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Dive into these 19 gorgeous, award winning photos showcasing life under the sea

Underwater life is weird and wonderful.

By

Erin Canty

nature, sharks, competition, photography
Photo credit: ©Renee Capozzola/UPY 2018. – A healthy shark population swims at sunset in Moorea, French Polynesia.

Heads up, Ariel: There’s something positively mind-blowing going on under the sea.

These absolutely gorgeous photographs once made a big splash in the international Underwater Photographer of the Year competition for 2018. The annual contest showcases more than 100 of the world’s best photos captured in oceans, lakes, rivers, and even swimming pools. With winners in 11 categories, including portraits, wide-angle, and wrecks, the competition brings out seasoned professionals and rising stars in this beautiful — albeit somewhat soggy — hobby.

Underwater photography greats Peter Rowlands, Martin Edge, and Alex Mustard judged more than 5,000 entries to crown the winners. Here are 19 of the best, including Tobias Friedrich’s “Cycle War,” the image named photograph of the year.

1. Just when you thought you’d seen every fish in the sea…

fish, underwater, award winner, nature
Two fighting anthias in Tulamben, Bali. ©Anders Nyberg/UPY 2018

2. … something swims by and surprises you.

grouper, reefs, oceans, award winner
A juvenile grouper hides inside a pink sponge in the Jardines de la Reina reefs on the south coast of Cuba. ©Nicholas More/UPY 2018

3. Like, really surprises you.

Get a room you two!

blennies, kissing, fighting fish, exhibit
Actually, these tompot blennies aren't kissing; they're in a fierce battle in Swanage Pier, U.K. ©Henley Spires/UPY 2018.

4. It’s bold and colorful down there.

wrasse fish, The United Kingdom, oceans, award winner
A male corkwing wrasse appears in Bovisand Harbor, Plymouth, U.K. ©Kirsty Andrews/UPY 2018

5. Busy and beautiful too. (Even when it’s a bit intimidating.)

sand tiger sharks, docile, North Carolina, Ocean
The underbelly of a docile sand tiger shark and a large school of "bait fish" in North Carolina. ©Tanya Houppermans/UPY 2018

6. And on its best days, underwater life is a weird and wonderful combination of all of the above.

Haven’t we all been stuck inside a jellyfish at one point in our lives? Hang in there, buddy.

Phillippines, Darwinism, ecosystem, environment
A juvenile trevally is wedged between the tentacles and bell of a jellyfish in Janao Bay, Philippines. ©Scott Gutsy Tuason/UPY 2018

7. The photographers were able to capture some totally delightful surprises…

crabs, Finland, rivers, nature, photography competition
A crab feeds in the Vuoksi River, Finland. ©Mika Saareila/UPY 2018

8. …like this haunting dance of fierce predators…

bull shark, deep sea, Mozambique, geography
Bull sharks swim in the deep blue sea of Ponta Del Ouro, Mozambique. ©Sylvie Ayer/UPY 2018.

9. …and these graceful, lithe swans that look a little more like lovebirds.

swans, Scotland, diving, eating
Swans feed in the waters of Loch Lomand, Scotland. ©Grant Thomas/UPY 2018

10. It doesn’t get much more impressive than this commanding humpback whale saying hello.

humpback whale, water mammals, gigantic animals, Tonga
A humpback whale assumes the "<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/spyhopping/">spy hopping</a>" posture in Vavau, Tonga. ©Greg Lecoeur/UPY 2018

11. But then you see this micro seahorse captured with a macro lens and remember that size isn’t everything.

Japanese seahorse, blending, hiding, pink,
A Japanese pygmy seahorse blends in to its surroundings in Kashiwajima, Japan. ©TianHong Wang/UPY 2018.

