Underwater photography competition unveils amazing pictures

Amazing pictures have been unveiled from this year's underwaterphotography.com competition.

The photography contest is the longest running and one of the most prestigious online.

Every January, a panel of judges select the best images entered in the online photo contest from the previous year. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded for the top three from each category in order of merit.

There are 17 categories, including Freshwater, Sharks, Wide Angle Marine Life, and Wide Angle Wrecks.

Belgian photographer Ellen Cuylaerts was crowned 2014's overall World Champion for an array of amazing shots, including the close-up of a dugong (top), which won her first place in the Freshwater category.

The judges comprise of industry professionals (and last year's World Champ).

British photographer Paul Colley won the Wide Angle Marine Life category for a school of Barracuda and was runner up in the Wide Angle Wrecks category for his shot of a British World War II motorbike on the Thistlegorm wreck in the Red Sea.

Paul, and the other contestants, were up against 7,849 entries to get placed this year.

Related articles

Britain's amazing sea life in pictures

Scottish photographer risks life for wildlife shots