10 Winning Shots From The 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year Competition

The mysterious depths of the ocean captivate our curiosity and inspire a desire to explore. The winds across the seas spark a yearning in many to witness firsthand the wonders hidden beneath the waves. From the comfort of our homes and offices, much of the ocean’s grandeur is out of sight. The Ocean Photographer of the Year competition seeks to bridge this gap, connecting people to the immense waters that make up over 70% of our planet. This year’s winners were recognised for highlighting crucial messages about ocean conservation. Presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, the competition’s mission is to illuminate both the beauty and fragility of the ocean, while celebrating the photographers who give it a voice.

#1 Female Fifty Fathoms Award – JIALING CAI ANILAO (PHILIPPINES)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

A fish captures a jellyfish. “It potentially grabbed it for chemical defence by taking advantage of the toxins in its tentacles,” says Cai. “While the fish was holding the jelly in its mouth, it looked like it was blowing a balloon.”

#2 Wildlife Photographer of the Year TAKUMI OYAMA (JAPAN)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

“This photo shows the larval dispersal behaviour observed during the hatching of the yellow pigmy goby,” says Oyama. “In gobiid fishes, male parental care is common, but unusually, in the yellow pigmy goby, females also participate in parental hatching care. This individual is a female, releasing newly hatched larvae into the water column from her mouth.”

The competition forms a key part of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, which unites efforts to safeguard marine environments through three pillars: raising awareness, supporting scientific research, and taking direct conservation action, such as establishing marine protected areas.

#3 Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 – OVERALL WINNER Yury Ivanov (BALI, INDONESIA)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

Location: Indonesia 

Two amphipods from the Cyproideidae family, each only measuring around 3 millimetres in body length, rest on a coral. Commonly called ‘ladybugs of the sea’, these tiny creatures display striking colouration and symmetry. “It required a lot of patience and precision to compose and light the shot properly,” says Ivanov. “The result reveals an intimate glimpse of underwater life that is often overlooked.”

About the photographer

Yury Ivanov is an Indonesia-based award-winning photographer and PADI Dive Master with more than 15,000 dives. He moved to Asia more than 14 years ago where he has since made Bali his home to photograph the local macro life. He has specialised in studying nudibranchs and co-authored the identification guidebook Nudibranchs of The Coral Triangle. His work has taken him to underwater sites across Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt, the Maldives, Palau, the Black Sea, and Thailand – but it’s Bali’s vibrant reefs and nudibranch-rich coastlines that continue to inspire him the most.

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

#4 Fine Art Photographer of the Year – MARCIA RIEDERER (AUSTRALIA)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

“Dwarf minke whales are known to visit the northern Great Barrier Reef during the winter, making it the only known predictable aggregation of these whales in the world,” says Riederer. “These curious giants approach swimmers with an almost playful curiosity. Floating in the turquoise water, watching a sleek, dark body glide effortlessly towards you, its eye meeting yours in a moment of connection. The whales, seem to acknowledge your presence, circling and interacting with you. It’s a humbling experience, reaffirming the wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants, and the urgent need to conserve it.”

Will Harrison, Director of Ocean Photographer of the Year, emphasized, “Photography is more than art—it serves as a bridge, connecting people to the ocean in ways words cannot. Even those who may never experience the sea in person are deeply connected to it. In these critical times, this year’s photographers urge us to see, feel, and care, because we protect what we understand.”

#5 Adventure Photographer of the Year – BEN THOUARD (PORTUGAL)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

“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, who 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.”

#6 Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year – HUGO BRET (FAROE ISLANDS)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

A long-finned pilot whale foetus lies lifeless under its mother’s corpse in the Faroe Islands. “Each year, more than 1,000 cetaceans are killed during grindadráp, the slaughter of entire whale groups, including juveniles and pregnant females,” says Bret. “Usually, the foetuses are ripped from their mother’s womb far from the public gaze, but this pregnant female was undetected and eviscerated among the others, revealing this deeply moving scene. While these hunts were once an existential necessity, they are no longer subsistence practices. I hope this image drives global attention to end the grindadráp and, at a broader scale, advocates for a reconsideration of what the human relationship with others living beings should be.”

#7 Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year – SIRACHAI ARUNRUGSTICHAI (THAILAND)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

“An aquarist holds a glass jar with an early-stage embryo of an Indo-Pacific Leopard shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), its egg case removed for a rearing experiment at Aquaria Phuket, one of Thailand’s largest private aquariums,” says Arunrugstichai. “Since 2023, the aquarium’s staff-driven breeding program has produced over 40 pups of this Endangered species, listed on the IUCN Red List. Aquaria Phuket now works with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, ReShark, WildAid, Ocean Blue Tree, and private partners on the StAR (Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery) Project Thailand, reintroducing these sharks to the wild, beginning August 2025.”

Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain, remarked, “The Fifty Fathoms has been a pioneer in diving and ocean exploration. Today, we continue to support underwater photography, recognising its vital role in raising awareness, inspiring, and driving marine conservation.”

#8 Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean – CRAIG PARRY (AUSTRALIA)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

“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.” 

#9 Young Photographer of the Year – AARON SANDERS (UNITED KINGDOM)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

“Under the cover of night, two tiny Bobtail squid engaged in an intimate display, their arms intertwined as they mated on the seabed,” says Sanders. “Waves of colour rippled across their bodies as chromatophores pulsed in a mesmerising rhythm, white flickered to gold, gold to red, and back again, transforming them into living, glowing jewels in the dark. These otherworldly creatures performed their courtship, creating the next generation of Bobtail squid. I felt privileged to have witnessed this rare and tender moment. Approaching with care, I documented this encounter without disturbing the pair, capturing their brilliant display in all its intricate detail.”

#10 Ocean Portfolio Award – MATTHEW SULLIVAN (FLORIDA, USA)

Image Source: OceanographicMagazine

A portrait of a curious jawfish. “2025 was an exceptional year for spotting mouthbrooding males,” explains Sullivan. “This particular male was quite bold and once he became comfortable with me, he allowed me to take this image.”

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 offers significant prizes, including £10,000 in Canon gear and an expedition with Ocean Census. The first major exhibition opens at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney on November 6.