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SCMP Reporters

These spectacular images are just some of the winning photographs from the Underwater Photographer of the Year contest for 2017.

The competition attracted entry from underwater photographers from 67 countries.

The main prize was given to Gabriel Barathieu for his portrait of an octopus in shallow water in a lagoon on Mayotte Island off east Africa.

Hong Kong photographer So Yat-wai won the macro sections with his photo of a mantis shrimp larvae moving in on possible prey that was taken during a black water dive in Anilao, Philippines.

Gallery: See all the winners and highly commended entries






In pictures: Stunning shots from Underwater Photographer of the Year contest

Commended, Wrecks - Last Flight. This USAAF B-17G Flying Fortress crash landed on approach to the island of Vis, Croatia after being hit by anti-aircraft fire during a bombing raid over Europe in 1944, which killed the co-pilot Ernest Vienneau and led to engine failure. The surviving crew escaped in dinghies. This spectacular wreck of a famous World War 2 bomber is in remarkable condition and lies at 72 meters. I only had one dive on the wreck and the depth gave me very limited time in which to work so good communication between myself and my buddy, Andi Marovic was essential: I thoroughly briefed him on what I was trying to achieve before the dive so he could also visualize the image I was aiming for. I wanted to capture an image that showed the true scale of the aircraft so I shot with natural light and color balanced the image during post processing. PHOTO: Steve Jones

--WINNER MACRO HONG KONG-- --Prey?-- This handout image supplied by underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com and taken by Hong Kong's So Yat-wai shows the image that won winner of the macro section. This photo was shot during a blackwater dive in Anilao. Even though the larvae mantis shrimp (left) is very small, it still a predator which uses its raptorial appendages to hunt. Has it spotted the prey and is ready to pounce? [14FEBRUARY2017 ONLINE] CREDIT / So Yat-wai / UPY 2017

--WINNER Photographer of the Year 2017-- -- Dancing Octopus-- This handout image supplied by underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com and taken by France's Gabriel Barathieu shows the image that won Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017. Back story printed: In the lagoon of Mayotte, during spring low tides, there is very little water on the flats. Only 30 cm in fact. That's when I took this picture. I had to get as close as possible to the dome to create this effect. The 14 mm is an ultra wide angle lens with very good close focus which gives this effect of great size. The octopus appears larger, and the height of water also. Also, I didn't need flash because I had lots of natural light. [14FEBRUARY2017 ONLINE] CREDIT / Gabriel BARATHIEU / UPY 2017

This highly commended,portrait, titled ‘Imp of Darkness’, shows the endangered marine iguana. Photo: Damien Mauric

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