Jacobs photographed the moray eel in California as the tide receded.
12 award-winning underwater photos give rare glimpses beneath the world’s oceans
September 12, 20240
In the Wildlife category, Manuel Castellanos Raboso’s photo of a mahi-mahi won first place.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”