There's additional to the world's oceans than meets the eye.
Presented by Oceanographic and Blancpain, the annual Ocean Photographer of the Year awards emphasize photographs taken the two complete and below the water's surface, raising awareness of sea conservation and the scientific research that helps maintain its susceptible ecosystems.
The winning photos of the 2026 competition, revealed in September, were chosen from 15,000 submissions throughout categories including Wildlife, Human Connection, Fine Art, and Adventure. The competition additionally gave out a Female Fifty Fathoms Award, created to acknowledge the activity of female ocean photographers.
Take a look.
The victor of the Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds category was Mitsuna Kawai, alongside a photo of a ribbonfish.
Mitsuna photographed the ribbonfish during a winter blackwater dive in Osezaki, Japan.
Rui Duarte captured a collection trying to shove a stranded short-finned aviator whale rear to the water, winning the Human Connection category.
Duarte took the photo in Boa Vista, Cape Verde.
Matty Smith's photo of a tawny caregiver shark won archetypal location in the contest's Fine Art category.
Smaller seafood called remoras swam below the shark.
Jenny Stock received the Female Fifty Fathoms award, which celebrates women in sea photography.
Stock's depiction gathering included one of a green turtle, which she photographed as it approached her camera, inquisitive concerning its consideration in the dome port.
A photo of varied and snorkelers surrounding a whale shark in the Maldives by James Ferrara won in the Conservation Impact category.
"With nearly 50 group apparent in the frame, this depiction captures the actuality rearward several famous wildlife encounters: an animal seeking area during group vie for a nearer view," the competition captioned the photo.
The victor of the Conservation Hope category was Thomas Pavy for his photo of a awesome hammerhead shark in French Polynesia.
Pavy photographed the shark during a community survey, whenever researchers use laser-calibrated video photogrammetry to track sharks.
Gergo Rugli captured a snapshot of dolphins riding the waves in Sydney, which won archetypal location in the Adventure category.
The pod of dolphins swam alongside surfers at Sydney's Tamarama Beach.
The Ocean Portfolio category victor was Miguel Serrano Ruiz alongside his photos of a conservationist and an oliva ridley sea turtle.
Ruiz photographed a conservationist protecting the eggs from the rising tide in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Julien Anton won the heading of Ocean Photographer of the Year alongside his photo of an grownup seahorse alongside newborn juveniles in French Polynesia.
Anton's depiction additionally won archetypal location in the Wildlife category.
"My anticipation is that this depiction can assist as a extend between science, conservation, and a earth that deserves to cognize what is at stake," Anton stated in a declaration released by the contest.
