50 Stunning Images From The 2025 Ocean Photographer Of The Year Awards

Australia

"While driving along the beach with my family, I noticed a manta ray just beyond the shoreline," says de Haas. "I launched the drone and discovered five of them cruising no more than five metres from shore. Calm water, soft waves, and pristine clarity made this rare sight possible. Moments like this are a gift, but also a reminder of what’s at stake. These gentle giants face increasing pressure from warming seas and human impact. To witness them so close, undisturbed, was powerful. We swam alongside them later, humbled by their presence. This image captures that still, fleeting connection with the wild."

French Polynesia

"I took this photo during one of the most special encounters I’ve had in years," says Fregoni. "This curious female whale kept coming back to us, very close, again and again. It was just my group, her, and a male watching quietly from a distance, around 20m deep. He never came closer, but he didn’t leave either."

United States

"In recent years, Sixgill Sharks have been spotted at our local dive spot, Redondo Beach in Des Moines, Washington," says Miller. "Every time I encounter one of these ancient animals, it is truly a spiritual experience. When I initially took this image, I almost discarded it due to the toilet and traffic cone. But something drew me back to it. I believe it is the contrast between a 200 million year old prehistoric animal and trash that humans have created. This image is a juxtaposition between nature’s beauty and humanity’s destructive nature."

Papua New Guinea

"After 25 years, I returned to Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, remembering its incredible corals and biodiversity," says Smith. "Tragically, our first dive revealed the worst coral bleaching I'd ever witnessed. Creating compelling imagery that illustrates bleaching's impact while remaining visually engaging proves challenging. I discovered this endemic Melanesian Blue Devil damselfish, found only in Papua New Guinea, living around a small branching coral colony that had bleached. We rarely consider how bleaching devastates species like these, which depend entirely on healthy coral habitats. This image captures their story - beautiful fish persisting amid environmental catastrophe, representing countless species facing similar threats worldwide."

Mexico

"The behaviours exhibited by grey whales in their mating and calving lagoons in Baja California, Mexico, are unlike anything else seen around the world," says Subramaniam. "They have a remarkable curiosity, actively approaching small fishing skiffs to see what is happening. I shot this on an incredible morning, when we had over 20 whales around our boat. The four that you see in this image were the initiators, after which all the others wanted in on a piece of the human action. To this day, this remains the most incredible wildlife interaction I have ever had."

Mexico

"With a powerful sweep of its pectoral fins, a stingray vanishes into the blue, leaving behind a swirling cloud of sand," says Coll. "This dramatic burst isn’t just beautiful—it’s a survival tactic. The stingray’s sudden movement disturbs the seafloor, creating a dense visual barrier that confuses predators and conceals its escape. In a single graceful motion, it demonstrates a remarkable adaptation for life on the ocean floor—where defence, camouflage, and movement come together in a fleeting but unforgettable display."

South Georgia Island

"My short time on South Georgia Island was intense," says Armada. "On the final morning, just hours before departure to Gough Island, I wandered along the beach with no intention of photographing, only observing. I noticed how the waves left behind ephemeral mirrors on the black sand, disappearing as fast as they appeared. A lone penguin stood still in the calm, and for a moment, the reflection was perfect. The cold air, changing clouds, and fleeting light made everything feel transitive. I raised the camera almost instinctively, knowing that this stillness wouldn’t happen again."

French Polynesia

"At the mythical Teahupo’o, a wave sculpted by the power of the ocean forms a perfect tube framing the surfer," says Lenfant. "The surfer’s head is positioned exactly in the centre, creating a striking illusion: the curve of the wave looks like a giant eye, with the surfer becoming its iris. In this fleeting moment of harmony, the surfer seems to merge with this natural work of art."

Philippines

"This image was taken on an early morning dive at Gatto Island, about a 50-minute boat ride from Malapascua in the Philippines," says Földi. "I have been to this dive site many times and I have always been amazed by the variety of underwater life. At the end of the first dive I noticed this squid egg on the seabed. The egg, only 2-3 centimetres in diameter, had drifted away from the squid's nest and other eggs. I didn't have much time to take a picture because I had to return to the surface."

