Spanish man crowned Underwater Photographer of the Year for humpback whale image

A Spanish photographer has been named Underwater Photographer of the Year for his picture of a humpback whale and her newborn calf in French Polynesia. 

Alvaro Herrero beat more than 6,750 other entries to take home this year’s prize.

His photo shows “a mother’s love and communicates the beauty and fragility of life in our ocean”, the competition’s organisers said.

Judge Peter Rowlands added: “This delicate yet powerful study of a mother and calf’s bond says all that is great and good about our world.

“We face our challenges, but the increasing populations of humpback whales worldwide shows what can be achieved.”

The Underwater Photographer of the Year competition, which started in 1965, celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from around the world.

There are 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as macro, wide angle, behaviour and wreck photography.

David Alpert was named the British Underwater Photographer of the Year for his image titled The Curious Seal.

He said his photo challenges misconceptions that British waters are murky and lifeless.

“My photo is from Lundy Island, a marine protected area since 1973,” Mr Alpert said.

“British seals are delightfully curious, more interactive than any other species I have dived with around the world. Briefly, I become one of the privileged few, crossing the bridge, able to make a connection with a wild animal.”

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Ruruka was named the Up and Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year.

His entry, titled Underwater Aurora, shows a diver in the waters of a cenote sinkhole in Mexico.

Ruruka travelled around 24 hours from his home to capture the image during the rainy season, when more tannin-rich water drains into the sinkhole, creating the bands of colour.