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Humpback Mother and Calf Win Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025
Spanish photographer Alvaro Herrero is named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025, his photograph ‘Radiant Bond’ shows the special relationship between a mother humpback whale and her new-born calf. The photo was taken in French Polynesia and triumphed over 6750 underwater pictures entered by underwater photographers from around the world.
“The mother is accompanying her calf to the surface, because the baby is still so small and clumsy,” explained Herrero. “The calf is releasing a few bubbles underwater showing it is still learning to hold its breath properly. For me, this photo really shows a mother’s love and communicates the beauty and fragility of life in our ocean.”
© Alvaro Herrero/UPY2025
“This delicate yet powerful study of a mother and calf’s bond says all that is great and good about our world,” commented contest judge Peter Rowlands. “We face our challenges, but the increasing populations of humpback whales worldwide shows what can be achieved.”
Photo: © Shunsuke Nakano/UPY2025
Other winners in the International categories included Shunsuke Nakano from Japan with his photo “Face Off”, which shows two extraordinary looking male Asian sheepshead wrasse jousting over spawning rights. “The harem king, on the right, is over 30 years old,” said Nakano, who won the Behaviour category. Abdulaziz Al Saleh, from Kuwait, won the Portrait category with his unique shot “Hydration” showing camels drinking in the desert from below the water. And Bryant Turffs, from the United States, won the Compact cameras category with “The Beauty of the Swamp” with a picture of a prehistoric gar fish taken in the Everglades with a simple GoPro camera.
Photo: © Abdulaziz Al Saleh/UPY2025
Ruruka from the Republic of Korea was named as ‘PADI’ Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 for his photo “Underwater Aurora”, showing of a diver in the multi-coloured waters of a cenote sinkhole, in Mexico. Ruruka purposely visited this cenote during the rainy season, that seas more tannin rich water draining into the sinkhole, creating the bands of coloured water. “From where I live, it’s a very long way to this location, about 24 hours by plane,” said Ruruka. “But it is worth the journey because this unique environment perfectly aligns with the type of images I am trying to create.”
Photo: © Ruruka/UPY2025
“An extraordinary image,” commented contest judge Tobias Friedrich. “It is an amazing scene, with a rainbow of freshwater colours in one picture and the high technical quality combined with the golden ratio composition made it a very deserving category winner.”
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK, and David Alpert, was named as British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 for his image “The Curious Seal”, which challenges misconceptions that British waters are murky and lifeless. “My photo is from Lundy Island, a marine protected area since 1973,” explained Alpert. “British seals are delightfully curious, more interactive than any other species I have dived with around the world. Briefly, I become one of the privileged few, crossing the bridge, able to make a connection with a wild animal.”
Photo: © David Alpert/UPY2025
“This image is truly a stunner,” comment contest judge Friedrich. “It is well framed in the sea weeds and has beautiful light beams so evocative of shallow waters. The composition is completed by the inquisitive look. An excellent portrait.”
In the same contest, German photographer, Robert Marc Lehmann, was named ‘Save Our Seas Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2025, with his photo ‘1 in 200,000,000’, taken in Indonesia. Lehmann’s photo show fishermen hauling a large tiger shark ashore. “This is just one of around 200 million sharks that lose their lives every year at the hands of humans,” said Lehman.
Photo: © Robert Marc Lehmann/UPY2025
“The composition is immersive and the timing, capturing the fisherman’s gesture, is decisive,” said contest judge Alex Mustard. “Although an everyday occurrence and legal almost everywhere, the man reaching out to stop the photo reveals what his conscience reckons on what they are doing. A picture that takes you straight into the story.”
About Underwater Photographer of the Year
Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK, that celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world. In 2025 the contest attracted 6750 underwater pictures, with the awarded photographers coming from 28 different countries. The contest has 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, and includes three categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. The winners were announced in an award ceremony in central London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE. The contest was first run in 1965, when Phil Smith was named Underwater Photographer of the Year.
www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com
About The Crown Estate
In managing the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, The Crown Estate works in partnership with customers and stakeholders to support the long-term sustainable development of the seabed. From awarding seabed rights to sharing their knowledge and data, their small expert team directly manage their relationships with customers and partners with a commitment to delivering high levels of customer service.