12. There’s this sweet sea lion, who could teach a masterclass on the perfect selfie.

sea lions, Australia, endangered, nature
A sea lion poses for the camera in Julien Bay, Australia. ©Greg Lecoeur/UPY 2018

13. And so could this Asiatic cormorant, who made sure to show off its good side.

underwater birds, predator, fishing, Japan
The elegant bird dives for fish in Osezaki, Japan. ©Filippo Borghi/UPY 2018

14. And we can’t leave out this “otter-ly” adorable little swimmer.

Asian animals, gentle, wild, captivity
An Asian small-clawed otter swims during a training session before it's released back into the wild. ©Robert Marc Lehmann/UPY 2018

15. Though sea creatures aren’t the only ones making a life down below.

wreckage, sea diving, scuba, black and white photography
The <a href="https://www.scubadiving.com/history-grand-cayman-kittiwake-shipwreck">ex-USS Kittiwake</a> sat upright in the waters of Grand Cayman for more than 250 years before surge from a hurricane knocked it over. ©Susannah H. Snowden-Smith/UPY 2018

16. Humans can’t help but experience the thrills….

surfing, musician, celebrity, Fiji, ocean waves
Musician and surfer Donavon Frankenreiter enjoys the waves in Tavarua, Fiji. ©Rodney Bursiel/UPY 2018

17. …and chills of life in the big blue sea.

This haunting image is “Cycle War,” by Tobias Friedrich, winner of the Underwater Photograph of the Year.

Egypt, Red Sea, shipping, sunken ships
"Cycle War" is a haunting image and winner of the Underwater Photograph of the year, 2018. ©Tobias Friedrich/UPY 2018

The photograph captures motorcycles on a truck on the frequently photographed wreckage of the SS Thistlegorm off the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea. Of this winning entry, contest judge Peter Rowlands said, “It is of a subject which has been photographed literally thousands of times. The artistic skill is to visualize such an image and the photographic talent is to achieve it. Perfectly lit and composed, I predict that there will never be a better shot of this subject from now on.”

18. But it turns out humans have left a lot of vehicles down there.

This car went through the ice of Finland’s Saimaa lake, but no one was hurt.

wrong turns, cars, danger, pollution
Always remember where you parked! ©Pekka Tuuri/UPY 2018

19. But you can’t really blame those people for getting a little too close to the breathtaking beauty of life underwater.

And more importantly, who would want to?

2018 winning images – Underwater Photographer of the Year

shark population, French Polynesia, travel, adventure
A healthy shark population swims at sunset in Moorea, French Polynesia. ©Renee Capozzola/UPY 2018.

This article originally appeared on 03.07.18

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    Gramma and Grampa made a keepsake of their time with Ricky.
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    Gramma and Grampa’s photobook after spending 2 weeks watching Ricky the kitten is everything

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    “The photo album that reads like a children’s book first went viral when Grass shared it on TikTok in 2020. Now, it has resurfaced again and people are clamoring for more riveting Ricky content after reading about how the kitten “helped Gramma do the dishes” and how “Cousin Jasper and Charlie ate most of” the pancakes Gramma made for him.

    Check out how adorably extra Gramma is:

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    “This is GOLD. I want to see ‘Ricky Learns to Drive.’” wrote another.

    “My parents didn’t even put this much effort into making scrapbooks for ME,” shared another.

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    Grass told Newsweek that her mom told her she made the book because “that’s what she does,” adding, “She is known for creating very sentimental gifts.”

    But Ricky almost didn’t make it at all

    Grass also shared that the book almost didn’t get made because Ricky almost didn’t make it as a kitten. He was brought to the veterinary clinic where Grass worked when he was 9 weeks old to be euthanized.

    The individuals who dropped him off reported that they found a kitten with broken legs and that was throwing up everything they tried to feed him,” she said. “I came back from my lunch early to care for this kitten and in the kennel was Ricky.”

    As it turned out, Ricky had some birth defects and health problems that required specialized care, but he didn’t need to be euthanized. Grass took him home but needed a little time to prepare to give him the care he needed.

    “My mom stepped up and offered to watch him for a couple weeks while I got a handle of my schedule,” Grass told Newsweek. “It was during this time that she created the book.”

    The fact that Ricky had specialized care needs at the time makes Gramma’s photobook all the more endearing.

    “He has made so much progress,” Grass told Newsweek. “His esophagus works significantly better, he has learned how to walk, climb and run, and he continues to help me raise other foster kittens. Ricky is very loved and lives the life he deserved to have.”

