Irish Photographer Mark O’Leary Crowned BIUPC 2026 Champion
Irish underwater photographer Mark O’Leary has been crowned the 2026 BIUPC (British & Irish Underwater Photography Champion) after his perfectly timed portrait of a playful dolphin took the top prize.
Twenty-nine photographers submitted 78 images to this year’s British & Irish Underwater Photography Championship (BIUPC), organised by the British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP).
Unlike many underwater photography competitions, BIUPC is an on-the-day shootout, challenging photographers to take, process and submit their images from anywhere in British and Irish waters within just 24 hours. It is a format that tests not only photographic skill, but also planning, logistics — and inevitably a little bit of luck with conditions and marine life.
This year’s entries ranged from tiny crabs and nudibranchs to seals and dolphins, showcasing the diversity of marine and freshwater life found around Britain and Ireland.
Judges Paul Colley from the UK and Ivan Donoghue from Ireland selected Mark O’Leary’s Wide-Angle image of a dolphin as the overall winner.
The judges praised the timing and lighting of the image, along with its minimal post-processing, describing it as a masterful portrait of an engaging animal.
John Gillies took first place in the Close-Up category with his dramatic image of a squat lobster, while Jon Bunker won Mankind’s Impact on the Environment with an image showing marine life colonising a submerged man-made structure.
Ryan Stalker also enjoyed a successful competition, receiving three awards across the categories, including runner-up in Close-Up for his cuttlefish image.
BIUPC 2026 Roll of Honour
Wide-Angle
Winner & BIUPC Champion – Mark O’Leary
Runner-up – Jon Bunker
Highly Commended – Keith Raven
Highly Commended – Jane Morgan
Close-Up
Winner – John Gillies
Runner-up – Ryan Stalker
Highly Commended – James Lynott
Highly Commended – Sandra Stalker
Mankind’s Impact on the Environment
Winner – Jon Bunker
Runner-up – Derek Bolton
Highly Commended – Ryan Stalker
Highly Commended – Tom Ingram
The results once again demonstrate what can be achieved in just one day’s diving and celebrate the wealth of underwater photographic opportunities found in British and Irish waters.