The Crown Estate sponsor the British Waters Living Together category, host the UPY award ceremony and support an annual print display at the Go Diving show in the UK.
About PADI
PADI® is the largest purpose-driven diving organization with a global network of 6,600 dive centres and resorts, 128,000 professional members and more than 30 million certified divers to date. For over 50 years, PADI has undeniably been the Way the World Learns to Dive, setting the standard for the highest quality dive training, underwater safety and conservation initiatives while evolving the sport of diving into a passionate lifestyle. PADI sponsor the Up & Coming category, championing new talent in underwater imaging.
About the Save Ours Seas Foundation
The Save Our Seas Foundation has funded over 425 projects in 85 countries around the globe since its inception in 2003. Focusing primarily on sharks and rays, each project strives for deeper understanding and more innovative solutions in marine research, conservation and education. The Save Our Seas Foundation are sponsors of the Marine Conservation category, which is free to enter and provides a valuable platform for these important images.
The 2025 inductees to the prestigious International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) are unique as it is the first time that all members being inducted are women. The Board of Directors of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) and the Cayman Islands Ministry and Department of Tourism are pleased to announce and celebrate the new members of the ISDHF on International Women’s Day.
Established by the Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism in 2000, the ISDHF celebrates dive industry leaders who have contributed to the success of recreational scuba diving worldwide through innovation and advancements made in the areas of dive tourism, equipment design, dive safety, inclusivity, exploration, adventure, innovation and more.
This year’s inductees include Simone Melchoir-Cousteau (France) and Women Divers Hall of Fame (United States of America) as Early Pioneers, Michelle Cove (Bahamas), Anne Hasson (United States of America), and Rosemary E. Lunn (United Kingdom) as Inductees and Hidy Yu Hiu-Tung (Hong Kong) as Trailblazer, which is a new category for the ISDHF. They join other notable women in the industry in the ISDHF including Jill Heinerth (2020), Dr. Eugenie Clark (2010), and Cathy Church (2008).
The 2025 inductees will be formally inducted into the hall of fame at a ceremony in the Cayman Islands on 20 September 2025.
This year’s inductees were selected for their significant contributions to the diving industry:
Simone Melchoir-Cousteau (France)
Simone Melchoir-Cousteau was a pioneering French explorer, widely recognized as the first woman scuba diver and aquanaut, and the beloved wife and partner of legendary oceanographer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau. She was key in his co-invention of the Aqualung, a revolutionary invention that transformed scuba diving, introducing him to the engineer and the funding. Simone witnessed the first successful test of the Aqualung prototype in the Marne River.
She was instrumental in the acquisition of Calypso, the Cousteau family’s famed research vessel, and played a key role in the operation at sea. For the Calypso’s early expeditions, she sold her family jewels and fur coats to purchase fuel and essential navigation instruments for the vessel. She was known as “La Bergere,” the Shepherdess, as she acted as nurse, psychiatrist and mother to the all-male crew for 40 years.
In 1963, Simone made history by becoming the world’s first female aquanaut when she visited the Conshelf II undersea habitat in the Red Sea. Her legacy as a pioneering woman in scuba diving and ocean exploration continues to inspire generations of explorers and conservationists worldwide.
Women Divers Hall of Fame (United States of America)
Dedicated to recognizing and honoring the contributions of women divers, and supporting the next generation of divers, the Women Divers Hall of Fame™ (WDHOF) is an international, non-profit, professional honor society whose member contributions span a wide variety of fields including: The Arts, Science, Medicine, Exploration & Technology, Underwater Archaeology, Business, Media, Training & Education, Safety, Commercial & Military Diving, Free Diving, and Underwater Sports.
