14 Of The Most Stunning Photos From The 2022 Ocean Photographers of the Year Competition

Ocean! The majestic water body attracts lots of people with its mysterious aura. Artists and photographers are no strangers to them either. To celebrate the importance of oceans, the Ocean Photographer of the Year invites photographers from around the world to submit their best entries.

#1 Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year, Winner

Image source: oceanographic

Ben Thouard, (image A) Surfer Matahi Drollet catches a wave known as Teahupo’o in Tahiti.
Tahiti, French Polynesia

#2 Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year, Second

Image source: oceanographic

Galice Hoarau, (A) A gull caught on a ghost fishing line.
Saltstraumen, Norway

#3 Community Choice Award, Winner

Image source: oceanographic

Phil de Glanville, Surfer Jack Robinson rides the famous break known as ‘The Right’, home to some of the heaviest waves in the world.
Denmark, Western Australia

#4 Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year, Third

Image source: oceanographic

Steven Kovacs, (A) A female paper nautilus drifts along on a piece of trash.
Anilao, Philippines

#5 Exploration Photographer of the Year, Winner

Image source: oceanographic

Martin Broen, (A) Speleothems cast long shadows at cenote Dos Pisos.
Quintana Roo, Mexico

#6 Exploration Photographer of the Year, Second

Image source: oceanographic

Steven Kovacs, A rare deep water cusk eel larva.
Florida, USA

#7 Steven Kovacs, A rare deep water cusk eel larva.
Florida, USA

Image source: oceanographic

Matty Smith, (A) A portrait of a squid.
Bushrangers Bay, Australia

#8 Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year, Third

Image source: oceanographic

Sebastien Pontoizeau, A freediver duck dives to capture a photograph of a humpback whale.
Réunion Island

#9 Ocean Photographer of the Year, Third

Image source: oceanographic

Matty Smith, “A hawksbill turtle hatchling just 3.5cm long and a few minutes old takes its first swim,” says photographer Matty Smith. “It had emerged from an egg just minutes earlier with approximately 100 of its siblings. They quickly made their way into the ocean to disperse as rapidly as they could and avoid predation from birds and fish. I had to work quickly for this shot.”
Lissenung Island, Papua New Guinea

#10 2022 Ocean Photographer of the Year, Overall Winner

Image source: oceanographic

Ben Thouard, A surfer battles one of the heaviest waves in the world following a wipe-out.
Tahiti, French Polynesia

#11 Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year, Winner

Image source: oceanographic

Kerim Sabuncuoglu, A dead moray eel on an abandoned fishing line.
Bodrum, Turkey

#12 Adventure Ocean Photographer of the Year, Second

Image source: oceanographic

Ben Thouard, (image B) A wave known as Teahupo’o, as seen from below.
Tahiti, French Polynesia

#13 Ocean Photographer of the Year, Second

Image source: oceanographic

Henley Spiers, “Diving in amidst the barrage of gannets, I witness the violent synchronicity of these impressive seabirds as they embark on fishing dives,” says photographer Henley Spiers. “They hit the water at 60mph, an impact they can only withstand thanks to specially evolved air sacs in the head and chest. The bird’s agility transfers from air to sea where it also swims with incredible speed.”
Isle of Noss, Shetland, UK

#14 Ocean Photographer of the Year, Winner

Image source: oceanographic

Aimee Jan, A green turtle, surrounded by glass fish. “I was out snorkelling when one of my colleagues told me there was a turtle under a ledge in a school of glass fish, about 10 metrMes down,” says photographer Aimee Jan. “When I dived down to look, the fish separated around the turtle perfectly. I said to her: ‘I think I just took the best photo I have ever taken’.”
Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia