Eerie whale graveyard among nine stunning underwater images
From whale carcasses to aquatic primates, the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition offers a glimpse into life below the surface
![Titled “Whale Bones”, Mr Dawson’s photograph shows the aftermath of whaling, with a free diver examining a whale carcass.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/20/TELEMMGLPICT000367212819_17084291441980_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqg0QhGUrJBLC1cMiJLC7a79HhMh81Y8GqX3ipA8YMo0k.jpeg?imwidth=160)
The Underwater Photographer of the Year competition is an annual UK-based contest celebrating images taken below the surface of oceans, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools. There are 13 global categories, including four categories for photographs taken in British waters.
Alex Dawson from Sweden was named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for this photograph showing a free diver examining a whale carcass.
Taken in Tasiilaq, Greenland, the judges said the image showed the aftermath of whaling, while inviting viewers to “consider our impact on the great creatures of this planet”.
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Credit: Alex Dawson/UPY 2024
![Whales dominated the winning pictures this year, with Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero’s action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing an entirebait ball taking the prize in the “Behaviour” category. Taken in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/20/TELEMMGLPICT000367244912_17084300488040_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=160)
Whales dominated the winning pictures this year, with Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero’s action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing an entire
bait ball taking the prize in the “Behaviour” category.
The image was taken in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico.
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![Taken in Portugal, Sá’s photo shows beachgoers attempting to save a stranded sperm whale.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/20/TELEMMGLPICT000367213058_17084300706130_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZtCYETgbJpeodZvpVX1ETGu6gTd6hbvsPhwH_sOLr-8.jpeg?imwidth=160)
Portuguese photographer, Nuno Sá was named “Save Our Seas Foundation” Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year for his photo “Saving
Goliath”.
Taken in Portugal, Sá’s photo shows beachgoers attempting to save a stranded sperm whale.
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Source: Nuno Sá/UPY 2024
![This image, taken by Kirsty Andrews at Coll pier in Scotland, shows plumose anemones and a stand-out sea urchin.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/20/TELEMMGLPICT000367213036_17084300851820_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqOaExRvvWyAQXhF4Y5muY5EikPYR0xYwuEBLwP9UFqPg.jpeg?imwidth=160)
This image, taken by Kirsty Andrews at Coll pier in Scotland, shows plumose anemones and a stand-out sea urchin attached to the legs of the manmade structure.
It secured the runner-up spot in the British Waters Living Together category.
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Credit: Kirsty Andrews/UPY 2024
Source: Kirsty Andrews
![This photograph, titled “Double Pygmy” was taken in Nudi Retreat, Lembeh, Indonesia and shows pygmy seahorses against a rich, blue background.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/20/TELEMMGLPICT000367212970_17084300963640_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=160)
This photograph, titled “Double Pygmy” was taken in Nudi Retreat, Lembeh, Indonesia and shows pygmy seahorses against a rich, blue background.
Taken by Icelandic photographer Byron Conory, the image came third in the “Macro” category of the competition.
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Credit: Byron Conory /UPY 2024
![Titled Aquatic Primate, this photograph was taken off the Phi Phi Islands of Thailand by Suliman Alatiqi and depicts a crab-eating macaque foraging in the water.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/20/TELEMMGLPICT000367212822_17084301078370_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=160)
Titled “Aquatic Primate”, this photograph was taken off the Phi Phi Islands of Thailand by Suliman Alatiqi and depicts a crab-eating macaque foraging in the water.
The image came third in the contest’s “Portrait” category.
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Credit: Suliman Alatiqi/UPY 2024
![Two female Zoarchias major eelpouts are photographed during a fight by JingGong Zhang in this image taken in Oda, Shimane, Japan. It won runner-up in the contest’s “Behaviour” category.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/20/TELEMMGLPICT000367212658_17084301152270_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqA7N2CxnJWnYI3tCbVBgu9T0aesusvN1TE7a0ddd_esI.jpeg?imwidth=160)
Two female Zoarchias major eelpouts are photographed during a fight by JingGong Zhang in this image taken in Oda, Shimane, Japan. It won runner-up in the contest’s “Behaviour” category.
The female Zoarchias fight one another during breeding season in order to find a suitable spawning nest, the photographer said.
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Credit: JingGong Zhang/UPY 2024
![Becky Schott was runner-up in the “Wrecks” category with her photograph of the Kyle Spangler ship, taken at the bottom of Lake Huron in the US.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/20/TELEMMGLPICT000367212615_17084301334310_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqJZD2-_tgzcjDxiN6CkzP9ndR78eTBj0hwdfFRfV9oOU.jpeg?imwidth=160)
Becky Schott secured the runner-up prize in the competition’s “Wrecks” category for her photograph “Illuminating the Past”.
The image shows the 1860 wreck site of the Kyle Spangler - a wooden schooner - at the bottom of Lake Huron in the US.
The photographer said she had been trying to perfect this image for six years as she sought to depict the wreck at its best visibility.
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Credit: Becky Kagan Schott /UPY 2024
![Photographed by Jon Anderson, the image won runner-up in the “Portrait” category of the competition.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/20/TELEMMGLPICT000367212453_17084301406010_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqYUZWLNNuVZQSDI3JjrtUSzwWrqdWJa0xXOTcOWzh2VM.jpeg?imwidth=160)
Taken at a popular Monterey dive site in California, this photograph titled “Attack from Above” shows a cormorant curiously peering into the camera lens.
Photographed by Jon Anderson, the image won runner-up in the “Portrait” category of the competition.
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Credit: Jon Anderson/UPY 2024