WDHOF inducted its first class of 71 members in 2000 featuring some of the most influential women in diving history, such as Dr. Sylvia Earle, renowned oceanographer, and Dr. Eugenie Clark, famously known as the “Shark Lady,” recognized for their groundbreaking contributions to marine science and exploration. As of 2024 there are 260 members in the Hall, hailing from 30 U.S. states and Territories and 22 countries worldwide. WDHOF Members are selected on an annual basis.
The founders of WDHOF included Jennifer King, founder of the Women’s Scuba Association; Patty Newell Mortara, co-founder of Women Underwater; Carol Rose, President of the Underwater Society of America; Hillary Viders, Ph.D., an award-winning writer and speaker; Capt. Kathy Weydig, Instructor Trainer and Course Director with NAUI and SDI/TDI and Zig Zighan, President of Beneath the Sea, Inc.
Since 2002, WDHOF has awarded $915,000 in scholarships and training grants to support 700 women and men pursuing diving-related careers or advancing their underwater skills. Through their collective efforts, the Women Divers Hall of Fame continues to inspire future generations of divers and leaders in the underwater world.
For profiles of WDHOF members and nomination criteria, visit the website: www.wdhof.org
Michelle Cove (Bahamas)
Michelle Cove was instrumental in developing Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas into one of the Caribbean’s largest dive operations. She secured and grew watersports and diving concessions for major partners like Atlantis Resort, Baha Mar, Carnival Cruise Lines, and private clubs. Under her leadership, the company developed a diverse range of offerings, including SCUBA, SNUBA, SEA TREK, SUB (Submersible Underwater Bubble), snorkeling, watersports, and underwater photography and video, making world-class ocean experiences accessible to visitors worldwide.
A skilled shark dive leader, Michelle is a lifelong shark safety, education, and marine conservation advocate. Her collaboration with the PEW Environmental Group and Bahamas National Trust led to the creation of the Bahamas Shark Sanctuary in 2011, the first of its kind in the Atlantic. She has also been a key advocate in invasive lionfish awareness and eradication efforts, as well as coral conservation, nursery implementation, and out planting initiatives to help restore vital reef ecosystems.
A PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, Michelle has introduced countless divers to the beauty of the Bahamas, inspiring ocean conservation. She was integral in establishing Ocean Watch Bahamas and Children on the Reef organizations focused on educating Bahamian youth about the ocean, fostering careers in the watersports industry and marine conservation.
Michelle’s expertise extends to the film and television industry, where she has trained numerous television and movie personalities to dive and served as a safety diver, on-camera talent, and stunt performer. Her work includes major productions such as James Bond, Into the Blue, Flipper, and projects for Discovery Channel, National Geographic, BBC Natural History Unit, Food Network and History Channel.
Today, Michelle’s company Resort Lifestyle Ltd. owns and operates Albany and Lyford Cay Watersports, offering premier diving, snorkeling, and watersports experiences in the Bahamas.
Anne Hasson (United States of America)
Anne Hasson’s pioneering efforts revolutionized the liveaboard scuba diving industry having launched the renowned Cayman Aggressor in 1984. As Vice President of Aggressor Adventures, Anne oversees the Reservations, Marketing and Advertising departments, maintaining the integrity and image of the forty-one-year-old company’s brand and corporate identity. Today, Aggressor Adventures sets new standards for dive and adventure tourism worldwide.
Under her leadership, Aggressor Adventures has expanded to include 24 international liveaboard dive yachts, signature lodges, bird watching and river cruises, operating in premier locations such as the Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Galapagos, Egypt, Maldives, and beyond. A passionate advocate for sustainable diving, Anne promotes eco-friendly travel practices to protect marine ecosystems at all Aggressor locations. She is also instrumental in establishing high customer service standards, solidifying Aggressor Adventures as a worldwide leader in the tourism industry.
Anne also serves on the Board of Directors for the Sea of Change Foundation, contributing to global conservation and is an inductee into the Women Divers Hall of Fame (2010).