Australia

"During the annual whale migration, over 40,000 humpback whales travel along the east coast of Australia," says Burgess. "This is a special time that I love documenting. On this occasion, it was an overcast start to the day with not many whales visible due to the conditions. Then, I noticed this humpback travelling with her calf and began watching their behaviour, slowly rising above the surface, bridging the world between land and sea, before silently disappearing back into the depths of the Pacific."

Philiippines

"This image features a tiny juvenile candy crab, measuring a mere centimetre in size and perched on her pink coral mattress, which is also her favourite source of nutrition," says Hoksbergen. "This dinky but stunning crustacean evades predators and spectators alike not only due to its miniature stature, but its camouflage. The candy crab is a true hidden gem beneath the waves of the Tañon Strait in the Philippines, where this image was taken."

Antarctica

"Weddell seals thrive in the harshest environment on the planet," says Portelli. "These large mammals, distributed throughout Antarctica, have a thick layer of fur and blubber that act both as a food reserve and insulation. The finely packed fur allows them to survive in temperatures as low as -60 degrees Celsius. This image was taken after this seal had hauled itself out of the water and onto the ice floe to rest. It would later return to the icy depths of Antarctica to hunt."

United Kingdom

"I'd definitely have dropped the fish," says Watkinson. "I'd probably have given this Greater Black-backed Gull my money, watch and keys too, such was the loud, determined ferocity of its attack. When puffins are feeding chicks, gulls cruise around nesting sites looking for adults returning with fish to harass and rob."

Portugal

“A rough day at Nazaré,” says Thouard. “The wind was blowing from the north, which makes the surf tricky. Not many surfers went out, but Justine Dupont and Eric Rebiere, whom I was there to shoot, decided to give it a try. It was the end of the afternoon; the light was interesting from the beach instead as from the usual cliff view. It was hard to shoot anything because of the big sets and the saltwater in the air. But, eventually, this moment happened.”

Australia

Professional surfer Noa Deane flies through a rainbow at Huzzas surf break, Western Australia. “This image is baffling,” says Feast. “It was created at sunset. I had to track the surfer coming at me and then lose him for a moment as he prepared to launch. I had to turn blindly and shoot, predicting that he would fly through my frame. The resulting rainbow I was not prepared for – it’s something I’ve never seen before and not been able to replicate since.”

Mexico

"This location is a cenote in Cancun," says Yul Park. "I wanted to capture the entire view from the entrance in a single frame, so I went all the way to the back of the cenote and positioned myself for the shot. I waited a long time to take the photo without any other divers around."

Spain

"This image captures a rarely seen moment aboard a small bottom trawler in the Mediterranean," says Ochs. "After slowly gaining the fishermen’s trust, I was allowed to join them for a 14-hour shift at sea. Twice a day, a 100-metre net is dragged along the seafloor at depths of up to 800 metres. When it resurfaced, the catch spilled onto the deck – catsharks, rays, crabs, and countless others, many still struggling for life. Most wouldn’t feed anyone. They were bycatch, later discarded as waste. The experience left a lasting mark, and strengthened my resolve to expose this destructive practice and help end it."

Indonesia

Clouds of white spawn billow from a giant barrel sponge, a rare and fleeting event that breathes new life into the reef. Surrounding the sponge, a frenzy of Midnight Snappers, feast upon the rising plumes. Mouths agape these opportunistic feeders take turns consuming the nutrient-rich spawn, plunging into the white clouds, gorging themselves.

"Capturing this image was no simple task," says Sanders. "The Midnight Snappers, initially wary of my presence, kept their distance, hesitant to approach the sponge while I was nearby. I had to remain perfectly calm and still, patiently waiting for them to grow comfortable enough to circle the sponge. Over time, my presence became just another part of their environment, and they began to feed freely, allowing me the opportunity to frame this intricate feast."

Norway

"In the middle of a Nordic winter, snow-clad mountains and islands frame the Reine fishing village," says Li. "Crimson cabins punctuate the cold blue expanse like beacons of warmth, while gentle waves lap against rocky shores. The image captures the Arctic’s silent romance - a harmony of solitude and the oceanic rhythm."

Australia

"In the early hours of July 1st, we received a call about a stranded humpback whale," says Parry. "Wildlife 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."