2024 Ocean Art Underwater Photography Contest: Splashing Success Stories Unveiled!

“Dancing White Tips” by Eduardo Labat. Overall Champion and Winner, Black & White
Location: Roca Partida. Revillagigedo, Mexico
“It was our concluding dive of the day, during the afternoon as daylight diminished. At Roca Partida, the majority of white tip sharks gather in small groups on various ledges across the rock formation. On this specific afternoon, a significant gathering of white tips began to form at a distance from the rock. Numerous sharks created a compact group at an estimated depth of 25 feet. The sharks were neither hunting nor showing signs of aggression. After observing this unusual occurrence from the edge of the formation, I gently ascended to hover directly above it. That is where I snapped this photograph. From above, the sharks appeared to be moving in synchrony in a circular pattern. It was a stunning sight. I opted for black and white for this image, both due to the geometry of the formation in this style and the inherent contrast one can appreciate in black and white concerning the shark tips compared to the rest of their bodies.”

“Exceptional Shipping” by Stefano Cerbai. Winner, Portrait
Location: Australia
“I was on my honeymoon in Australia, and among the many marvelous locations we explored was Southern Australia, where I had the opportunity to dive and seek out the elusive sea dragon – a creature I had yearned to see for years. I was remarkably fortunate not only to spot and observe one but also to capture a photograph of it bearing its eggs, which it was safeguarding on its back near its tail. This unforgettable experience was indeed a dream realized.”

“Blue Sun Rising” by Julian Gunther. 2nd Place, Wide Angle
Location: Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina
“This picture was captured under a licensed photography permit granted by the Argentine authorities and under direct oversight from local officials. The shot was taken using natural light, as flash can disrupt the wildlife and frequently cause an explosion of suspended particles. While I was free-diving at a depth of about 30ft (9m) seeking whales to photograph, this adult shark developed a significant interest in me. It spent upwards of 30 minutes with me, performing several close encounters, but predominantly swimming around and engaging in underwater stunts such as inverting or circling me while maintaining a 90-degree angle to the ocean floor. I pondered whether it was doing this for amusement or to entertain/impress me (I might be anthropomorphizing, but I prefer to believe that was its intention).”

“Juvenile Batfish” by Adam Martin. Winner, Macro
Location: Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
“This young batfish was discovered at a depth of 85′ in Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. A snoot attachment was utilized to try and isolate the flash to the subject, minimizing background illumination. The lighting accentuates the texture and form of the fish’s physique, highlighting its elegant contours and vibrant coloration.”

“Light” by Hwanhee Kim. Winner, Wide Angle
Location: Mexico, Rancho Viejo, Carwash
“LIGHT is nature’s most precious offering. Just a week prior to capturing this scene, substantial rains drenched Cancun. Sediments and nutrients from the nearby CARWASH were carried into the cenote, resulting in remarkable colors due to the variation in concentration. Rain typically poses a difficulty for underwater photography, but in this case it birthed vibrant shades not often observed beneath the surface. Sunlight, with its intense energy, cut through the reddish waters, showcasing a breathtaking moment. The light acted as a bridge between the land and aquatic realm, as well as between nature and humanity. I felt honored to experience this splendor and fortunate to have been able to capture it.”

“Patterned Safe Haven” by Imogen Manins. 2nd Place, Macro
Location: Rye Pier, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
“On a cold mid-winter night in the dark waters of Port Phillip Bay, I set out to discover small inhabitants residing on sessile invertebrates. As I examined a Ladder Ascidian, I encountered this Pygmy Leatherjacket approximately 20mm long, with its highly flattened body featuring a cryptic ocelli pattern seamlessly blending with its surroundings. Typically, I observe these shy fishes close to similarly hued sargassum seaweeds, making this encounter particularly memorable for me.”

“Born From Mouth” by Yoichi Sato. Winner, Marine Life Behavior
Location: Minamisatsuma, Kagoshima, Japan
“I was lucky to capture the invaluable moment of a little creature being born. On a summer night, while the majority of beings were peacefully resting, a male Ostorhinchus properuptus, having finished a week-long incubation, expended all its energy and with a quivering motion, expelled a cloud of larvae from its mouth. To reduce stress on the fish, I watched the event under a dim red light. During the hatching moment, I employed red lighting with a unique setting that turned off the red light as soon as the strobe’s pre-flash was detected. This arrangement effectively minimized red light interference in the photograph, allowing the moment to be captured as authentically as possible.”

