{"id":395134,"date":"2026-03-20T15:01:40","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T15:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/395134\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T15:01:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T15:01:40","slug":"51-breathtaking-best-picks-from-the-ocean-photographer-of-the-year-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/395134\/","title":{"rendered":"51 Breathtaking Best Picks From \u2018The Ocean Photographer Of The Year\u2019 Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ocean covers most of our planet, yet it remains one of the least understood places on Earth. That sense of wonder is exactly what makes the Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards<\/a> so compelling. Organized by Oceanographic Magazine, the competition celebrates the beauty, mystery, and sheer scale of the marine world through breathtaking images captured by photographers from around the globe.<\/p>\n

But these awards are about more than visual spectacle. Alongside dramatic encounters with whales, sharks, coral reefs, and deep-sea creatures, the competition also shines a light on the fragility of ocean ecosystems and the urgent need to protect them. Many of the winning and shortlisted photos tell stories of survival, change, and conservation, reminding viewers that the sea is as vulnerable as it is vast.<\/p>\n

Since the awards began in 2020, they have produced a remarkable collection of images across a wide range of categories, from underwater wildlife and adventure to fine art and conservation photography. For this best-of selection, we\u2019ve picked 51 standout shots from across the years that showcase just how powerful ocean photography can be.<\/p>\n

Scroll down to explore some of the most unforgettable images ever featured in the Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards.<\/p>\n

More info: Instagram<\/a> | oceanographicmagazine.com<\/a> | x.com<\/a> | Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Location: Menorica, Spain Description: \u201cSpotting pelagic life in the Mediterranean Sea can be tough, because you usually spend hours without seeing a single splash,\u201d says Gener. \u201cAfter about five hours of searching, we spotted this seagull and noticed that its legs weren\u2019t underwater. We approached slowly with the boat and suddenly realized that it was standing on a sea turtle. I decided to jump into the water, thinking I would find the turtle dead because it wasn’t moving. When I got close enough, I saw its face underwater and realized that the sea turtle was alive. What a surreal scene!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Baja California Sur, Mexico Description: A Bryde\u2019s whale takes a bite. \u201cA feeding frenzy is the biggest show on earth for me. The smallest animals on earth, plankton, attract bait balls of sardines and, in turn, giant whales show up,\u201d says Fern\u00e1ndez Caballero. \u201cI was lucky to witness this show off Baja California Sur at the end of 2023. Due to El Ni\u00f1o and warmer temperatures, different species joined the party and I witnessed huge numbers of beautifully colored dorados and large groups of sea lions that were attracted by the bait balls. The highlight was this whale coming out of nowhere with its mouth wide open.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Indonesia Description: \u201cThis is an image of a juvenile Pinnate Batfish captured using a slow shutter speed, snooted light, and deliberate camera panning to create motion and drama,\u201d says Arpa Toribio. \u201cJuveniles are known for striking black bodies outlined in vibrant orange \u2014 a coloration lost within months. I encountered this restless subject in the tropical waters of Indonesia\u2019s Lembeh Strait. Capturing the image required patience and persistence over two dives, as these active young fish constantly dart into crevices for cover, making the shot particularly challenging to execute without interfering with the fish\u2019s natural behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Maldives Description: \u201cAt night in the Maldives, bright lights shine down into the water as fishermen seek out baitfish for the country\u2019s sustainable pole and line tuna fishery,\u201d says Hoksbergen. \u201cThe light attracts plankton, which in turn attracts small fish. On occasion, they also bring in the largest fish in the ocean – whale sharks. While they were a nuisance to the fishermen in the past, a positive solution has been found by combining the two most important industries in the Maldives: tourism and fishing. Now, when a whale shark shows up at night, the fishermen call the team at COMO Maalifushi and eager guests are able to see and swim with an ocean giant. While taking this photograph, I was enveloped in darkness. I felt dwarfed in the shark\u2019s presence.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Antarctica Description: The emperor penguin egg is bred by the fathers and carried on their feet.<\/p>\n

