Pictures that really did make splash: The mesmerising winners of the Underwater Photographer of the Year awards revealed

From haunting shipwrecks to playful marine life, the mysterious beauty of the world underwater has been captured in award-winning detail.

The winners of the 2017 Underwater Photographer of the Year awards have been announced, with entrants hailing from 67 countries submitting 4,500 images into the prestigious competition, the Daily Mail reports.

A French photographer, Gabriel Barathieu, took home the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017 title for "Dancing Octopus" - a vibrant, close up shot of the creature.

While an enchanting capture of light streaming through the blue Kukulkan Cenote in Mexico won Nick Blake the British Underwater Photographer of Year accolade. He commented: “My journey from diver to underwater photographer has brought many amazing photographic opportunities and I feel humbled and privileged that this image has achieved such recognition.”

A striking shot of a pod of orcas led to photographer Nicholai Georgiou winning the most promising category.

Other commended shots include a powerful image of silversides at twilight by Tony Myshlyaev and a capture of a gam of whalesharks photographed by Patrick Neumann, who spent 30 years taking 3,000 dives in the hopes of encountering the majestic creature before finally seeing six at once and photographing them.