2021 Underwater Photographer Of The Year-Renee Capozzola (USA)

Combine over 4,500 scuba divers from 68 nations with a love of photography and you get the annual Underwater Photographer of the Year competition. This year, Renee Capozzola took the first place award.

A biologist who studied oil painting before learning to dive, it seems obvious that wide-angle underwater images could not be far behind. She has won over 40 international awards, and hopes that her beautiful images will raise awareness of how fragile is the marine environment and thus nudge more people to help protect our oceans.

Shark Skylight (Detail) by Renee Capozzola, 2021 (from UPY 2021 Award Winners announcement)