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Location: Quobba Station, Western Australia Description: Two sharks surf a wave at Red Bluff, Quobba Station, in remote Western Australia. \u201cThe huge bait ball the sharks were feeding on had moved very close to the shoreline,\u201d says photographer Sean Scott, who was on an expedition spanning the full WA coast. \u201cI got the long lens out and took a test shot of the waves, and the very next wave the sharks were in it. I didn\u2019t see this happen again throughout the next two days that I was there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Philippines Description: A freediver amidst a shoal of sardines. \u201cAs a freediver and photographer, I’m always mesmerized by the dance of sardines,\u201d explains Yavar. \u201cOn this dive, I found myself beneath a swirling ring of sardines, forming a perfect circle above me. The sunlight piercing through the water created a stunning contrast, highlighting the intricate patterns of the fish and the diver. It felt like every movement was in perfect harmony. Capturing this moment was a blend of luck and timing. This shot captures the harmony between human and marine life, showcasing the serene beauty of the underwater world.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Costa Rica Description: A whale shark swims alongside the Sharkwater research vessel, a ship that was initially used by the Japanese fishing fleet and is now used for research. \u201cI was on a shark tagging expedition with Fins Attached, CREMA and Pelagios Kakunj\u00e1 aboard the Sharkwater,\u201d explains Herre\u00f1o Parra. \u201cWhen we got back from one of our dives, the crew spotted a friendly whale shark. We jumped in to install an acoustic tag, took tissue samples and measured the individual, while I was documenting everything. After the researchers went back on the boat, I stayed in the water with the shark for almost an hour, trying to take an image of the endangered species below the scientific vessel. It all came together, and the moody light and the rough sea add to the image\u2019s special appeal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Canada Description: Sea lions swarm a diver. \u201cSea lions have been periodically culled for more than a century in British Columbia, with some now pushing for a cull of 25,000 animals,\u201d says photographer Steve Woods. \u201cWhen photographing them underwater, absolutely no bait or food is used, they simply want to play and interact. I have never observed this unique behavior anywhere else in the world, which makes it even more devastating that they are under threat of a cull.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Australia Description: Two penguins seemingly comfort one another as they gaze upon Melbourne\u2019s lights. \u201cI originally intended to capture an image that shows the pressures that human developments can have of wild animal populations,\u201d says photographer Tobias Baumgaertner. This image is so much more. It communicates togetherness and love.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Fakarava Atoll, French Polynesia Description: \u201cThis split image was shot on the remote atoll of Fakarava which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve,\u201d says Capozzola. \u201cDue to strong protections, the marine ecosystem here is full of life, and you can view many sharks in their natural habitat. During this visit, I was extremely lucky to be there just after the full moon when a large school of tangs spawned for several days just before sunset in shallow water nearby, attracting even more sharks with the heightened activity. When this picture was taken, it was getting quite dark, but I captured the moment using my flash guns underwater and a higher shutter speed.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: French Polynesia Description: Split shot of a blacktip reef shark, taken on Moorea, French Polynesia at sunset.<\/p>\n

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Location: Maldives Description: A hermit crab crawls atop a pile of plastic in a shell made from manmade waste. Photographed on the small island of Thanburudhoo in the Maldives, photographer Matt Sharp hopes his image communicates the direct impact plastic pollution is having on the natural world: \u201cWe were so shocked at the plastic waste littering the island. And then I saw this hermit crab crawling through the knee-deep plastic. It demonstrates the scale of the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Cuba Description: An American crocodile glides through the water at sunset at Gardens of the Queen, Cuba, a protected marine reserve since 1996. There is a healthy population of American crocodiles that live amongst the shallow mangroves here, the largest of them growing up to four and half meters.<\/p>\n

