Ocean Photographer of the Year Contest 2024

From images of glowing coral reefs and dramatic wildlife encounters to examples of our species’ special connection with the sea, gaze in wonder at the beauty and fragility of our blue planet.

Our oceans have long been a source of fascination and awe. But many of us have only experienced them from or near the shore. The Ocean Photographer of the Year competition, the finalists of which were recently announced, reveals a world few of us get a chance to see.

Featuring coastal, drone and underwater photography, this year’s images showcase the beauty and fragility of our oceans. They not only capture the vibrant life above and below the waves but also tell urgent stories about the threats our marine environments face.

Some photos emphasize the sheer scale and majesty of the oceans, like an aerial shot of an immense melting ice shelf in the Arctic. Others draw attention to the delicate ecosystems that are increasingly under threat from climate change, pollution and overfishing. An octopus sheltering in a plastic bag is a stark reminder of the human impact on marine life.

There are lighter moments too, like a seagull taking a rest on the back of a swimming sea turtle before going on its way. Meanwhile, the ‘conservation (hope)’ category underlines successful efforts to restore coral reefs and revive endangered fish and mammal populations.

The Ocean Photographer of the Year contest, which is presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, is open to both professionals and amateurs. This year’s contest attracted more than 15,000 entries. Category winners and 2024’s overall winner will be announced on September 12. In the meantime, you can marvel at all the finalists here.

A humpback whale breaches the surface of the water as it migrates along the Australian coastline. New South Wales, Australia.
Photo: Clayton Harris 

 Clownfish parents take care of a patch of clownfish eggs. Lembeh, Indonesia.
Photo: Tobias Friedrich

Like clockwork, thousands of corals spanning hundreds of kilometers synchronize their efforts to reproduce, releasing egg and sperm bundles into the open sea. Israel.
Photo: Tom Shlesinger

 A curious octopus looks out from its hiding place. South Africa.
Photo: Kate Jonker

Above, pelicans dive from the sky in a well-coordinated dance. Underwater, mahi-mahi chase sardines while sea lions join the action. Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Photo: Merche Llobera 

 A male and female polar bear rest after mating high in the mountains. Svalbard, Norway.
Photo: Florian Ledoux

Western toad tadpoles migrate from the deeper part of a lake to the sunlit shallows to feed on algae and other organic matter. British Columbia, Canada.
Photo: Shane Gross

A close-up shot of a nurse shark’s eye.  Tahiti, French Polynesia.
Photo: Julien Anton

 A diver swims through the waters off Iwo Jima, a volcanic island with hot springs. When the water from the hot springs flows into the sea, it turns the shallower water red or orange. Iwo Jima, Japan.
Photo: Daisuke Kurashima

A juvenile wunderpus octopus shows off its translucent body. Anilao, Philippines.
Photo: Katherine Lu

A puffin carries fish to feed its chicks.  Saltee Islands, Ireland.
Photo: Merche Llobera  

 A hingebeak shrimp colony in the hollow of a barrel sponge. These striking shrimp, with vivid red and white stripes, display dance-like movement, swaying back and forth with their beaks pointed upwards. Koh Haa, Thailand.
Photo: Nataya Chonecadeedumrongkul

 Skilled freedivers hang upside down beneath a boat, defying gravity and basking in their unique moment of underwater grace. Sri Lanka.
Photo: Chong Wan Yong

A giant Pacific octopus in the shallows. Russia.
Photo: Andrey Shpatak

A young jack fish hides inside a jellyfish, demonstrating their unique symbiotic relationship. Anilao, Philippines.
Photo: Katherine Lu

 A green sea turtle is released by a researcher after being caught while trying to catch sharks. Acting quickly, the researchers untangled the turtle, measured and tagged it before releasing it back into the water. Seychelles.
Photo: Shane Gross

 Juvenile common clownfish in a hatchery. The common clownfish population off the Jakarta coastline has decreased significantly as a result of overfishing and the ornamental fish trade. In 2018, the government opened a hatchery to revive the local clownfish population. Jakarta, Indonesia.
Photo: Giacomo d’Orlando

 An elusive algae octopus shows off its fluorescence under ultraviolet light. North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Photo: Jacob Guy

A poison ocellate octopus or mototi on a pyrosome, a pelagic colony of tunicates. Captured during a blackwater night dive, this juvenile octopus measured about 2 centimeters. Anilao, Philippines.
Photo: Katherine Lu

 A scuba diver explores the Silfra fissure in Iceland, the tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates. Iceland.
Photo: Byron Conroy

A small shark egg case attached to a sea fan. Through the viewfinder, the photographer could see the developing embryo inside. Italy.
Photo: Filippo Borghi

An octopus explores the pristine coral reefs of remote Indonesia, only accessible by boat. Indonesia.
Photo: Shane Gross

An endangered White’s seahorse in Sydney Harbour. Their numbers have been in decline as a result of human activities. Thanks to conservation programs and captive breeding and release, their numbers are happily recovering. Sydney, Australia.
Photo: Matty Smith

A fever of mobula rays stirs up the seabed in the morning light. Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Photo: Isoon Tepsaskul 

A paper nautilus leaves a cloud of ink behind after being startled by the photographer’s presence. Anilao, Philippines.
Photo: Katherine Lu

A seagull rests on top of a sea turtle shortly before they both go their own way.  Mediterranean Sea.
Photo: Enric Adrian Gener 

A juvenile African pompano looks very different from its adult version.  Anilao, Philippines.
Photo: Pietro Formis 

Juvenile Munk’s devil rays are attracted by a green light, seemingly flying through the water. Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Photo: Henley Spiers

A freediver surrounded by a shoal of sardines. Bohol, Philippines.
Photo: Benjamín Yávar

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In awe of oceans