A marine iguana ‘mid-sneeze’, a troupe of skeleton shrimps that has colonized a gorgonian coral and a spaceship-like jellyfish seemingly departing Earth’s atmosphere are among the wonderful finalists for the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025.
The dramatic, weird, funny undersea encounters gracing this photo competition celebrate our ocean’s wonders, the human connection with the sea and its creatures and highlight the urgent need to protect it.
That same human connection is challenged by images showing our impact on the ocean, including climate change-induced coral bleaching, the effects of plastic pollution on marine mammals and the killing of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands, in a hunt known as the grindadráp.
“In the midst of a deepening climate and biodiversity crisis on our blue planet, ocean photography has never been more important,” said Ocean Photographer of the Year Director Will Harrison. “These images are far more than just beautiful. They are powerful visual testaments to what we stand to lose, and they remind us of the urgent need for protection. The Ocean Photographer of the Year, presented by the Oceanographic Magazine and (watch company) Blancpain, continues to be a vital platform for sharing critical stories from above and below the waterline.”
All category winners, along with the overall Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025, will be announced in September.
Wildlife Ocean Photographer
“Marine iguanas, endemic to the Galapagos, are one of the most iconic species in the archipelago,” says photographer Arturo de Frias. “They are like miniature dragons, especially in low angle eye-to-eye portraits like this one. This individual was resting on the black rocks of Santa Cruz Island, sunbathing after a foraging dive. By sheer luck, I photographed the split-second in which it was sneezing the excess salt it had absorbed during its dive.”
“Each summer, male eastern gobbleguts carry their eggs in their mouths throughout the brooding season,” says Daniel Sly. “Typically 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.”
“This photo, taken on July 13, 2024, captures one-year-old Bigg’s orca — known as ‘Rook’ — near Bird Rocks, Washington (state),” Yifan Ling explained. “Against the glowing sunset, Rook proudly displays a harbour 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 harbour seal and Bigg’s orca populations have rebounded thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, a testament to the impact of long-term conservation efforts.”
“Although their conservation status is ‘Least Concern’, few people see these Pigmy seahorses in the wild due to their incredible camouflage,” says Richard Smith. “Endemic to Florida and Gulf of Mexico waters, these tiny seahorses require a keen eye to locate. I found a pair thriving in one-to-two feet of water. This female was accompanied by her pregnant male partner, but only her colour matched the emerald green Halimeda algae she was clinging to.”
Thousands of Skeleton shrimps have entirely colonized a gorgonian coral in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. “These crustaceans are actually not true shrimps but amphipods of the Genus Caprella,” Alexis Chappuis explains. “As these animals feed on plankton, they should not impact their host. However, in this case, there were so many of them that they may be the reason why the Gorgonian’s polyps were all retracted. Could this impact the feeding efficiency of their soft coral host?”
An opportunistic pelican swoops in to steal a fish from strand-feeding dolphins. “When dolphins strand-feed, they corral baitballs of fish and rush them onto the shore,” Kat Zhou explains. “Pelicans usually lurk nearby, hoping to take advantage of an easy meal. Following the pelicans is usually a good indicator of where along the beach the dolphins might strand next. Though there are around 350 dolphins that call South Carolina home, this rare strand feeding behaviour is only performed by a few members of one pod.”
Ocean Photographer’s Fine Art
“I’ve always been fascinated by the resemblance between jellyfish and space rockets,” says Antonio Bertran Regàs. “I was looking for a photograph that conveyed that connection. I took the photo just as the sun was rising. I don’t think I’ll ever be as close to space as I was that day.”
“A tiny juvenile candy crab, measuring a mere centimetre in size, perched on her pink coral mattress, which is also her favourite source of nutrition,” Jade Hoksbergen says. “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.”
Conservation’s Hope And Impact
“In Martinique, the octopus, known locally as ‘chatroux’, is becoming increasingly rare due to human overconsumption,” says Théo Maynier. “Marine reserves have been created to offer a refuge for all species, including the octopus, in order to protect them from overfishing and to preserve biodiversity. In this context, this encounter with an octopus and its eggs, observed in the Kay Pothuau marine reserve, clearly stands as a true sign of hope for conservation.”
“In sunlit water, countless juvenile fish swirled around this dome-shaped coral, creating a mesmerising scene,” says Kim Hyeon Min. “The vibrant coral, untouched by bleaching, was teeming with encrusting organisms, forming a complex and harmonious ecosystem that felt like a miniature planet. In a time when marine ecosystems are rapidly disappearing, this image is a reminder of what we still have — and a hopeful glimpse of what we must protect for the future.”
“After 25 years, I returned to Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, remembering its incredible corals and biodiversity,” says Richard 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.”
“In the darkness of the open ocean at night, a tiny paper nautilus clings to a plastic bottle cap,” Giancarlo Mazarese explains. “In the wild, females of this species seek out floating organisms like jellyfish to hitch a ride and navigate the water column. But here, instead of a living creature, she finds only what humanity has discarded. This image, taken in Anilao, Philippines, reflects the silent impact of pollution and the resilience of marine life.”
The Human Impact
“This photo was taken on April 1, 2024, off Point No Point in Washington’s Puget Sound,” recalls Yifan Ling. “There’s a community of people who prefer watching orcas from the land rather than from boats.
“Land-based whale watchers in Puget Sound can sometimes get lucky, as these wild apex predators occasionally approach the shore, seemingly curious about their human spectators. That day was no ordinary day as more than 20 Bigg’s orcas were traveling into Puget Sound, and as the orca pods passed by one after another, a male known as Barakat decided to do some “people watching” of his own.
“He repeatedly breached near the shore, and this was one of his most spectacular jumps. This photo highlights how close humans and orcas can come to one another in these wild waters. These orcas aren’t afraid of us; in fact, they sometimes seem intrigued. And that’s just one more reason why we need to protect these incredible creatures.”
“Xiapu boasts an extensive coastline where local aquaculture thrives,” says Shi Xiaowen. “This photo captures the laver farming scene in Xiapu’s coastal waters. Shot on an overcast day, the rhythmic patterns formed by laver cultivation poles intertwine with fishermen labouring at work.”
“Each morning before sunrise at Tam Tien beach, the shoreline comes alive with a flurry of activity,” says Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn. “Clusters of wooden fishing boats anchor offshore, forming a floating fleet. From there, teams of fishermen in round basket boats skillfully navigate through the waves, ferrying barrels of freshly caught seafood to the shore.
“On the beach, families of fishermen and wholesale traders wait eagerly, ready to sort and purchase the catch. The seafood is quickly loaded into baskets and rushed off to markets throughout the province. This daily ritual reflects the deep connection between the sea and coastal livelihoods.”
All the winners and finalist photos from previous years and this year’s finalists of the Ocean Photographer Of The Year can be seen here.