Take a dive into these breathtaking underwater images of the year

Underwater is a mysterious wonderland where creatures rule, light shimmers and forests of plants sway with the constant movement of the currents. So when photographers train their lenses on what goes on below the surface, magic happens – and this year’s Underwater Photographer of the Year competition has produced images to marvel at.

Rafael Fernandez Caballero's picture Giants of the Night (ABOVE), of five whale sharks feeding in the Maldives, won the overall prize as well as the Wide Angle category.

“Magic happens in the ocean every day, but if we don’t protect the oceans and sharks, these moments will soon be a thing of the past,” he says.