Presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain Ocean Commitment, the contest highlights the work of underwater photographers to help raise awareness for ocean conservation work and scientific research protecting these delicate ecosystems.
Winning photos were chosen out of 15,000 submissions across eight categories: Young Photographer, Wildlife, Portfolio, Human Connection, Fine Art, Conservation — Impact, Conservation — Hope, and Adventure. The contest also chose a Female Fifty Fathoms Award winner in a special category recognizing the work of female ocean photographers, as well as first, second, and third-place winners of the overall competition.
Take a look at this year's most remarkable works of ocean photography.
Julian Jacobs won first place in the Young Photographer category with a photo of a moray eel.A moray eel in California.
Julian Jacobs/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
Jacobs photographed the moray eel in California as the tide receded.
In the Wildlife category, Manuel Castellanos Raboso's photo of a mahi-mahi won first place.A mahi-mahi in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Manuel Castellanos Raboso/Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024
Raboso's image shows a mahi-mahi displaying its catch during a feeding frenzy in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Shane Gross won the Portfolio category with a series of photos highlighting various creatures, including a crested sculpin.A crested sculpin in Alaska.
Shane Gross/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
Gross took a photo of a crested sculpin hiding in the tentacles of a lion's mane jellyfish in Alaska.
Zhang Xiang took the top prize in the Human Connection category with a photo of a traditional fisherman in China.A fisherman in China.
Zhang Xiang/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
Xiang's photo shows a fisherman walking along the beach at sunset.
Henley Spiers captured Munk's devil rays swirling through the ocean, winning first place in the Fine Art category.Munk's devil rays in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Henley Spiers/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
Spiers spotted the rays in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where they were drawn to the green light shining through the water.
Frederik Brogaard captured a sobering image of a whaling plant in Iceland, winning first place in the Conservation — Impact category.A fin whale in Iceland.
Frederik Brogaard/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
Brogaard's photo shows a fin whale, the second-largest species of whale, awaiting slaughter at a whaling plant.
Gross won again in the Conservation — Hope category with a photo of a green sea turtle in the Seychelles.A green sea turtle in the Seychelles.
Shane Gross/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
Researchers accidentally caught the sea turtle while studying sharks. They measured and tagged the turtle before releasing it back into the wild.
Tobias Friedrich's image of a diver exploring a shipwreck won first place in the Adventure category.A shipwreck in the Bahamas.
Tobias Friedrich/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
The shipwreck was located in the Bahamas.
The Female Fifty Fathoms Award celebrating women in ocean photography went to Ipah Uid Lynn.A whale shark in the Maldives.
Ipah Uid Lynn/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
Lynn's award-winning portfolio included this image of a whale shark surrounded by a school of fish in the Maldives.
The contest's overall third-place winner was Thien Nguyen Ngoc with a photo of a fishing boat in Vietnam.A fishing boat in Vietnam.
Thien Nguyen Ngoc/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
The green fishing nets were visible under the surface of the water off the coast of Hon Yen.
The contest's second-place winner, Jade Hoksbergen, photographed a northern gannet diving through the water in the Shetland Islands.A northern gannet in the Shetland Islands.
Jade Hoksbergen/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
The northern gannet dove to capture its next meal in waters surrounding the Isle of Noss.
Rafael Fernández Caballero was the competition's overall winner with a photo of a feasting Bryde's whale.A Bryde's whale in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Rafael Fernández Caballero/Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
Caballero's photo shows a Bryde's whale about to devour a baitball in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
"The image captures perhaps the most special — and craziest — moment of my life," Caballero said. "It fills me with joy having lived this moment — and to have captured the image."
Caballero added that winning the title of Ocean Photographer of the Year "drives me to keep believing in what I do and to continue showcasing the ocean's wonders."
