Photography brings the pure splendour of the world to eyes that will by no means expertise such wonders for themselves. This is maybe particularly the case for the huge and inaccessible swathes of ocean which cowl about 70% of the planet’s floor and make life on Earth attainable.
On August 19, World Photography Day, Cosmos is highlighting a few of the most placing finalists of Oceanographic Magazine’s Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 Award.
Ysabella Coll, Fine Art Photographer of the Year Finalist. “With a powerful sweep of its pectoral fins, a stingray vanishes into the blue, leaving behind a swirling cloud of sand,” says Coll. “This dramatic burst isn’t just beautiful – it’s a survival tactic. The stingray’s sudden movement disturbs the seafloor, creating a dense visual barrier that confuses predators and conceals its escape.”Wildlife Photographer of the Year finalist, Daniel van Duikerken, captured a Rakali, a semi-aquatic rodent native to Australia, because it ran towards to the ocean looking for meals. “I wanted to get a shot of a running Rakali, showcasing the contrasting colours of the orange belly and the blueish wet sand and water,” says van Duinkerken.Adventure Photographer of the Year finalist, Alex Dawson, says: “Yab Yum is the largest water-filled sinkhole ever documented, close to 100 [metres] in diameter and more than 70m deep. You hit the saltwater at around 15m depth. The stalactites and stalagmites in this enormous space are huge.”Julia Ochs, Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year finalist, captures a hardly ever seen second aboard a small backside trawler within the Mediterranean. “After slowly gaining the fishermen’s trust, I was allowed to join them for a 14-hour shift at sea,” says Ochs. “Twice a day, a 100m net is dragged along the seafloor at depths of up to 800m. When it resurfaced, the catch spilled onto the deck – catsharks, rays, crabs, and countless others, many still struggling for life. Most wouldn’t feed anyone. They were bycatch, later discarded as waste. The experience left a lasting mark, and strengthened my resolve to expose this destructive practice and help end it.”
“In the midst of a deepening climate and biodiversity crisis on our blue planet, ocean photography has never been more important,” says Will Harrison, Director of Ocean Photographer of the Year.
“These images are far more than just beautiful – they are powerful visual testaments to what we stand to lose, and they remind us of the urgent need for protection.”
Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn, finalist within the Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean, says: “In this coastal region of Vietnam, Sargassum seaweed grows and regenerates naturally, often rising above the water’s surface when fully matured, creating the impression of an underwater forest. Fishermen carry out their work using traditional round basket boats, manually handling the nets with care … Throughout the process, maintaining harmony with nature is essential, as preserving the delicate balance of the surrounding ecosystem remains a top priority.”Catherine Holmes, Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year finalist. “I have rarely seen such verdant colourful soft corals on this scale anywhere, so was overjoyed to dive this site in the Maldives, at Maalhoss Thila, North Ari Atoll,” says Holmes. “Also known as Blue Caves, this site has been thriving for years, and having dived it over 20 years ago, it now seems more colourful and prolific than ever before – a beacon of hope for the future.”Young Photographer of the Year finalist, Yuka Takahashi, says: “Putting myself out in the field has taught me lessons no textbook ever could. It has also deepened my understanding of the profound biophilia held by the Tahitian people on the island of Mo’orea. These 2 humpback whales are always seen together, and I was fortunate to capture this rare moment of synchronicity. To me, this photo reflects the strong bond between them while also revealing their playful and curious personalities.”
All 2025 finalists’ work may be seen here. Winners shall be introduced in London on 18 September and premier at an exhibition on the Australian National Maritime Museum from 6 November.
The Ultramarine venture – focussing on analysis and innovation in our marine environments – is supported by Minderoo Foundation.
