Explore the depths of the sea with this jaw-dropping collection of underwater photos.
Each year, the Underwater Photographer of the Year awards are presented to artists from around the world.
Using a variety of cameras and lenses, underwater photographers capture marine marvels landlubbers are rarely exposed to.
Here are 23 of the year's best photographs, including one from the photographer of year, Davide Lopresti of Italy, who captured "Gold," the single best underwater image of the year.
1. The sea is filled with beautiful surprises. Like this jellyfish.
A large jellyfish on the eastern coast of South Africa. Photo by UPY/Pier Mane.
2. Some are big. Like this octopus.
According to the photographer, shortly after this picture was taken, the octopus attempted to grab the camera. Photo by UPY/Fabio Russo.
3. No, like really big. Like this shipwreck.
A diver explores the wreck of the USS Kittiwake in the Cayman Islands. Photo by UPY/Christian Vizl.
4. While others are small but fabulous. Like this tompot blenny.
A delightful portrait of a tompot blenny. Photo by UPY/Trevor Rees.
5. Underwater, there lives a world most of us can only begin to imagine.
A coral reef in the Raja Ampat archipelago. Photo by UPY/Damien Mauric.
6. It's a world filled with exotic creatures.
A standout image from Palau's Jellyfish Lake. Photo by UPY/Behnaz Afsahi.
7. And regular joes living their best lives — like this shark.
Photo by UPY/Pier Mane.
8. There are sunken ships...
Another photo of the USS Kittiwake wreck. Photo by UPY/Susannah H. Snowden-Smith.
9. ...and trucks that are the very definition of spooky.
The sinking of the SS Thistlegorm occurred in 1941. It's now a popular wreck for scuba divers to explore. Photo by UPY/Anders Nyberg.
10. Seriously. Google "spooky" and this is the kind of stuff you'll see.
OK, this one's probably ghost-free because this ship was sunk on purpose. True story. Photo by UPY/Rui Guerra.
11. But you'll also find the occasional boldly-colored masked butterflyfish.
See what I mean about surprises?
Photo by UPY/Spencer Burrows.
12. And for every fish with a staring problem, there are millions of species at home in the water.
A beautiful lagoon on the French Polynesian island of Mo'orea. Photo by UPY/Greg Lecoeur.
13. Some are friendly and familiar like this seal.
Photo by UPY/Sara Bowring.
14. While others patiently wait for their 15 minutes of fame. Like this starry weever.
Photo by UPY/Marc Casanovas Felix.
15. There are a few, like this brown bear, who hang out near the water mostly for the free seafood...
The photographer constructed his own cage to capture this photo of a brown bear hunting in Russia. Photo by UPY/Mikhail Korostelev.
16. ...or for the prime diving conditions, like this petrel.
An 'ua'u (Hawaiian petrel) feeding on small crustaceans. Photo by UPY/Alejandro Prieto.
17. Whether they were born in the sea like this catshark...
The silhouette of a catshark inside its egg case. Photo by UPY/Dan Bolt.
18. ...or raised there like this goby fish...
This is a photograph of a goby fish on what's known as a sea pen, an invertebrate marine creature. Photo by UPY/Ross Gudgeon.
19. ...relax there like these pilot whales...
A pod of pilot whales in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo by UPY/Greg Lecoeur.
20. ...dine there like these seagulls...
A flock of seagulls hover near Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Photo by UPY/Alejandro Prieto.
21. ...or just like to visit like these swimmers...
This photo was captured during the start of a swimming contest around the Italian island of Bergeggi. Photo by UPY/Davide Lopresti.
22. ...every species, can agree: Earth's rivers, lakes, and oceans are special and necessary and deserve our protection.
This is a shanny. And yes, it does look like it belongs in a Pixar movie. Photo by UPY/Mark Thomas.
23. Not just for our sake, but for the unexpected beauty and wonder found in the world below the ocean's surface.
This photograph, "Gold," of a spiny seahorse earned Davide Lopresti the coveted Underwater Photographer of the Year award. Seahorses like this were driven from areas of the Mediterranean due to destructive fishing practices like trawling. However, recent protections have allowed these majestic creatures to return home and Lopresti was excited to capture them in their natural habitat.
He used a long exposure to create textures akin to an oil painting, and then he used his flash to bring out details of the seahorse. Dr. Alex Mustard, marine biologist and chair of the judging panel, described "Gold" as “beautiful and creative, a very worthy overall winner."
Photo by UPY/Davide Lopresti.
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.