    With a mom and grandparents like he has, it’s not a surprise.

    About those unusual paws in the photos

    Of course, the internet’s going to internet, and some people apparently looked at Ricky’s photobook a couple of years after the fact and complained that it was AI generated because of the way Ricky’s paws looked. However, as Grass shared in a video in 2024, those paws aren’t due to AI. They’re just Ricky’s real-life deformities that, ironically, make him appear AI-generated in the photobook. (It’s also worth mentioning that the photobook video came out well before AI-generated technology became available to the masses.)

    “Ricky’s legs are actually shaped like candy canes,” Grass explains. “That’s not AI. That’s inbreeding. Spay and neuter your cats.”

    You can find more videos of Ricky and the animals Grass fosters on her TikTok channel here.

    This article originally appeared three years ago and has been updated.

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    Man ordering steak for dog’s last meal is stunned by restaurant staff’s kind response

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    Photo credit: via Rubén Moreno Montolíu/Flickr – Our home, from space.
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    Astronaut shares the profound ‘big lie’ he realized after seeing the Earth from space

    This change in perspective could change humanity.

    Tod Perry

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    What Garan saw from up there changed everything

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    The earth is in our hands. Canva Photos.

    Garan says that we are paying a very “high price” as a civilization for our inability to develop a more planetary perspective and that it’s a big reason why we’re failing to solve many of our problems. Even though our economic activity may improve quality of life on one end, it’s also disastrous for the planet that sustains our lives.

    It’s like cutting off our nose to spite our face.

    He wasn’t the only one moved by the view

    Actor William Shatner, who spent years playing the iconic Captain James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek series, had a similar experience to Garan’s when he went to space for real in October 2021:

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    “We’re not going to have peace on Earth until we recognize the basic fact of the interrelated structure of all reality,” Garan said.

    And yet Garan still has hope for us

    However dire the situation looks from the surface of Earth, the astronaut has hope that we can collectively evolve in consciousness and wake up and embrace a larger reality. “And when we can evolve beyond a two-dimensional ‘us versus them’ mindset, and embrace the true multi-dimensional reality of the universe that we live in, that’s when we’re going to no longer be floating in darkness … and it’s a future that we would all want to be a part of. That’s our true calling.”

    This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.

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    Bishop has two very different personalities

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    The intervention did not go as planned

    Bishop Ace refused to make eye contact for much of the intervention, and when Grandma was done speaking, Shauna gave the obviously guilty dog scratches and denied that it was him causing the problem. Even with the video evidence, Bishop Ace is still his mama’s baby and can do no wrong in her eyes, so all of Grandma’s intervention efforts never work. But if you want to see some adorably hilarious “bad dog” shenanigans, you can check out the video from The Dodo below.

    The comments are absolutely sending people

    The commenters loved how Bishop interacts with his family, even if he is mischievous.

    “I love this! The look on his face during the intervention is priceless! He looks over at his mama like, ‘I don’t know what this woman is talking about!’ When mama was holding him like a baby he was looking up at grandma like, ‘Just wait until she leaves!’” Andi wrote.

    “I love how he acted like that wasn’t him in the video when Mom was looking at the phone and showing him how he was acting. This was just too hilarious, and it was so sweet how grandma was holding him and singing Amazing Grace, and he was so peaceful and relaxed,” KWeaver added.

    “Love this video, especially the mock intervention. Grandma is awesome. Bishop just knows which play buttons to push,” Jenny wrote in the comments.

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    A sweet pit bull. Photo credit: Canva

    At the end of the day, Bishop Ace isn’t a bad dog, just a smart one. He knows exactly who he can push the limits with and who will hold the line, which, honestly, is more self-awareness than a lot of humans have. Grandma Jayla may never win the battle, but she’s clearly not giving up the fight. And as long as Bishop Ace keeps getting away with it, this family is going to keep the rest of us very entertained.

     

    This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated.

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    Mr. Kitters’ point of view is incredibly entertaining.

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    The comments are as good as the video

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    “People: Cats only meow at humans.” Mr Kitters -Meows at everything-” wrote another.

