These four renowned underwater photographers made up the judging panel for this year’s Through Your Lens photo contest. To give you some insight into their process, we asked each of them what they look for in a winner.

This amazing encounter with a tope shark and its prey happened in Azores, Portugal, roughly 900 miles west of mainland Europe.

Our 2025 Honorable Mentions showcase the magic of life beneath the waves. From striking split-shots of intimate encounters to mesmerizing macro portraits of otherworldly creatures, these images stand out as this year’s photo contest runner-ups.

Scuba Diving magazine announces the winning images from this year's contest. Prepare to be wowed. 

PADI Instructor and liveaboard guide earns top honors for a stunning shot

Rare mouth-brooding behavior earns Brazilian photographer top prize

A two-time Scuba Diving contest winner captures first place with a mesmerizing image of Australia’s underwater world.

This South African native took home the grand prize, photographing the beauty right in his backyard. Learn more about the artist behind the Grand Prize winning image of the Through Your Lens photo contest.

Exploratory diving leads to a winning shot of a massive World War II wreck