© Yuka Takahashi / Ocean Photographer of the YearThird place, Young. “These two humpback whales are always seen together, and I was fortunate to capture this rare moment of synchronicity. This photo reflects the strong bond between them while revealing their playful personalities.”
© Yury Ivanov / Ocean Photographer of the YearOverall Winner. Two amphipods from the Cyproideidae family, each only measuring around 3 millimeters in body length, rest on a coral. Commonly called “ladybugs of the sea,” these tiny creatures display striking coloration and symmetry. “It required a lot of patience and precision to compose and light the shot properly. The result reveals an intimate glimpse of underwater life that is often overlooked.”
© Ysabela Coll / Ocean Photographer of the YearThird Place, Fine Art. With a powerful sweep of its pectoral fins, a stingray vanishes into the blue, leaving behind a swirling cloud of sand. “This dramatic burst isn’t just beautiful—it’s a survival tactic.”
© Max Holba / Ocean Photographer of the YearFinalist, Human Connection. A handwoven bamboo basket, called bubu, descends into the depths of Alor’s waters in Indonesia. “The locals of Alor use this traditional technique as an efficient method to catch fish.”
© Jade Hoksbergen / Ocean Photographer of the YearFinalist, Fine Art. A tiny juvenile candy crab, measuring a mere centimeter in size, perches on a pink coral. “The coral is also her favourite source of nutrition.”
© Marcia Riederer / Ocean Photographer of the YearWinner, Fine Art. A dwarf minke whale curiously eyes the photographer. “These whales are known to visit the northern Great Barrier Reef during the winter, making it the only known predictable aggregation of the species in the world.”
© Sirachai Arunrugstichai / Ocean Photographer of the YearWinner, Conservation (Hope). An aquarist holds an early-stage embryo of an Indo-Pacific leopard shark, its egg case removed for a rearing experiment at Aquaria Phuket. “Since 2023, the aquarium’s breeding program has produced over 40 pups of this Endangered species.”
© Noam Kortler / Ocean Photographer of the YearFinalist, Conservation (Impact). The negative side of whale-shark tourism, seen in the Philippines. “In this image you can see the industry behind the tourism. Whale sharks approach the boats to be fed. These interactions have become a circus rather than a celebration of nature.”
© Andrew Sullivan-Haskins / Ocean Photographer of the YearFinalist, Conservation (Impact). Inside the world’s largest albatross colony, a technician from the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project carries a ghost net. “During their mission, the team removed more than 70,000 pounds of marine debris. This is action-based conservation at its finest.”
© Matthew Sullivan / Ocean Photographer of the YearWinner, Portfolio. A batfish lies on the seabed. “Polka-dot batfish are a common sight in Florida waters, but they are notoriously difficult to photograph. After years of trying, this individual seemed relaxed, and I was able to finally take a head-on portrait.”
© Daniel Flormann / Ocean Photographer of the YearSecond Place, Conservation (Impact). Dead sharks in an anchovy fishing net. “More than 100 million sharks are killed annually—many as accidental bycatch. The deceased sharks in the net and the whale shark’s injured caudal fin both tell stories of human impact.”
© Gergo Rugli / Ocean Photographer of the YearSecond Place, Adventure. A surfer enjoys a crisp winter morning at Bronte Beach in Australia. “This image was the result of a rare alignment—a powerful southerly swell met strong offshore winds under soft morning light.”
© Giancarlo Mazarese / Ocean Photographer of the YearSecond Place, Portfolio. Tiny cuttlefish eggs reveal the developing embryo within. One egg, illuminated using a backlit snoot, highlights the anatomy and developmental stages of the embryo. “This technique allows for a detailed observation of organogenesis and movement before hatching.”
© Yifan Ling / Ocean Photographer of the YearSecond Place, Wildlife. A one-year-old Bigg’s orca catches a harbor seal. “At this age, orcas typically rely on milk. His skill highlights the Salish Sea’s richness, where harbor seals and orcas have rebounded thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.”
© Giancarlo Mazarese / Ocean Photographer of the YearSecond Place, Portfolio. “Favorinus tsuruganus feeds on the eggs of another gastropod species, demonstrating a canny ability to obtain nutrients efficiently while minimising foraging effort.” By preying on eggs, the nudibranch regulates local gastropod populations and influences the dynamics of the reef.
© Craig Parry / Ocean Photographer of the YearWinner, Human Connection. People try to rescue a stranded humpback whale in Australia. “For 15 hours, they worked tirelessly. Sadly, she could not be saved, but the compassion shown is powerful reminder of what can be achieved when people come together.”
© Daan Verhoeven / Ocean Photographer of the YearFinalist, Adventure. The free diver Surya Lecona Moctezuma dives down in between light beams in a cenote in Mexico. Verhoeven said: “I tried to capture the contrast between the light and dark areas, as well as the sudden appearance of linear geometry in a natural setting.”
To see all of the winning images, be sure to visit Oceanographic Magazine’s full gallery.
The post Winners of the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 appeared first on The Atlantic.