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Location: Australia Description: A breaching humpback whale on its migration path along the Australian coastline. \u201cI headed out to sea, to catch a glimpse of these majestic ocean travelers. With the smell of forest fires in the distance, a smoggy haze blanketed the horizon, softening the background of my composition. After sighting some activity in the distance, I readied myself in anticipation,\u201d says Harris. \u201cAll of a sudden, an inquisitive juvenile surfaced near the boat, followed by this fully grown humpback whale lunging from the depths. It towered above us, in what can only be described as the most incredible display of power by an animal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Paradise Bay, Antarctica Description: \u201cSurrounded by diverse wildlife in Paradise Bay, a raft of energetic gentoo penguins charged towards our inflatable,\u201d says Parry. \u201cGetting low on the boat, I pre-focused my lens anticipating the moment. Freezing the fastest penguin species in the world head on wasn\u2019t easy as they raced at speeds of over 20mph towards me. An epic moment as I maintained focus and composition and fulfilled my gentoo vision by locking in a dynamic front-on portrait that surpassed even my wildest visions.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: French Polynesia Description: Shark scientists attach a temperature logger to the dorsal fin of a newborn blacktip reef shark in the shallow waters just off Moorea, French Polynesia. \u201cDuring fieldwork, the young sharks are captured with a gillnet, measured, tagged and released and some individuals received temperature loggers as seen in this photo,\u201d says photographer Tom Vierus. \u201cThese loggers will record the surrounding water temperature for as long as they are attached and once retrieved will aid the scientists in understanding how warming waters affect the physiology and ecology of young sharks.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Canada Description: \u201cEvery year harp seals make their journey from the Greenland area to fast ice floes in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to give birth to their pups at end of February \/ early March,\u201d says photographer Ellen Cuylaerts. \u201cThe mothers feed the pups for just two weeks with milk rich in fat and nutrients. Soon the mothers abandon their pups to join the males for courting and mating, leaving the vulnerable white young on the ice until they moult, lose most of their reserves and learn to swim and hunt by themselves. During this time they fully depend on strong sea ice that lasts at least another four weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Australia Description: \u201cIn the early hours of July 1st, we received a call about a stranded humpback whale,\u201d says Parry. \u201cWildlife veterinarian Steve Van Mil quickly assessed the situation and contacted SeaWorld Marine Rescue and other key agencies to coordinate a response. For 15 hours, rescue teams and the local community worked tirelessly in a unified effort to save her. Sadly, despite their dedication, she could not be saved. While the outcome was heartbreaking, witnessing the collaboration and compassion shown by multiple agencies and volunteers was incredibly moving – a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Florida, USA Description: \u201cI went to Florida with one dream: to capture beautiful images of manatees,\u201d says Ayer. \u201cWith a local friend, we saw several manatees. The manatee in the picture came close to look at me and was suddenly perfectly positioned in front of the sun’s rays. I hope this photo helps raise awareness of the need to protect these mammals.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Baja California Sur, Mexico Description: \u201cEvery year, thousands of mobula rays congregate in the Sea of Cortez. It is a breathtaking phenomenon to witness,\u201d explains Leusko. \u201cWhat initially looked like a dark ball of movement from the sky, transformed into an intricate lattice of mobula upon mobula as I flew my drone closer. That\u2019s when they started jumping out of the water and it was pure magic. I\u2019m grateful to be able to witness, capture and share these glimpses.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Hawaii, USA Description: A perfectly camouflaged lizardfish with prey in its mouth. \u201cLizardfish are ambush predators and try to camouflage themselves among the paler substrate, remaining motionless, waiting for other fish to get close,\u201d says Pontes. \u201cThey attack and capture their prey with sharp teeth, and sometimes they have eyes bigger than their stomachs. I think this photo highlights how colors can play very different roles in nature. Taking the shot from above ensured the distinct outlines of each fish were clear, thereby bringing the interaction into focus.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Unknown Description: \u201cThis frog fish is \u201cfishing\u201d with his lure appendix,\u201d says photographer Martin Broen \u201cI also completely blended into the nearby coral.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Baja California Sur, Mexico Description: An aggregation of mobula rays in clear waters off Baja California Sur, Mexico. \u201cMobula rays are incredibly sensitive to movement and sound,\u201d says photographer Nadia Aly, \u201cso I took this photo while freediving. We found this aggregation at a discreet location in mid-morning and stayed with it for four hours. The sun was shining and the ocean was gifting!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Honda Bay, the Philippines Description: Three spinetail devil rays engage in sexual courtship in Honda Bay. The species is typically shy and elusive, making this capture particularly special. \u201cIt is an image I could never have dreamed of capturing at such close quarters, because this behaviour has been so rarely observed or photographed,\u201d says photographer Duncan Murrell.<\/p>\n

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Location: Tonga Description: A freediver explores a cave in Tonga. Despite having visited this site more than 100 times, photographer Karim Iliya had never see the light quite like it was on this particular day: \u201cIt looked like he [the subject] was looking into another world. It made me think about exploration on this planet, and how you can even go somewhere you\u2019ve already been and see it in a new way.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Mexico Description: A cave diver is silhouetted against a colorful backdrop in cenote Chikin Ha. \u201cThe caves in the Mayan Riviera have amazing chambers with pristine formations that have been preserved over millennia,\u201d says photographer Martin Broen. \u201cTannic acid created by the decomposition of organic matter accumulates in the upper part of certain caves and modifies the color of the light passing through based on its density, giving the surreal feeling of flying within a rainbow.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: USA Description: \u201cThis photo, taken on July 13, 2024, captures one-year-old Bigg\u2019s orca T065B3 – known as ‘Rook’ – near Bird Rocks, WA,\u201d says Ling. \u201cAgainst the glowing sunset, Rook proudly displays a harbor seal he found while his family patrolled nearby and later helped him capture. At this age, orcas typically rely on milk and rarely hunt alone, making this moment especially impressive. His emerging skill highlights the ecological richness of the Salish Sea, where both harbor seal and Bigg\u2019s orca populations have rebounded thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 – a testament to the impact of long-term conservation efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Philippines Description: A coconut octopus sits inside a plastic sandwich bag. \u201cThese octopuses typically hide inside empty shells or coconut shells,\u201d explains Formis. \u201cThis time, the octopus chose what was available instead – plastic packaging. Unfortunately, it’s completely transparent, making the octopus easily visible. It was a sad and touching behavior to witness at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Maldives Description: A mating ritual between three tawny nurse sharks. \u201cTwo males were chasing a female, dancing in courtship at night,\u201d says Pyke. \u201cI captured the movement in the dark with a slow shutter speed, strobes, and video lights.”<\/p>\n