    And of course, countless people responded simply to the sneeze with “Bless you.”

    Mr. Kitters has other POV videos as well. This one demonstrates how chatty he is and shows his black cat buddy as well.

    It really sounds like he says, “Let me in,” doesn’t it?

    And this “extreme sports” video is riveting.

    For those who can’t get enough, here is WAY more Mr. Kitters:

    Why does this captivate so many of us?

    It’s funny how something as simple as putting a camera around the neck of a cat can draw in tens of millions of people. We’re all so curious about the lives of the creatures we see every day, and the adorable quirkiness of cat behavior is a big part of why we keep them as companions in the first place. Seeing the world through their point of view is just one more way we can enjoy and learn about our pet friends.

    This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated.

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  • Firefighters broke out their hoses to save 25 million bees from an overheating truck

    Photo credit: Canva Photos

    A firefighter using a hose, left, and bees, right.
    ,

    Firefighters broke out their hoses to save 25 million bees from an overheating truck

    480 hives were minutes away from dying in the hot sun.

    Evan Porter

    Bees can fly, but that doesn’t mean they don’t sometimes need a ride. In fact, massive colonies of bees and their beehives are often shipped around the country by truck to help pollinate crops. They’re a crucial cog in our food supply chain, and these commutes are critically important.

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    Truck carrying 480 beehives breaks down and begins to overheat

    One such shipment was on its way through Utah, navigating a mountain pass near Salt Lake City, when the truck carrying hundreds of hives broke down.

    The weather was hot, and without a running engine or airflow from the movement of the vehicle, the inside of the trailer was rapidly heating up.

    Twenty-five million bees—tens of thousands per hive—were inside and were minutes away from dying.

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    Firefighters drench the trailer with hoses to keep the bees inside cool

    Quick-thinking fire authorities used their equipment to mist and spray the truck, keeping it cool in the hot sun.

    One neat cooperative detail: no firefighters were stung during the operation. In the photos and footage provided by Unified Fire Authority, bees are clearly seen flying around outside the trailer. That’s because the breathable mesh keeps the hives and most of the colony inside, but the bees need airflow while the truck is moving, so many of them slip in and out during the journey.

    In the end, the truck got moving again, and not a single bee—nor firefighter—was harmed.

    Heartwarming story was almost a devastating loss

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    Lagotto romagnolo puppy.
    ,

    Adopted puppy takes first walk with new family and digs up treasure worth nearly $8,000

    He’s a regular gold retriever.

    Heather Wake

    Upworthy Staff

    Many a canine lover would agree that all dogs add value to our lives. But let’s face it, Ollie takes it to a whole new level. In 2022, Adam Clark and Kim McGuire of Blackpool, England, originally bought little Ollie as a surprise for their daughter Alicia. However, it would turn out they were in store for a lovely surprise as well.

    Meet Ollie, the world’s luckiest puppy

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    Pretty much a teddy bear on four legs.

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    Much to everyone’s surprise, Ollie dug up what appeared to be 15 sovereign coins, meaning pieces of gold thought to date back to the 19th century. The gold sovereign was first minted under King Henry VII in 1489 and has been produced across multiple eras since.

    gold, sovereign, coin, treasure, sovereign coins, dog
    A gold sovereign. Photo credit: www.publicdomainpictures.net

    So how much were the coins actually worth?

    Clark took the coins to be examined by a reputable gold dealer, who not only deemed the coins legitimate, but valued them to be £5,943.96, equivalent to $7,564. It’s not clear how much the family paid for Ollie, but it seems safe to say that they got their money back …and then some.

    Though Ollie’s find is remarkable, Clark still finds his presence to be the ultimate gift. “The treasure is one thing, but the fact is, I’ve bought myself my very own gold hunter, and I cannot wait to take him out again,” he told The U.S. Sun. “He is obviously a very special pup, and I’m thrilled with what he brings to the table, quite literally!”

    And apparently they make great pets too

    While Lagotto Romagnolos work really well for finding truffles (and potentially 500+ year old gold coins), they also make for great companions. Dog Time adds that they are easily trainable, good with children, and their hypoallergenic coats keep allergies at bay, though they do require dedicated grooming. It’s a pretty even trade-off for their undying affection and easy-going attitudes. Especially if they happen upon a small fortune!

