The underwater world has never looked so magical, mysterious and mesmerising.
They show just how awe-inspiring Mother Nature can be in aquatic mode - and how fragile she is. And they also underscore the sheer skill and determination of the world s finest underwater snappers, who brave underwater caves and shark-infested reefs to bring us unforgettable pictures, some of which took years to plan.
The overall winner is Renee Capozzola from California, whose picture of blacktip reef sharks cruising beneath gulls at sunset in French Polynesia left the judges jaws on the floor. She triumphed over 4,500 underwater pictures entered by photographers in 68 countries.