The crystal-clear emerald waters of the Val Verzasca once again played host to one of the most prestigious gatherings in the world of underwater photography: the Bühlmann Swiss Masters of UW Photography. From 10 to 13 September 2025, top professionals and passionate enthusiasts came together in Ticino to compete learn, and celebrate the art of capturing beauty below the surface.
A unique setting
The Verzasca River, world-renowned for its transparency and dramatic granite formations, offered participants a natural stage like no other. With visibility of up to 15 meters and the interplay of sunlight and stone, photographers were challenged to push their creativity and technical skills to new limits.
The competitors
Some of the world’s most renowned underwater photographers have been competing and, at the same time, have become ambassadors for freshwater river photography and environmental protection. They are:
Lisa Svensen — DEN Stella del Curto — SUI Jos Broere — NL Nuno Goncalves — POR Steven E. Miller — USA Pedro Vasconcelos — POR Alex Mustard — UK Guglielmo Cicerchia — ITA Damir Zurub — CRO Peter Brosch — GER
Competition Highlights
Competition categories included:
Overall winner
Wide-angle
Macro
Creative composition
Environmental storytelling
Bühlmann watch shot
Judges evaluated over 200 submissions from divers hailing from Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Portugal and beyond.
It is important to underline that photos are judged "raw" no retouching is allowed.
Overall winner
The Overall Swiss Master 2025 title was awarded toAlex Mustard (UK), whose striking wide-angle image perfectly captured the surreal beauty of the Verzasca canyon.
Wide angle winner
The Wide Angle Swiss Master 2025 title was awarded to Lisa Svensen (DEN).
Wide angle with model winner
The Wide Angle with Model Swiss Master 2025 title was awarded to Guglielmo Cicerchia (ITA)
Creative shot winner
The Creative Shot Swiss Master 2025 title was awarded to Nuno Goncalves (POR).
Bühlmann Watch shot winner
The Watch Shot Swiss Master 2025 title was awarded to Peter Borsch (GER).
We are proud to have supported the art of underwater photography and the safety of the exceptional diver-photographers who participated in the unusual setting of a Swiss mountain river. We have been greatly impressed by the quality of the photography and the skills required to shoot in such setting, which notably includes dealing with strrong river currents.