A rocket-like jellyfish, an imposing Komodo dragon and a harmful browsing encounter are just some of the gorgeous images captured by the finalists for the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 competition. The competitors consists of classes resembling Impact and Hope, which have solicited breathtaking images that seize various types of marine life and human interplay with the ocean.
The general and class winners of the competition, hosted by Oceanographic Magazine and watch firm Blancpain, might be introduced in September. But the entire finalists’ images emphasize the necessity to shield the planet.
Here are some of the gorgeous photos.
Synchronized swimmers
Photographer Yuka Takahashi, a finalist within the “Young” class of the competitors, captured a pair of synchronized humpback whales in French Polynesia swimming via rays of solar. “These two humpback whales are always seen together, and I was fortunate to capture this rare moment of synchronicity,” Takahashi mentioned. “To me, this photo reflects the strong bond between them while also revealing their playful and curious personalities.”
Warm bath
In this image, snapped by “Wildlife” category finalist and photographer Suliman Alatiqi, a Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) looms over an Indonesian shore. Because Komodo dragons are cold-blooded, they depend on chilly water or mud to control their physique temperature in the summertime. They additionally journey throughout seabeds to seek for meals and mates.
Related: Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024: See gorgeous images of hungry whale, browsing seagull, freaky fish infants, land-loving eel and lovely poisonous octopus
Collateral damage
Photographer Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn snapped this picture of fishers unloading their catches at a Bangladeshi harbor throughout dawn, which is a finalist within the “Impact” class.
“Amidst this industrious energy, the presence of an endangered species serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect marine biodiversity,” Chaturapitamorn mentioned. “As global fish stocks decline, safeguarding threatened species like this is vital, not only for ecological balance but for the long-term sustainability of fishing communities that depend on the ocean’s bounty.”
Stranded
On July 1, wildlife veterinarians received a call about a humpback whale stranded on an Australian beach, and photographer Craig Parry documented the harrowing scene from above. For 15 hours, rescue groups and different members of the neighborhood labored to avoid wasting the whale however had been unsuccessful.
“While the outcome was heartbreaking, witnessing the collaboration and compassion shown by multiple agencies and volunteers was incredibly moving — a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose,” mentioned Parry, whose photograph is a finalist within the “Human Connection” class.
School of fish
This mesmerizing picture, taken in Indonesia by photographer Kim Hyeon Min, captures a faculty of juvenile fish circling round a tower of coral and is a finalist in the “Hope” category. The vibrancy of the coral suggests it has been unaffected by bleaching and is still able to host a miniature ecosystem for surrounding creatures. “In a time when marine ecosystems are rapidly disappearing, this image is a reminder of what we still have — and a hopeful glimpse of what we must protect for the future,” Hyeon Min said.
Otherworldly jellyfish
Jellyfish are often described as alien-like, and this ethereal image captured in Spain by photographer Toni Bertran Regàs takes that comparability to new heights with this finalist within the “Fine Art” class.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the resemblance between jellyfish and space rockets,” Bertran Regàs mentioned. “I was looking for a photograph that conveyed that connection: a rocket leaving Earth. To do this, I used a fisheye lens and took the photo just as the sun was rising. Snell’s Window” — an underwater optical phenomenon — “helped me create the Earth, the particles were the stars, and the sun luckily appeared behind it.”
Monster waves
Photographer Ben Thouard, a finalist within the “Adventure” class, captured a day of tough seas in Nazaré, Portugal. Though the water was too harmful for a lot of surfers, two gave it a go. Despite the issue of photographing between big waves and thru salt water within the air, Thouard ultimately shot this second.