    There’s no real telling what other trinkets Ollie might dig up. But one thing’s for sure, he’s making his family very happy, and that is priceless.

    This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.

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  • Shocked woman learns bookworms are real insects. Now everyone is horrified.
    Photo credit: Domonic Mason/Wikimedia Commons – A woman reading a book, left, and a bookworm on a book, right.
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    Shocked woman learns bookworms are real insects. Now everyone is horrified.

    “I’m equal parts grateful and HORRIFIED”

    Jacalyn Wetzel

    “Bookworm” is a phrase often used to describe someone who enjoys reading books. While the term is endearing, people may not realize that a bookworm is also an actual insect. No, not the cute cartoon inchworm wearing glasses and a bow tie. A literal bug that is anything but cute—and one woman is horrified by the discovery.

    Taryn Delanie Smith took to social media to share that she recently discovered that “bookworm” was more than a term of endearment. The shocked woman explained that after showing off her antique book collection online, comments poured in. People were telling her to be careful and look out for bookworms.

    bookworms, books, reading, real bookworms, bookworm insects
    Bookworm and bookworm damage. Photo credit: Dominic Mason/Wikimedia Commons

    This warning prompted Smith to look into what people were saying, since she was unaware that an insect by that name existed. What she discovered in her research scarred both her and unsuspecting viewers alike.

    “I love collecting old, dusty, smelly books, and I just think it’s really cool. It’s like a random, stupid, niche thing about me,” Smith says in an Instagram Reel while resting her hand on a stack of old books. That’s when she reveals that someone told her to check her thrifted books for bookworms, before adding, “because I thought that was just a term of endearment for people that liked books.”

    bookworms, books, reading, real bookworms, bookworm insects
    Old books. Photo credit: Canva

    Smith grows animated, loudly saying, “You mean to tell me there’s an actual insect called a bookworm?” She covers her mouth with her hand as she looks on in horror at pictures of the small, yellowish, clear bugs eating holes through a book’s pages. The now-grossed-out woman looks at her dusty books with disgust as she wonders aloud whether they’re harboring the small insects.

    She demands to know if she was the only person unaware that bookworms are actual insects. She was not. Bookworms are not common knowledge, according to commenters:

    “Literally have a degree in literature and this is news to me”

    “You know what sometimes I think we have enough information”

    “nah because what do you mean i now have to go through the hundreds of books i own?”

    “OMG TARYN NO 😭 I could have gone my whole life without knowing this but now that I know, I’m equal parts grateful and HORRIFIED 😭😭😭”

    “Say what now?!?! How big/ small are these buggers?? Is a magnified glass needed or can the naked eye spot them?!?! Ay dios mío 📚 🔍👀 💭 🐛 😬”

    “Omg omg omg i must burn all of my books with fire I fear 😭”

    bookworms, books, reading, real bookworms, bookworm insects
    Old book with bookworm damage. Photo credit: Ragesoss/Wikimedia Commons

    Bookworms don’t actually refer to just one insect, though. According to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the term “bookworm” is used to describe hundreds of different insects that feed on books:

    “[The insects include] booklouse, silverfish, powderpost beetle, spider beetle, common furniture beetle, Mexican book beetle, paper worm (larvae of the paper beetle or moth), and larder beetle. These insects are not necessarily interested in eating paper, but they can damage paper in their attempts to reach other materials. They actively feed on leather and cloth bindings, starch paste, animal glues, paper, and cardboard, creating tunnels and holes through these materials.”

    bookworms, books, reading, real bookworms, bookworm insects
    A woman reading an old book. Photo credit: Canva

    One librarian who viewed Smith’s Reel offered advice for buying old books:

    “Librarian here. We have a whole machine we ‘cook’ the books for days if any sign of a bug is found. I would not trust freezing them. Actually I would call your local Library and ask for advice! Hopefully you are all good though. The first step is to flip through and if you see any bugs or little bits of flecks all over that kind of look like dirt, put that book outside in the garage.”

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