“Hunting” by Kyungshin Kim. Winner, Blackwater
Location: Anilao, Philippines
“This image was captured during a blackwater dive in Anilao last November. Initially, I perceived two squids intertwined, mistakenly thinking they were mating. However, upon further inspection, I realized one was consuming the other, a smaller squid. Although squids are known for cannibalistic behavior, witnessing smaller squids eating one another during a blackwater dive is uncommon. I cautiously followed and monitored their movements, successfully snapping a few photographs. After approximately 10 minutes, the smaller squid being eaten began to lose its color. Ultimately, it emitted a burst of black ink. Shortly afterward, the squid that had finished feeding slowly vanished into the distance, whereas the squid that had become its prey sank into the murky depths of the ocean.”

“Turtle Conservation” by Tom Vierus. 2nd Place, Underwater Conservation
Location: Dravuni Island, Kadavu Province, Fiji
“As part of a photographic project aimed at documenting the turtle conservation initiative enacted by WWF Pacific in Fiji, I collaborated with WWF personnel & turtle monitoring volunteers across three sites in the nation. In addition to observing and documenting data from recognized nesting sites, the teams also assessed adult turtle populations in the waters encircling the islands. During a scouting expedition through the waters adjacent to Dravuni Island in Fiji’s southern region, one of the locals noticed a green turtle from the boat at approximately 20m depth. He was an adept freediver and meticulously entered the water. I followed shortly after, descending with my camera housing, freediving as far as my skills and the attachments would allow. It was astonishing to observe: He descended, approached the turtle, captured it with his hands, and brought it aboard the boat, where he passed it to the team for various measurements. This is the instant captured in this photograph. Time was critical, and everything had to progress rapidly, so I recognized I had limited opportunities to seize this moment. I aimed to get as near as I could while composing an over/under shot, taking care of the wave movement, ensuring the settings were accurate and everything was in focus. After several minutes, the turtle was released back into the water unharmed, swimming away. The data will contribute to formulating effective conservation strategies for the turtles inhabiting the waters of Fiji, a pressing requirement considering that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies green turtles as ‘Endangered.’”

“Longnose Hawkfish” by Naomi Springett. Winner, Compact Macro
Location: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
“For our honeymoon, we embarked on a liveaboard diving adventure to the Great Barrier Reef. This snapshot was captured during one of the most enjoyable dives of the journey; a vibrant coral bommie teeming with macro life. Proudly resting on the Black Sun Coral (Tubastraea micranthus), this Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) seemed unfazed by my presence and, to my delight, remained still long enough for me to snap a few pictures before it swam away. With numerous tropical fish being camera shy, this was a unique opportunity. Black Sun Coral ranks among my favorite corals; the deep green hues provided a striking contrast for this beautiful fish, making this one of my cherished moments from an exceptional diving journey.”

“Face to Face” by Sylvie Ayer. 2nd Place, Black & White
Location: Alimatha in Vaavu Atoll, Maldives
“One of my favorite spots in the Maldives is Alimatha. This location is fantastic for night diving with many nurse sharks present. I could spend endless hours diving there. This nurse shark was simply resting on the ocean floor, and I proceeded as slowly as possible to get as close as I could to it. It took a while, but eventually, I was very near to it.”

“Fight” by Reiko Takahashi. 2nd Place, Marine Life Behavior
Location: Japan, Kitakoura region, Sado, Nigata diving site – Akaiwa
“I captured this photograph in Sado, Japan. This diving location is known as “Akaiwa” and serves as a revered area for the Asian Sheepshead Wrasse. The image depicts two males contesting over territory. The winner, positioned on the right with a broader mouth, is the dominant figure of Akaiwa, known by the name “Yamato.””

“Feast and Fornication” by Jenny Stock. 2nd Place, Nudibranchs
“In this moment, two nudibranchs are employing their extended gonophors to reproduce while also relishing a delightful meal of green tendrils. Nudibranchs are hermaphroditic, which means they possess both male and female reproductive organs; however, they cannot self-fertilize, necessitating a partner for mating. After cross-fertilization (and completing their meal), they proceed to lay their own egg spiral. Special thanks to dive guides Regie Casia and Rutherford Parutanin for their support during this dive at Kirby’s Rock.”