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Location: Svalbard, Norway Description: A polar bear surveys the icy waters north of Svalbard. \u201cIn previous work I have shown, from above, how a polar bear can use sea ice to live,\u201d says photographer Florian Ledoux. \u201cThis image shows how a polar bear can use an iceberg to hunt. There were several seals in the area, and the bear was actively looking at the water, waiting to make its move.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Svalbard, Norway Description: A group of walruses are resting on a beach, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. \u201cI was on expedition in the Arctic for about a month and walruses were some of the marine mammals I was interested in,\u201d remembers Haluwana. \u201cI positioned myself within the allowed distance with my camera, waiting for an opportune photographic moment. Animals sense your presence whether you\u2019re aware they do or not. In this moment, that\u2019s exactly what happened. One walrus sat up looking towards me. Funnily enough, I had recently chipped my front tooth, as had this particular walrus. Maybe it sensed we were kin?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Kolyuchin Island, Russia Description: Polar bears make a ‘home’ of an abandoned station on Kolyuchin Island, in the Russian high Artic.<\/p>\n

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Location: French Polynesia Description: The final moments before a storm. \u201cTo this date, this is the most memorable moment that I have spent in the ocean,\u201d says photographer Ben Thouard. \u201cThe last moment of light combined with the glassy water and the heavy storm coming in out the back made for a stunning situation. This image was shot during the very last seconds before the storm hit. The next minutes were a different story: 50-knot winds and heavy rain that made the way home a little challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: North Sulawesi, Indonesia Description: The algae octopus is an elusive creature. \u201cNormally coming out to hunt at dusk, with incredible camouflage, these creatures blend seamlessly into the reef – until they are viewed under a different light,\u201d says Guy. \u201cThese octopuses are one of the only cephalopods that actually fluoresce under ultraviolet light. On my last night dive of the trip, I got lucky and found one of these beautiful creatures on the hunt for a meal and managed to capture the intense look from its yellow eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Australia Description: Squid portrait. \u201cI had spent several winters exploring various inland waters and bays at night looking for squid to photograph,\u201d says photographer Matty Smith. \u201cI find their behavior and colorings mesmerizing. I wanted to produce images that really captured their personality. I found by lying on my back on the sand on the seabed and shooting from below almost anthropomorphizes their faces and reveals a character rarely seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Tonga Description: Paddle boarders float above a reef at sunset. \u201cThis image is one of a series of images aimed at demonstrating the innate bond humans have with the ocean, whether we are physically in it or just floating on the surface,\u201d says photographer Grant Thomas. \u201cIn creating this picture, timing was everything; I had to shoot exactly at low tide to be close enough to the reef, while simultaneously capturing the sun as it hit the horizon.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Scotland Description: Gannets diving for food. \u201cDiving amidst the barrage of gannets, I witness the violent synchronicity of these impressive seabirds as they embark on fishing dives,\u201d says photographer Henley Spiers. \u201cTheir piercing glare scans for prey, even as they hit the water at 60mph, an impact they can only withstand thanks to specially evolved air sacs in the head and chest. The agility of the birds transfers from air to sea, swimming with an incredible speed of reaction as other gannets torpedo into the sea.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Description: \u201cDiving in cenotes is always a special experience,” says Bouguenoun. “Here, one of my friends, freediver Montserrat Peart, poses for a photo. It almost looks like she is walking on air.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico Description: A seemingly giant blue crab. \u201cOn the way back from a scooter ride connecting seven different cenotes where the Ox Bel Ha cave system meets the sea, in the darkness of the cave I saw the silhouette of a creature cut against the light coming from the hole in the cave above. I had to stop to shoot the photo. The Blue Crab, \u201cfishing\u201d in the cave current, looked like a menacing samurai with its dark armour, perfectly framed by the shadows of the cave and textures of the mangrove behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Off the coast of Los Angeles, California, USA Description: A cormorant and baitfish form the shape of a human face. \u201cThis image was made under the oil rig platform, Ellen, off Los Angeles, California,\u201d says photographer Brook Peterson. \u201cThere was a large school of baitfish under the platform for several weeks and, as a result, numerous other animals there to feed off the baitfish – sea lions, bonita, and cormorants. The image depicts a cormorant hunting through a large bait ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Japan Description: \u201cCapturing an image of a cardinal fish spawning at night seemed like an impossible task – it is a fleeting moment,\u201d says Otani. \u201cOn this day, in my third season of filming, I carefully approached the fish and positioned myself directly above it to avoid disturbing it, and was able to capture the scene. It was like a volcano bursting with life. During the shoot, I felt as if the mystery of life was finally revealed to me, and that if we remembered how to respect nature, it would surely accept us again.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Faroe Islands Description: A long-finned pilot whale fetus lies lifeless under its mother\u2019s corpse in the Faroe Islands. \u201cEach year, more than 1,000 cetaceans are killed during grindadr\u00e1p, the slaughter of entire whale groups, including juveniles and pregnant females,\u201d says Bret. \u201cUsually, the fetuses are ripped from their mother\u2019s womb far from the public gaze, but this pregnant female was undetected and eviscerated among the others, revealing this deeply moving scene. While these hunts were once an existential necessity, they are no longer subsistence practices. I hope this image drives global attention to end the grindadr\u00e1p and, at a broader scale, advocates for a reconsideration of what the human relationship with others living beings should be.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Thailand Description: A young grey reef shark is hooked by an angler at night at Burma Bank, an offshore plateau in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Myanmar. \u201cAlthough shark fisheries have been legally banned in Myanmar at the national level since 2009, there is a lack of enforcement at sea and poor trade regulation,\u201d says Arunrugstichai. \u201cThis image is not a picture of an industrial shark fishing boat. The shark was incidentally caught and released.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: West Palm Beach, Florida, USA Description: \u201cThough these arrow squids are not particularly rare, I still love their vibrant colors and mesmerizing patterns, and I always shoot them when I find them,\u201d says Zhou. \u201cThis one happened to be especially cooperative, giving me a beautiful pose for a few minutes!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Raja Ampat, West Papua Description: The Papuan jellyfish, nicknamed the Golden Medusa, photographed at night in a jellyfish lake in Raja Ampat, West Papua.<\/p>\n

