winner: Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2016

Runner up: Up & Coming Worldwide

Mike Korostelev (Russia) - Underwater Fisherman

© Mike Korostelev/UPY 2016
© Mike Korostelev/UPY 2016

Winner: International Wide Angle

Thomas Heckmann (Germany) – A Family Affair

© Thomas Heckmann/UPY 2016
© Thomas Heckmann/UPY 2016

Winner: International Wrecks

Richard Carey (Thailand) - Turtle eating Jellyfish

© Richard Carey/UPY 2016
© Richard Carey/UPY 2016

Winner: Behaviour

Marcus Blatchford (UK) - Part of the Illusion

© Marcus Blatchford/UPY 2016
© Marcus Blatchford/UPY 2016

Winner: British Waters Wide Angle

Paul Colley (UK) - Hello Ducky!

© Paul Colley/UPY 2016
© Paul Colley/UPY 2016

Winner: British Waters Compact

And now for a few of the bestunderwater pictures from the rest of the finalists:

Tobias Friedrich (Germany)

© Tobias Friedrich/UPY 2016
© Tobias Friedrich/UPY 2016

Commended: Wide Angle

Matteo Visconti (Italy) – Spotlight

© Matteo Visconti/UPY 2016
© Matteo Visconti/UPY 2016

Commended: Macro

Oliver Anlauf (Germany) – Bass

© Oliver Anlauf/UPY 2016
© Oliver Anlauf/UPY 2016

George Stoyle (UK) – Planktonic Predator

© George Stoyle/UPY 2016
© George Stoyle/UPY 2016

Runner Up: British Macro

Paolo Bausani (Italy) – Pair of fish cleaners in action on parrotfish

© Paolo Bausani/UPY 2016
© Paolo Bausani/UPY 2016

Highly Commended: Behaviour

Will Clark (UK) – Blue Blur

© Will Clark/UPY 2016
© Will Clark/UPY 2016

Commended: British Waters Wide Angle

Follow Science Focus onTwitter,Facebook, Instagramand Flipboard

© Getty Images