“Long Live the Queen!” by Lucie Drlikova. Winner, Underwater Fashion
Location: Swimming pool, 8 meters deep, Aquapalace Praha, Czech Republic, Europe
“Long Live the Queen: An underwater portrayal of the Evil Queen, elevated by her minions, inspired by the Snow White fairytale. This image is part of my personal endeavor titled Once Upon a Dream in Waterland, a project I have been developing for 7 years. It symbolizes a reawakening of childhood dreams. I personally crafted all costumes, scenes, and props.”

“Hooded nudibranchs” by Borut Furlan. First Place, Nudibranchs
“This marked my initial trip to Vancouver Island in October 2024, and it was also my very first visit to Canada. Lacking extensive knowledge about the region, I opted to employ a wide-angle zoom lens for the majority of my dives due to its versatility. It proved to be a wise choice as I was able to capture an extensive array of subjects (excluding the tiniest ones). When I finally reached the kelp forest home to hooded nudibranchs, I was utterly astonished. I had never encountered so many nudibranchs in such a consolidated area. They were in the thousands, surrounding me—on the ocean floor, entwined in the kelp, and even swimming about. I took hundreds of different photographs of them, and this one is among that collection.”

“Hunting in the Night” by Marco Lausdei. First Place, Compact Wide Angle
Location: Maldives – Fish head dive site
“We find ourselves at one of the most renowned night dive locations globally: Maya Thila. I spotted a whitetip reef shark moving in rhythmic patterns, seemingly drawn to a swarm of silverfish along the Thila drop-off. Utilizing a nearby boulder for concealment, I carefully positioned myself and minimized my bubbles, striving to approach as closely as possible without interrupting the predator’s actions. Once the shark became familiar with my presence, I bided my time for one of its cyclical maneuvers to bring it within range for a flash photo. I strategically timed my shot to encapsulate not only the shark but also the evasive movements of the potential prey. The picture was captured from a low-to-high perspective, intentionally including the ocean’s surface to create a sense of depth and dimension in the photograph. Grasping the subject’s behavior and tendencies was crucial for the success of this shot.”

“Curious Cormorant” by James Emery. First Place, Cold Water
Location: Metridium Fields, Monterey, California
“While diving in Monterey, I was capturing images of the Metridium fields when a cormorant began swimming down toward us. To my astonishment, it started pecking at my wife’s head, although she remained completely unperturbed. I quickly darted over to snap a few photos, and then the cormorant shifted its focus to the reflection in my camera’s dome port. It lingered with us for approximately 20 minutes, surfacing for air before returning to investigate us once more. It was a rare and lively encounter that afforded me a glimpse into the inquisitive nature of the cormorant, and I was fortunate enough to document it.”

“Fire Babies” by Jenny Stock. 2nd Place, Underwater Digital Art
“Cardinalfish are mouthbrooders. The female releases her eggs close to the selected male. The male fertilizes these eggs and then carries them in his mouth for incubation. Dads are unable to eat during this incubation phase, although studies have indicated that they may engage in partial brood cannibalism – consuming up to thirty percent of his offspring.
During a dive at Atlantis Dumaguete, I cautiously approached this male loaded with eggs. I waited with patience until he opened his mouth and aerated his offspring. Later, in Photoshop, I imagined the vivid orange of the cardinalfish would resemble licking flames. I began creating a smoky fire illustration. Many thanks to Norway Luardo for his instructive skills at Atlantis Dumaguete.”

“Blue Face” by Eduardo Acevedo. 2nd Place, Portrait
Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
“Several days in September and October present the finest opportunities to seize remarkable images of pilot whales. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to wait until they are genuinely calm and at ease. When the sea resembles glass, the sun is ideally positioned between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., there’s no wind, and the pilot whales are cooperative, capturing an extraordinary photo becomes possible. However, attaining all these conditions in nature is extremely difficult. I truly valued this uncommon moment as a photographer. This image was taken with specific authorization from the Ministry of Ecological Transition in Spain.”

“Blanket Reflection” by Kat Zhou. 2nd Place, Blackwater
Location: Anilao, Philippines
“I dedicated a week to diving in Anilao, aiming to photograph an adult female blanket octopus. On one of my final evenings, we stumbled upon two octopuses! One of them swam away upon our discovery, yet the other lingered for a significant duration. Naturally, we encountered her right at the end of the dive, and I had precisely 0 air remaining in my tank when she completely unfurled her mantle, but fortunately, she was very close to the surface – I keep a snorkel in my pouch while diving, and this was the inaugural occasion I had to utilize it!”