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Location: Western Australia Description: A green turtle, surrounded by a ball of glass fish, one of four turtle species found on Ningaloo Reef, the world\u2019s largest fringing reef. \u201cWe were doing a back-of-the-reef snorkel when one of my work friends called me over to tell me there was a turtle under a ledge in a school of glass fish, about 10 meters down,\u201d says photographer Aimee Jan. \u201cWhen I dived down to look, the fish separated around the turtle perfectly and this is what I saw. I said to her: \u2018I think I just took the best photo I have ever taken\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Florida, USA Description: \u2018Snooty\u2019 the lemon shark, Jupiter, Florida.<\/p>\n

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Location: Vancouver Island, Canada Description: Western toad tadpoles photographed off Vancouver Island, British Columbia. \u201dI had this particular image, with the back ambient lighting, in mind for several years,\u201d says photographer Maxwell Hohn, who captured the image while on expedition as part of a four year project on the species. \u201cThis particular mid-morning proved to be perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Australia Description: \u201cEach summer, male eastern gobbleguts carry their eggs in their mouths throughout the brooding season,\u201d says Sly. \u201cTypically active at night, they remain shy and quick to hide, darting into crevices or kelp at the first sign of disturbance. This portrait was captured during a night dive beneath a busy fishing and ferry wharf in Sydney Harbour. After a long, patient wait, the gobbleguts finally emerged from the shadows. I used a narrow beam of light from above to softly illuminate the fish and its egg clutch helping it stand out from the cluttered background.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Photo: Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards<\/a><\/p>\n

Location: The Maldives Description: A moray eel peeks out from its hiding spot within a coral. \u201cThe eel\u2019s face is highlighted by a snoot beam of light, making its eyes and sharp teeth stand out against the dark background,\u201d explains the photographer. \u201cThe eel\u2019s textured skin blends with the surrounding coral, giving it an almost camouflaged appearance. I captured the eel in a moment of stillness, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue as it watches its surroundings. The close-up view shows the eel\u2019s features, making it a striking and slightly eerie portrait of this underwater predator.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Photo: Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards<\/a><\/p>\n