<div><p>The <a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx">Underwater Photographer of the Year Contest</a> organizers have just announced the winning photos of 2017 and they are simply breathtaking. </p><p>This year's winner is Gabriel Barathieu who captured a stunning portrait of an octopus swimming in a lagoon on the island of Mayotte. He beat out competitors from 67 different countries whose images will stun you with their beauty.</p><p>The longer you look at them, the more real they become:</p><h3><em>Dancing Octopus</em> </h3><p>© Gabriel Barathieu / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/02/the-2017-underwater-photographer-of-the-year-contest/516651/" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/02/the-2017-underwater-photographer-of-the-year-contest/516651/" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><h3><em>Larval Lionfish</em></h3><p>© Steven Kovacs / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--1-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><h3><i>Whale Calf Posing</i></h3><p>© Christophe Lapeze / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--2-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><h3><i>Last Flight</i></h3><p>© Steve Jones / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--3-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year </a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><h3><i>Prey?</i></h3><p>© So Yat Wai / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--4-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><h3><em>Nudi Art</em></h3><p>© Katherine Lu / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--5-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">The Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><h3><em>Green Turtles in the Rays</em></h3><p>© Greg Lecoeur / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--6-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><h3><em>Imp of darkness</em></h3><p>© Damien Mauric / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--7-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><h3><i>Medusa Blenny on the Lookout</i></h3><p>© Jade Hoksbergen / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--8-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><h3><em>Can I help you?</em></h3><p>© Ellen Cuylaerts / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--9-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p></p><h3><i>Out of the Blue</i></h3><p>© Nick Blake / UPY 2017</p><div><figure><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/main_1500--10-_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Underwater Photographer of the Year</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>Like & Share!</strong></p><p>[Source: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/02/the-2017-underwater-photographer-of-the-year-contest/516651/">The Atlantic</a> ]</p></div>
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