8 Underwater Photographers of 2024

Underwater photography is a challenging and rewarding art form, that requires skill, patience, and creativity. Underwater photographers have to deal with various technical and environmental factors, such as lighting, depth, visibility, and currents, while capturing the beauty and diversity of the underwater world.

Underwater photography can also raise awareness and appreciation for marine life and ecosystems, and inspire conservation and protection efforts. Here are 8 of the most influential and remarkable underwater photographers of 2024, in no particular order:

1. Alex Dawson

Alex Dawson was named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024, for his image of a free diver examining the aftermath of whaling, taken in Greenland. Dawson, who is from the UK, is a professional photographer and filmmaker, who specializes in wildlife and conservation. He has travelled to more than 50 countries and has worked with various organizations, such as the BBC, National Geographic, and Greenpeace. His images and films aim to show the beauty and fragility of the natural world and to inspire action and change.

2. Jenny Stock

Jenny Stock was named British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024, for her image of a purple sea urchin among a cluster of brittlestars, taken in Scotland. Stock, who is from the UK, is a marine biologist and a passionate diver, who has been exploring and photographing the underwater world for over 20 years.

3. Lisa Stengel

Lisa Stengel was named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024, for her image of a mahimahi catching a sardine, taken in Mexico. Stengel, who is from the US, is a marine scientist and a freediver, who combines her academic and artistic skills to create stunning underwater images. She is fascinated by the behaviour and interactions of marine animals, and the dynamics of the ocean.

4. Nuno Sá

Nuno Sá was named Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024, for his image of beachgoers trying to save a sperm whale stranded near Lisbon, Portugal. Sá, who is from Portugal, is a professional photographer and videographer, who has been diving and shooting underwater for more than 25 years.

5. Rafael Fernandez Caballero

Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero has travelled to many destinations worldwide and has captured amazing images of marine life and landscapes. He has also won several prizes and honours, including two categories in the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 contest: Behavior and Portrait.

6. Remuna Beca

Remuna Beca is a French professional photographer and journalist, who has been diving and photographing underwater for more than 10 years. She was the runner-up in the Wide Angle category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 contest. She is dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action for the conservation and protection of the ocean.

7. Rodolphe Guignard

Rodolphe Guignard, from Switzerland, is a professional photographer and engineer, who has been diving and photographing underwater for more than 20 years. He has explored and photographed many different underwater environments, from coral reefs to icebergs, and from caves to wrecks. He also won third place in the Wide Angle category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 contest.

8. Talia Greis

Talia Greis, from Australia, is a professional photographer and marine biologist, who has been diving and photographing underwater for more than 15 years. She has also won several awards and commendations, including the winner of the Macro category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 contest for her abstract portrait of a ‘Potbelly Seahorse’.