A dwarf minke whale, an Indo-Pacific leopard shark embryo, and two bobtail squid sharing an intimate moment — these are just a few of the mesmerizing creatures serving as subjects of the winning 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year images. But out of the 15,000-plus shots submitted by leading ocean photographers around the globe, Indonesia-based PADI Divemaster Yury Ivanov claimed the top prize for his entry of two colorful amphipods.
Each measuring about 3 mm in body length, these “ladybugs of the sea” (pictured above) from the Cyproideidae family are resting and feeding in synchronized movements on coral in Bali. “It required a lot of patience and precision to compose and light the shot properly. The result reveals an intimate glimpse of underwater life that is often overlooked,” Ivanov said in the caption. He added in a news release that the award is about “celebrating the ocean itself — its fragility, its diversity, and its extraordinary power to inspire us.”
Indeed, Oceanographic Magazine and Swiss watch manufacturer Blancpain co-presented this year’s competition with the intent of highlighting Earth’s “wonder and fragility,” per the release. Sorted into nine categories, the winning images “connect people to the ocean in ways words cannot, reaching those who may never dive in it or paddle on it, but whose lives are deeply intertwined with it,” said the contest’s director, Will Harrison. “In a time of planetary urgency, this year’s photographers invite the world to see, feel, and ultimately care.”
The first exhibit featuring the winners is set to open Nov. 6 at the Australian National Maritime Museum, with an additional exhibit to follow at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in the U.K. on March 28, 2026. Scroll through some of the first and second place winners below.
Overall Winner
Yury Ivanov, Indonesia
Wildlife Category | Winner
Takumi Oyama, Japan
“A female yellow pygmy goby releases newly hatched larvae into the water column from her mouth. ‘In gobiid fishes, male parental care is common. In the yellow pigmy goby, however, the females also participate in parental hatching care,’ says Oyama.”
Young Category | Winner
Aaron Sanders, United Kingdom
“Under the cover of night, two tiny bobtail squid engage in an intimate display, their arms intertwined as they mate on the seabed. ‘Waves of color rippled across their bodies as chromatophores pulsed in a mesmerizing rhythm,’ says Sanders.”
Young Category | Second Place
Théo Guillaume, French Polynesia
“A sea turtle hatchling releases a delicate jet of water from its nostrils. ‘Sea turtles breathe through their mouths, but expel water through their noses, even at this age,’ says Guillaume.”
Human Connection Category | Second Place
Yifan Ling, USA
“A breaching orca. ‘On April 1, 2024, more than 20 Bigg’s orcas entered Puget Sound,’ says Ling. ‘A male orca suddenly began breaching and I captured a shot that reflects the connection between the orcas and land-based whale watchers.'”
Hope Category | Winner
Sirachai Arunrugstichai, Thailand
“An aquarist holds an early-stage embryo of an Indo-Pacific leopard shark, its egg case removed for a rearing experiment at Aquaria Phuket. ‘Since 2023, the aquarium’s breeding program has produced over 40 pups of this Endangered species,’ says Arunrugstichai.”
Hope Category | Second Place
László Földi, Philippines
“A translucent squid egg, measuring only two or three centimetres in diameter, reveals its inhabitant. ‘This image was taken on an early morning dive at Gato Island,’ says Földi. ‘I have always been amazed by the variety of underwater life found here.'”
Fine Art Category | Winner
Marcia Riederer, Australia
“A dwarf minke whale curiously eyes the photographer. ‘These whales are known to visit the northern Great Barrier Reef during the winter, making it the only known predictable aggregation of the species in the world,’ says Riederer.”
Fine Art Category | Second Place
Rafael Armada, South Georgia Island
“Reflections in the sand. ‘On my final morning on the island, I noticed how waves left behind ephemeral mirrors on the black sand,’ says Armada. ‘When a penguin stood still and created a perfect reflection, I raised my camera instinctively.'”
Adventure Category | Winner
Ben Thouard, Portugal
“A rough Nazaré day. ‘The wind came from the north which made the surf tricky,’ says Thouard. ‘Not many surfers went out and it was hard to shoot anything because of the big sets but eventually, this moment occurred.'”
Adventure Category | Second Place
Gergo Rugli, Australia
“A surfer enjoys a crisp winter morning at Bronte Beach. ‘This image was the result of a rare alignment — a powerful southerly swell met strong offshore winds under soft morning light,’ says Rugli.”
RELATED: Ocean Photographer of the Year 2023: Winning Images Go on Display in Australia
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