1. The Winning Image - Photo by: Yury Ivanov
Two tiny amphipods from the Cyproideidae family, each only about three millimeters long, rest on coral and are captured in perfect symmetry and stunning composition. The creatures, called "sea cows of Moses," reveal in this intimate photograph the delicate beauty of life in the depths that is almost invisible to the naked eye.
2. Winner in the Women in Ocean Exploration Category - Photo by: Yury Ivanov
A young wunderpus octopus surrounded by tiny zooplankton. In the future its body will grow and take on white and rust-brown colors, but at such a young age it is almost as transparent as its surroundings and in the image appears to float in an alien world of light and microscopic life.
3. Winner in the Fine Art Category - Photo by: Marcia Riederer
A curious dwarf minke whale approaches the camera and examines it with an eye full of interest and a perfect side view. The photograph was taken in the Great Barrier Reef area of Australia, the only place in the world where a predictable seasonal gathering of this species can be observed.
4. Winner in the Wildlife Category - Photo by: Takumi Oyama
A female yellow pygmy goby releases into the water the hatchlings that have just emerged from her mouth. Unlike most goby species where males care for the offspring, in this species females also participate in nurturing the young generation – a rare case of shared parenting beneath the sea surface.
5. Winner in the Portfolio Category - Photo by: Matthew Sullivan
A spotted batfish lies peacefully on the sea floor before the photographer's lens. After years of attempts to document this elusive creature, the perfect moment was captured where it appears relaxed, almost human yet still alien – an underwater portrait full of expression and beauty.
6. Winner in the Adventure Category - Photo by: Ben Thouard
The giant waves of Nazaré, Portugal, on a particularly stormy day create a wild and spectacular natural spectacle. The photograph documents the power of the open sea and the unexpected beauty of wind and waves as they collide with each other in primal force. Between the foam of the waves and the strong north wind, a rare moment is revealed where maritime chaos becomes a perfect harmony of movement, light and shadow.
7. Winner in the Young Photographer Category - Photo by: Aaron Sanders
Two tiny bobtail squid twist around each other in an intimate nighttime dance on the sea floor. Their bodies change colors at a hypnotic pulsing rhythm, as they unite in a colorful courtship display reminiscent of a dance of light and movement.
8. Winner in the Conservation (Hope) Category - Photo by: Sirachai Arunrugstichai
An aquarium keeper in Thailand holds an embryo of an Indo-Pacific leopard shark that was removed from its egg as part of a breeding experiment at Aquaria Phuket laboratory. Since 2023, the breeding project has successfully brought over 40 offspring of this endangered species into the world, an important step for conserving its population.
9. Runner-up in the Conservation (Hope) Category - Photo by: László Földi
A transparent squid egg, with a diameter of only about two to three centimeters, reveals the small creature inside. The image was taken at sunrise at Gato Island in the Philippines, and emphasizes the delicacy and fragility of new life being born beneath the waves.
10. Runner-up in the Portfolio Category - Photo by: Giancarlo Mazarese
A sea slug of the species Favorinus tsuruganus feeds on eggs of another mollusk species, thereby maintaining a delicate ecological balance in the coral reef. This photograph illustrates how even tiny creatures play a critical role in preserving the dynamics of life in the ocean depths.
11. Runner-up in the Conservation (Impact) Category - Photo by: Daniel Flormann
A breathtaking and difficult image of dead sharks caught in a fishing net in Indonesia. Over one hundred million sharks are killed each year in such and other ways, and many are caught by accident. This image is a chilling documentation of human impact on marine life and an important warning about the price it exacts from the animal world.
12. Runner-up in the Fine Art Category - Photo by: Ysabela Coll
With a powerful flap of its fins, a sea lion takes flight and disappears into the depths of the blue wave, as the water around it swirls in turbulent and beautiful motion. This explosion of movement and wave foam is not just visually stunning – it is also a survival maneuver that allows it to disappear quickly and stay safe from predators.
13. Runner-up in the Fine Art Category - Photo by: Rafael Armada
On the shores of South Georgia Island, receding waves created momentary reflections on black, wet sand. A penguin standing in the exact spot turned this temporary moment into an almost abstract photograph, where nature paints itself.
14. Runner-up in the Wildlife Category - Photo by: Yifan Ling
A one-year-old orca calf hunts a young seal – a rare achievement for its age. The image reflects the thriving populations of orcas and seals in the Salish Sea in the USA, thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act enacted in 1972.
15. Third Place in the Young Photographer Category - Photo by: Yuka Takahashi
A pair of humpback whales swim together in perfect harmony in the clear waters of French Polynesia. This rare moment reveals the deep and playful bond between the two gentle giants, a symbol of love and companionship in the ocean depths.