Rosemary E. Lunn (United Kingdom)
Rosemary E. Lunn is a highly respected figure in the global diving community. Her induction marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first British woman to receive this esteemed honour.
Bringing decades of expertise to her diverse contributions, Rosemary has played a pivotal role in shaping the diving industry. She is a valued professional, prolific journalist, speaker, educator, event organiser, and an advocate for dive safety and education.
An accomplished diving instructor, Rosemary holds certifications as a PADI IDC Staff Instructor, BSAC Advanced Instructor, and a Trimix and CCR diver, with extensive teaching experience in the UK and internationally.
Her influence extends beyond recreational and technical diving—she is the first non-military civilian and first female diver to join the UK Ministry of Defence as part of the Defence Diving Standards Team. As a Senior Diving Standards Inspector, she works alongside serving and former military divers and personnel, to assure and enhance safety protocols for military personnel. She is also an Associate Member of the Royal Navy Clearance Divers Association.
An innovator in technical diving, Rosemary is a co-founder of EUROTEK, Europe’s premier biennial advanced and technical diving symposium, an event she has organised since 2008. She also established TEKDiveUSA, a major meeting in the tech diving calendar, and coordinated Rebreather Forum 3 on behalf of AAUS, DAN, and PADI, advancing safety and innovation in rebreather diving.
In 2022, she launched the Defence Diving Symposium on behalf of the Superintendent of Defence Diving. This annual conference brings together personnel from all facets of military diving to discuss safety, share the latest research, and exchange critical information.
Beyond her work in diving safety, Rosemary is a key industry networker, bridging communities and bringing influential figures together for strategic collaborations. She has served on the Scuba Industries Trade Association (SITA) board and sits on the British Diving Safety Group (BDSG), where she continues to shape industry standards and best practices.
Her outstanding contributions have earned her recognition, including the SSI Platinum Diver Award, and she is an Associate Member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame.
Hidy Yu Hiu-Tung (Hong Kong)
Hidy Yu Hiu-Tung is an acclaimed international actress and model with over 19 years of scuba diving experience, blending her passion for the ocean with a dynamic career in the public eye. As a certified scuba diving instructor, technical diver, and free diver, Hidy Yu has not only mastered the art of underwater exploration but has also become a dedicated advocate for marine conservation.
In 2011, she was appointed the spokeswoman for Miss Scuba International, using her influence to champion the protection of marine ecosystems. Her commitment to ocean advocacy deepened in 2016 when she became an ambassador for the Asia Dive Expo (ADEX), where she continues to deliver compelling talks on marine conservation to international audiences.
Hidy Yu takes direct action in protecting marine environments, having led ghost net cleanup initiatives in Hong Kong since 2019. In 2023, she was named Ghost Net Ambassador for ADEX Singapore and undertook an extraordinary 23-hour non-stop ocean cleanup in Sabah, highlighting her dedication to tangible conservation efforts. Hidy’s contributions to the diving community and environmental protection have earned her several prestigious accolades, including the Industry Advocator Rising Star Award at ADEX China in 2018 and the NAUI Outstanding Service Award in 2021.
In 2024, Hidy Yu co-founded the Bling Bling Ocean Foundation, an organization committed to promoting ocean conservation through charitable initiatives and educational outreach. Leveraging her platform as a public figure, she continually raises awareness on critical environmental issues and organizes regular conservation activities.
Find out more about the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame at isdhf.visitcaymanislands.com/en-us/home.
In this exclusive video produced for Scubaverse.com by Jeff Goodman, Scuba Scene’s Boat Manager Elke Bojanowski talks about the luxury vessel and its amenities, the diving itineraries they offer, the exclusive trips they run for shark lovers, new divers, technical and rebreather divers, and more.
Watch our video with Scuba Scene’s General Manager, Ahmed Fadel, talking about the Red Sea liveaboard’s no-nonsense approach to safety here.
To book your next Red Sea dive adventure on with Scuba Scene, visit oysterdiving.com/trip/scuba-scene-red-sea-egypt.
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