The invention discloses an underwater image enhancement method based on a foreground model. The method comprises the following steps that: improving a background light estimation method so as to effectively avoid the influences of underwater image overexposure, artificial light sources and the like; combining with the cognition of people for the underwater image, and utilizing a dark channel priori algorithm to remove background scattering and extract the foreground model; and combining with a white balance algorithm to put forward a color correction method suitable for the underwater image, and utilizing the attenuation characteristic of light in water to correct channel gains according to a relationship between channel attenuation coefficients so as to compensate color distortion caused by attenuation; and utilizing the channel gains to regulate a fogless image, and finally, obtaining the enhanced underwater image. By use of the method, the enhancement effect of an object part is clear and distinct, and a visual effect is better; image blurring is effectively removed, so that the definition of the enhanced underwater image is greatly improved, image details are better, the image enhancement of the background part is not affected on the basis of the color correction of the foreground model, the enhanced underwater image has more natural integral colors, and image brightness is within an acceptable range.