The ocean can be peaceful, powerful, mysterious, and deeply vulnerable, often all at once. The Ocean Photographer of the Year awards, presented by Oceanographic and Blancpain, bring these different sides of our blue planet together through photographs ranging from intimate wildlife encounters to conservation efforts and people's interactions with the sea. This year’s competition received more than 15,000 entries from ocean photographers worldwide.
At its core, the competition aims to highlight both the ocean's wonder and fragility while celebrating the photographers helping tell its stories. From fleeting wildlife encounters to images documenting the threats marine ecosystems face and the work being done to protect them, this year’s winners offer a striking reminder of how much remains to discover, appreciate, and preserve beneath the surface.
Scroll down to see some of the winners and finalists of this year's OPY Awards, and upvote the photographs that made the strongest impression on you.