“The Golden Yawn” by Nemer Chua. 2nd Place, Compact Behavior
Location: Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines
“An extraordinary opportunity and sheer fortune! After completing over 500 dives, I never anticipated capturing such an unusual moment—a yawning Plotosus lineatus, often referred to as the striped eel catfish. At first, I didn’t even perceive that it was yawning. It was a mesmerizing experience, and I felt immensely fortunate to be a witness to it. This photograph was taken in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines, with my compact Olympus TG7 and MF2 Snoot. It serves as a reminder of the influence of luck, patience, and determination!”

“Drowning in Plastic” by Kimber Greenwood. Champion, Underwater Conservation
Location: USA, High Springs, Florida, Jonathan Springs
“This photograph was produced as part of a campaign for the Florida Springs Council aimed at raising awareness about the effects of water bottling on the local Florida Springs. Every minute, over 300 bottles of water are generated at bottling facilities like the ones situated just a short distance from the Spring where this image was captured. These plastic bottles contribute to landfills and introduce micro-plastics into our environment, while the bottling of “Spring Water” leads to depletion of water from the Floridian Aquifer, lowering water levels and flow, which can harm the Springs and rivers. The bottles utilized for this photograph were provided by a local conservation activist who retrieved them from a local bottling plant’s conveyor. The images produced from this initiative are utilized in continuous social media and print marketing efforts encouraging individuals to opt for reusable water bottles over damaging plastic containers that significantly impact the Florida environment.”

“Desire” by Unkoo Kim. Champion, Underwater Digital Art
Location: Seogwipo, Jeju Island, South Korea
“The ocean at Seogwipo, where I captured this photo, holds a special place in my heart, filled with warmth and precious memories. Nevertheless, it is far from being an ideal setting for underwater photography. The water is frequently cloudy, and the currents can be strong. While other areas might experience similar difficulties, the waters of Seogwipo have suffered further from increasing sea temperatures, a scarcity of subjects, and additional factors that complicate photography significantly. I pondered how I might create imagery that genuinely showcases the beauty of the marine life residing in Seogwipo’s waters. The concept of using light as a backdrop to emphasize these creatures struck me, and I endeavored to represent the exquisite beauty hidden within Seogwipo’s challenging waters. This image was taken during the prime season of the year. To photograph a frontal view of the main subject, the Blue hana goby, I devoted countless hours observing and approaching them closely. Many photos were discarded in the process. Envisioning the dynamic interplay between the Blue hana goby and bokeh lights, I utilized tools I had prepped beforehand and a modified vintage lens to merge multiple exposures with firework bokeh images. While capturing firework photos is not especially arduous, it demands careful preparation, commitment, practice, and, above all, time to forge a connection with the subjects.”

“Mutualism” by Naomi Springett. Winner, Compact Behavior
Location: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
“This Bluestreak Cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) and Variegated Lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) were observed in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. These fish illustrate mutualistic symbiosis, signifying both species gain advantages from their connection. The cleaner wrasse removes dead skin and parasites from the larger fish, offering nourishment to the cleaner fish and ensuring the lizardfish stays clean and healthy. Typically, Lizardfish tend to be quite timid, often not permitting photographers to approach closely, but this specimen appeared comfortable enough to pose for pictures while being cleaned. I was astounded to see the smaller fish dart around the Lizardfish, even entering its mouth, displaying remarkable trust from the smaller fish, finally resting right on top of the Lizardfish’s head!”

“Juvenile Pike” by Enrico Somogyi. 2nd Place, Compact Wide Angle
Location: Lake Kulkwitz, Leipzig, Germany
“Last summer, while snorkeling in Lake Kulkwitz near my residence, I encountered numerous juvenile pikes. This specific pike was extremely calm and permitted me to get very close. For this photograph, I employed a macro wide-angle lens from Nauticam featuring a 160-degree field of view. I zoomed out until this circular perspective was achieved, resulting in beautiful images of the pike close to the surface.”

“Plunge” by Kat Zhou. 2nd Place, Cold Water
Location: Shetland, UK
“This image was captured during my visit to dive with Northern Gannets in Shetland. Gannets can strike the water at velocities reaching 60mph, creating an experience that is both thrilling and chaotic. The gannets were diving from various angles, making it challenging to decide where to direct my camera! I aimed to photograph any bird that sped past, and I appreciated how this shot depicted the motion of a gannet decelerating its dive.”