Aquatic life in focus

The Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017 attracted photographers from around the world.

Beneath the surface of the sea, lakes, rivers, and even swimming pools, lies spectacular photo opportunities. That’s what photographers from 67 countries found when they entered the annual Underwater Photographer of the Year awards.

But among the amazing shipwrecks, a stunning photograph of a hunting octopus took out the top prize.

French diver Gabriel Barathieu was named the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017 for his photo of a ’’dancing octopus’’, taken in the lagoon of the tiny island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. ’’I had to wait for a low spring tide when the water was just 30cm deep so that the octopus would fill the water column.‘‘

Other categories included British Underwater Photographer of the Year, which actually went to Irish man, Nick Blake, for his photo, Out Of The Blue, taken in a freshwater sinkhole in Mexico.

GABRIEL BARATHIEU/ UPY 2017 Gabriel Barathieu’s ‘’Dancing Octopus’' photo was taken in the lagoon of the tiny island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.

NICK BLAKE/UPY 2017 Nick Blake’s awardwinning image was taken in a freshwater sinkhole, known as Chac Mool Cenote, in Mexico.

FRANCIS PEREZ/UPY 2017 Francis Pe´rez spent four hours getting close to sea lions in Mexico to capture this incredible image.