Judges have sifted through thousands of stunning images to select this year’s finalists for the Ocean Photographer of the Year award. The final images include entries from coastal, drone and underwater photographers to highlight both the beauty of the oceans and the many perils they face.
This year’s finalists include eels slithering over rocks at low tide, a freediver on their way into the depths of a blue hole and an octopus sheltering in a plastic bag. The overall winner will be announced in mid-September alongside the category winners.
Here is a selection of our favourite images from the finalists:
Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year
Benjamín Yávar
A freediver amidst a shoal of sardines.Bohol, Philippines
Byron Conroy
A scuba diver explores the Silfra fissure in Iceland, the tectonic boundary between the NorthAmerican and Eurasian plates, Iceland
Daan Verhoeven
Freediver Sun Young Kim dives in the ‘no fins’ category at Vertical Blue 2021, a freedivingcompetition, in the famous Dean’s Blue Hole.The Bahamas
Tobias Friedrich
Every winter, orcas and humpback whales come to Northern Norway to feed on Atlanticherring. This huge humpback filled its mouth with the small fish, before swimming past thedivers closely.Norway
Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Hope)
Dillys Pouponeau
Juvenile rays rest in the shallows of the St Joseph Atoll Marine Protected Area. The image portrays the importance of healthy mangrove habitats and isolated island sanctuaries.Seychelles
Edwar Herreño Parra
A whale shark swims alongside the Sharkwater research vessel, a ship that was initially used by the Japanese fishing fleet but is now used for research.Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Florian Ledoux
A male and female polar bear rest after mating high in the mountains. Svalbard, Norway
Shane Gross
A green sea turtle is released by a researcher after being caught while trying to catch sharks. Acting quickly, the researchers untangled the turtle, took measurements, and tagged it before releasing her back where she was caught.Seychelles
Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact)
Francesca Page
A critically endangered smoothnose wedgefish demonstrates the cost of bycatch. Aceh, Indonesia
Frederik Brogaard
The second biggest whale, the fin whale, lies waiting for its turn to be butchered at a whaling plant in Iceland before getting sent to Japan. Iceland
João Rodrigues
A pregnant stingray is trapped in an aquaculture frame, highlighting the issue of bycatch. Currently, about 40% of the world’s fish is caught accidentally and is dead or dying when returned to the sea. Portugal
Pietro Formis
A coconut octopus found a hideout spot inside a plastic sandwich bag.Philippines
Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Enric Adrian Gener
A seagull rests on top of a sea turtle shortly before they both continue their own paths.Mediterranean Sea
Mark Williams
An orca exhales on the surface.Vancouver Island, Canada
Merche Llobera
A puffin carries fish to feed its chicks.Saltee Islands, Ireland
Mizael Palomeque Gonzalez
A spotted eagle ray’s natural pattern.Quintana Roo, Mexico
The Human Connection Award: People and Planet Ocean
Pavlos Evangelidis
Traditional stilt fishermen try their luck with the changing tide at sunset in Koggala, Sri Lanka. It showcases the water movement in contrast to the stillness of the fishermen. Traditional, artisanal fishing methods like these, used for subsistence do not pose significant threats to the ocean’s natural resources. On the contrary, these make local communities stakeholders to the ocean’s health.
Tanya Houppermans
Scientists conduct an ultrasound on a female tiger shark off the coast of Grand Bahama. She was discovered to be pregnant, and a groundbreaking device called a birth tag was inserted into her uterus which does not harm the mother or pups. The Bahamas
Yue Hongjun
A freediver with her customised fishtail swims amidst a school of sardines. Moalboal, Philippines
Zhang Xiang
Fishermen in coastal Fujian dry their nets in intricate fashion. As they are woven with hemp fibres, they swell easily after being immersed in the water.China
Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Andrey Shpatak
A giant Pacific octopus in the shallows. Russia
Laura Leusko
A fever of mobula rays from above. When the photographer’s drone inched closer, some rays started to jump out of the water. Baja California Sur, Mexico
Merche Llobera
The hunt. Above, pelicans dive from the sky in a well-coordinated dance. Underwater, mahi-mahi dart around at top speed, chasing sardines, while sea lions also join the action. Baja California Sur, Mexico
Shane Gross
Peppered moray eels look for food in a tidal pool at low tide. “Their ability to come completely out of the water is amazing and surprising,” says Gross. D’Arros Island, Seychelles
Young Ocean Photographer of the Year
Jacob Guy
An elusive algae octopus shows off its fluorescence under ultraviolet light.North Sulawesi, Indonesia
João Pontes
A perfectly camouflaged lizardfish with prey in its mouth.Hawaii
Julian Jacobs
A California moray eel pauses at the surface of its rapidly shrinking world as the tide goes out. California
You can see all the previous years’ award winners and view the rest of the 2024 finalists on the website. The Ocean Photographer of the Year is presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain.
