These impressive photos are the finalists of the 2024 Ocean Photographer of the Year

Aug 15, 2024

Alex Baker

These impressive photos are the finalists of the 2024 Ocean Photographer of the Year

Judges have sifted through thousands of stunning images to select this year’s finalists for the Ocean Photographer of the Year award. The final images include entries from coastal, drone and underwater photographers to highlight both the beauty of the oceans and the many perils they face.

This year’s finalists include eels slithering over rocks at low tide, a freediver on their way into the depths of a blue hole and an octopus sheltering in a plastic bag. The overall winner will be announced in mid-September alongside the category winners.

Here is a selection of our favourite images from the finalists:

Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year

Benjamín Yávar

A freediver amidst a shoal of sardines.
Bohol, Philippines

Byron Conroy

A scuba diver explores the Silfra fissure in Iceland, the tectonic boundary between the North
American and Eurasian plates, Iceland

Daan Verhoeven

Freediver Sun Young Kim dives in the ‘no fins’ category at Vertical Blue 2021, a freediving
competition, in the famous Dean’s Blue Hole.
The Bahamas

Tobias Friedrich

Every winter, orcas and humpback whales come to Northern Norway to feed on Atlantic
herring. This huge humpback filled its mouth with the small fish, before swimming past the
divers closely.
Norway

Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Hope)

Dillys Pouponeau

Juvenile rays rest in the shallows of the St Joseph Atoll Marine Protected Area. The image portrays the importance of healthy mangrove habitats and isolated island sanctuaries.
*Seychelles*

Edwar Herreño Parra

A whale shark swims alongside the Sharkwater research vessel — A whale shark swims alongside the *Sharkwater* research vessel, a ship that was initially used by the Japanese fishing fleet but is now used for research.
*Cocos Island, Costa Rica*

Florian Ledoux

A male and female polar bear rest after mating high in the mountains.
*Svalbard, Norway*

Shane Gross

A green sea turtle is released by a researcher after being caught while trying to catch sharks. Acting quickly, the researchers untangled the turtle, took measurements, and tagged it before releasing her back where she was caught.
*Seychelles*

Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact)

Francesca Page

A critically endangered smoothnose wedgefish demonstrates the cost of bycatch.
*Aceh, Indonesia*

Frederik Brogaard

The second biggest whale, the fin whale, lies waiting for its turn to be butchered at a whaling plant in Iceland before getting sent to Japan.
*Iceland*

João Rodrigues

A pregnant stingray is trapped in an aquaculture frame, highlighting the issue of bycatch. Currently, about 40% of the world’s fish is caught accidentally and is dead or dying when returned to the sea.
*Portugal*

Pietro Formis

A coconut octopus found a hideout spot inside a plastic sandwich bag.
*Philippines*

Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year

Enric Adrian Gener

A seagull rests on top of a sea turtle shortly before they both continue their own paths.
*Mediterranean Sea*

Mark Williams

An orca exhales on the surface.
*Vancouver Island, Canada*

Merche Llobera

A puffin carries fish to feed its chicks.
*Saltee Islands, Ireland*

Mizael Palomeque Gonzalez

A spotted eagle ray’s natural pattern.
*Quintana Roo, Mexico*

The Human Connection Award: People and Planet Ocean

Pavlos Evangelidis

Traditional stilt fishermen try their luck with the changing tide at sunset in Koggala, Sri Lanka. It showcases the water movement in contrast to the stillness of the fishermen. Traditional, artisanal fishing methods like these, used for subsistence do not pose significant threats to the ocean’s natural resources. On the contrary, these make local communities stakeholders to the ocean’s health.

Tanya Houppermans

Scientists conduct an ultrasound on a female tiger shark off the coast of Grand Bahama. She was discovered to be pregnant, and a groundbreaking device called a birth tag was inserted into her uterus which does not harm the mother or pups.
*The Bahamas*

Yue Hongjun

A freediver with her customised fishtail swims amidst a school of sardines.
*Moalboal, Philippines*

Zhang Xiang

Fishermen in coastal Fujian dry their nets in intricate fashion. As they are woven with hemp fibres, they swell easily after being immersed in the water.
*China*

Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Andrey Shpatak

A giant Pacific octopus in the shallows.
*Russia*

Laura Leusko

A fever of mobula rays from above. When the photographer’s drone inched closer, some rays started to jump out of the water.
*Baja California Sur, Mexico*

Merche Llobera

The hunt. Above, pelicans dive from the sky in a well-coordinated dance. Underwater, mahi-mahi dart around at top speed, chasing sardines, while sea lions also join the action.
*Baja California Sur, Mexico*

Shane Gross

Peppered moray eels look for food in a tidal pool at low tide. “Their ability to come completely out of the water is amazing and surprising,” says Gross.
*D’Arros Island, Seychelles*

Young Ocean Photographer of the Year

Jacob Guy

An elusive algae octopus shows off its fluorescence under ultraviolet light.
North Sulawesi, Indonesia

João Pontes

A perfectly camouflaged lizardfish with prey in its mouth.
Hawaii

Julian Jacobs

A California moray eel pauses at the surface of its rapidly shrinking world as the tide goes out.
*California*

You can see all the previous years’ award winners and view the rest of the 2024 finalists on the website. The Ocean Photographer of the Year is presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain.

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Alex Baker

Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe