{"id":538916,"date":"2026-01-24T07:12:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T07:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/538916\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T07:12:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T07:12:19","slug":"dive-into-the-spectacular-2025-ocean-art-photo-competition-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/538916\/","title":{"rendered":"Dive Into the Spectacular 2025 Ocean Art Photo Competition Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>      <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BEST-IN-SHOW-SKovacs_TiredFish_highres-800x561.jpg\" alt=\"A translucent anglerfish with wide-open jaws, glowing yellow eyes, and extended fins floats against a black background. A bioluminescent lure extends from its head.\" width=\"800\" height=\"561\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836045\"  \/>Best in Show and Blackwater Category Winner | \u201cTired Fish\u201d by Steven Kovacs | Location: Blackwater dive off Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan <\/p>\n<p>The Underwater Photography Guide has announced the winners of its 14th annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwphotographyguide.com\/ocean-art-contest-winners-2025\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener\">Ocean Art competition<\/a> which highlights the best of underwater photography across a variety of categories with over $60,000 in prizes up for grabs. <\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s competition featured 14 categories, all of which can be seen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwphotographyguide.com\/ocean-art-contest-winners-2025\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener\">on the competition\u2019s website<\/a>, and even includes two categories that have no restrictions on editing to allow photographers to really embrace the idea of art, which The Underwater Photography Guide says was meant to encourage \u201climitless creativity.\u201d As a result, the contest saw thousands of entries submitted from more than 90 countries.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cBest in Show\u201d award was granted to Steven Kovacs for his image \u201cTired Fish,\u201d which can be seen above. It was also the Blackwater category winner. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of my favorite subjects to encounter on blackwater dives is the goosefish, also known as the monkfish. So when I began seeing photographs of a never-before-seen species of larval goosefish taken off Kume Island, Japan, I knew I had to visit and try to find one,\u201d Kovacs says of the photo. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBlackwater diving in the very deep waters off Kumejima, Japan, is an exciting new opportunity, and although finding my target fish was a long shot, I booked an extended stay in hopes of getting lucky. After nearly two weeks of nightly searching and nearing the end of my stay, my elusive subject suddenly appeared. Unfortunately, this beautiful little fish turned out to be incredibly uncooperative and difficult to photograph. After spending some time with it, I was very fortunate that, for one brief moment, it decided to yawn while facing the camera. I somehow managed to press the shutter at that exact instant, resulting in this image.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Below are more winners from a selection of categories.<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/WIDE-ANGLE-LAST-LIGHT-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"Several sharks swim underwater, with one large shark in the foreground. The surface of the water reflects light and colors from above, creating a dynamic, vibrant scene.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836054\"  \/>Wide Angle Category Winner | \u201cLast Light\u201d by Byron Conroy. | Location: Jardines Del Reina marine Park in Cuba, Caribbean <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/UNDERWATER-DIGITAL-ART-Mysterious-Valentini-pufferfish_Michal-Stros-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"A colorful fish swims underwater, with vibrant, smoky wisps swirling around its head and body, blending into the dark blue water above and fading into a black background below.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836053\"  \/>Underwater Digital Art Category Winner | \u201cMysterious Pufferfish\u201d by Michal Stros | Location: Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi, Indonesia <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PORTRAIT-_DSC6107-Edit-clean-2-Edit-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"A sea snake with brown and white bands swims underwater, its body twisted in a spiral. A small yellow fish with black stripes rests on the snake\u2019s back. The background is dark and deep blue.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836052\"  \/>Portrait Category Winner | \u201cSea Snake Knot\u201d by Galice Hoarau | Location: Anda, Philippines <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NUDIBRANCHS-BAUSANI_macro-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"A colorful nudibranch with orange, blue, and white feathery appendages glides against a black background, highlighting its vibrant, translucent body and delicate features.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836051\"  \/>Nudibranchs Category Winner | \u201cTrue Colors\u201d by Paolo Bausani | Location: Giannutri Island, Mediterranean Sea, Italy <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/MARINE-LIFE-BEHAVIOR-beautiful-birth-500x800.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up photo of a bright yellow seahorse clinging to underwater plants or algae, set against a dark, blurry background. Its curved tail is wrapped around the vegetation.\" width=\"500\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836050\"  \/>Marine Life Behavior Category Winner | \u201cBeautiful Birth\u201d by Jeon Min Seok | Location: Beaches in Kumamoto and Shinminamata, Japan <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/MACRO-LEM_2155-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"A small red and white fish peeks out from between the branches of orange-brown coral, partially hidden among the clustered coral polyps underwater.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836049\"  \/>Macro Category Winner | \u201cBetween the Polyps\u201d by Daniel Sly | Location: Indonesia, Lembeh Strait <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/COMPACT-WIDE-ANGLE-turtleandsnorkelers_highres-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"A sea turtle swims underwater while a group of snorkelers floats above, silhouetted against the bright blue surface of the ocean.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836048\"  \/>Compact Wide Angle Category Winner | \u201cTurtle and Snorkelers\u201d by  Haemi Cho | Location: Shark Point, Komodo, Indonesia<br \/>\n <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/COMPACT-BEHAVIOR-MisfireHires-800x632.jpg\" alt=\"Two seahorses, one yellow and one brown, face each other and appear to be intertwined, floating upright against a deep blue underwater background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"632\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836047\"  \/>Compact Behavior Category Winner | \u201cMisfire\u201d by Jo Taylor | Location: Lembeh, North Sulawesi Indonesia <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/COLD-WATER-One-Way-Out-HI-RES-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"A diver wearing fins and a wetsuit swims underwater beneath thick, textured ice formations, with sunlight filtering through cracks above.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836046\"  \/>Cold Water Category Winner | \u201cOne Way Out\u201d by James Ferrara | Location: Tobermory, Ontario Canada (Lake Huron) <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese images are the result of obsession, patience, and exploration,\u201d Nirupam Nigam, organizer of the contest and President of Bluewater Photo and Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide, says. \u201cMany of this year\u2019s winners spent weeks\u2014or even years\u2014chasing moments most people will never witness. While all great photography demands dedication, underwater photography requires a uniquely intense combination of patience, persistence, and technical skill.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The full list of winners, runners up, and honorable mentions can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwphotographyguide.com\/ocean-art-contest-winners-2025\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener\">viewed on Underwater Photography Guide\u2019s competition page<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Image credits:<\/strong> All photos are individually credited and were provided courtesy of The Underwater Photography Guide<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Best in Show and Blackwater Category Winner | \u201cTired Fish\u201d by Steven Kovacs | Location: Blackwater dive off&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":538917,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[648,1032,4315,1033,171,238059,238060,238061,48972,6580,87310,238062,67,132,68,7187],"class_list":{"0":"post-538916","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-competition","11":"tag-design","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-oceanart","14":"tag-oceanartcompetition","15":"tag-oceanartcontest","16":"tag-photocompetition","17":"tag-underwater","18":"tag-underwaterphotography","19":"tag-underwaterphotographyguide","20":"tag-united-states","21":"tag-unitedstates","22":"tag-us","23":"tag-winners"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115948837184481023","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/538916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=538916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/538916\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/538917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=538916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=538916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=538916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}