In the sapphire-to-stygian waters that cover 70 percent of Earth’s surface, fish school in iridescent sheets, whales sing mournful tunes, and jellyfish bloom like wildflowers. The ocean is a teeming mystery that most of us rarely dip our toes in. Thankfully, underwater photographers are working to bring portraits of its inhabitants back to shore.


And in 2018, those photographers delivered in a big way. The results of this year’s Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition, a 7-year-running contest organized by the organized by the Underwater Photography Guide, have just been announced and the winning photos—culled from thousands of submissions across 70 countries—might just convince you it’s time to start exploring the deep.

This year’s competition awarded over $80,000 worth of prizes in 16 categories, including marine life behavior, cold water, and an entire section devoted to brightly-colored sea slugs called nudibranchs. The competition also included categories for various methods of underwater photography, like mirrorless and DSLR.

While underwater photography may sound like a niche activity exclusive to those with private company submersibles and expensive cameras, Scott Gietler, Underwater Photography Guide publisher who served as one of the competition’s four judges, told Earther that more and more amateurs are taking it up, thanks in part to the advent of better and cheaper smartphone cameras.

“You [now] have a much higher percentage of people that are just amateurs, citizen scientists, dentists who go diving three times a year who can shoot at a professional level,” Gietler told Earther.


That’s a good thing when it comes to saving the oceans. Gietler said that many folks who become involved in underwater photography are inspired to take on various conservation causes. Locales that become popular with divers and photographers, including spots in the Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, and the Galapagos, have more incentive to preserve their underwater heritage rather than allow it to be spoiled by industry.

And, of course, the photos these divers capture disseminate the ocean’s wonders to the wider world of land lubbers. We’ve collected some of our favorite award-winning images from this year’s competition below, but you can check out all the top photos and the stories behind them here.

“Devil Ray Ballet” by Duncan Murrell

Photo : Duncan Murrell / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

This bad boy won Best of Show and it’s easy to see why. How many of us will ever witness a pair of rays engaged in courtship, much less three? Duncan Murrell was on scene to capture the fleeting encounter in which two male Spinetail devil rays attempted to court a female in Palawan, the Philippines. No word on who won the lady’s favor.

“Ancistrocheirus” by Jeff Milisen

Photo : Jeff Milisen / 2018 Ocean Art Contest


Jeff Milisen spotted this sharp-eared enope squid (Ancistricheirus lesseurii), during a nighttime dive off Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He chased the teeny kraken nearly 100 feet down into the abyss and captured this exquisitely detailed close-up, which won first place in Macro.

“Yellow Gobies in a Bottle” by Matteo Pighi

Photo : Matteo Pighi / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

In the age of humans, wildlife are increasingly finding ways to give our trash a second life. Matteo Pighi shot these yellow pigmy gobies, which took up residence in a derelict beer bottle in Anilao, Philippines, and won third place in Compact Macro.

“La Siesta” by Jin Woo Lee

Photo : Jin Woo Lee / 2018 Ocean Art Competition

There’s something strangely soothing about this portrait of white tip reef sharks chilling at the edge of an underwater cliff off Mexico’s Revillagigedo Archipelago. Although I’m not sure I’d feel that way if I were the one shooting them. Photographer Jin Woo Lee explains that while he was as he was approaching the animals, a “strong vertical current” pushed his body down, “which made all the sharks freak out”. Thankfully, he emerged no worse for the wear. His shot took third place in Compact Behavior.


“Love From a Father” by François Baelen

Photo : François Baelen / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

Shoutout to the dads. Third place in Marine Life Behavior went to François Baelen for this incredible close up of a male clownfish in Padangbai, Bali tending to dozens of baby Nemos.

“Schools of Schools” by Debbie Wallace

Photo : Debbie Wallace / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

A female sand tiger shark sizes up some potential lunch options—or perhaps she’s just as mesmerized by the giant bait ball as we are? Debbie Wallace’s photo of this rare scene off of Morehead City, North Carolina won second place in Mirrorless Behavior.

“Sheep on the Shot” by Chun Ho Tam

Photo : Chun Ho Tam / 2018 Ocean Art Contest


Nudibranchs never fail to put a smile on my face, but even by sea slug standards, this festive little guy stands out. It was shot by Chun Ho Tam Lembeh Strait, Indonesia and received an honorable mention in the Nudibranch category. Do yourself a favor and check the rest out, too.

“Roar” by Jinggong Zhang

Photo : Jinggong Zhang / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

Here you see a chaenopsid blenny “cleaning up its lair” in Kanagawaken, Japan. This also happens to be my exact face when I realize my apartment’s a mess. Jinggong Zhang’s relatable shot of the most punk rock fish in the ocean received an honorable mention in the Portrait category.

“Smile of a Friend” by Antonio Pastrana

Photo : Antonio Pastrana / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

Antonio Pastrana won second place in novice DSLR for this haunting shot of a crocodile named El Niño in Jucaro, Cuba.


“Face to Face” by Rafi Amar

Photo : Rafi Amar / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

Rafi Amar apparently waited over an hour near Shark Paradise, Bahamas, to snap this shy guy that looks like an RPG villain. His patience was rewarded with an honorable mention in Mirrorless Macro.

“Million Hope Shipwreck” by Fabrice Dudenhofer

Photo : Fabrice Dudenhofer / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

Fabrice Dudenhofer took home an honorable mention in Mirrorless Wide Angle for this surreal shot of Million Hope, reportedly the biggest shipwreck in the Red Sea. “This ship is so huge that I did not have enough time—or enough air since this is a shallow wreck lying against the reef—to explore everything,” Dudenhofer wrote. “My idea was to show the sheer scale of the ship.”

Mission accomplished.


“Dancing Jellyfish” by Melody Chuang

Photo : Melody Chuang / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

Melody Chuang chased this jellyfish along the northeast coast of Taiwan for over a mile at night. Her husband used a diving torch to create the backlight for the ethereal shot, which won first place in Compact Wide Angle.

“Winter in Iceland” by Adam Martin

Photo : Adam Martin / 2018 Ocean Art Contest

Some travel to Iceland in the winter to witness the famous aurora borealis. Others prefer to dive into frozen lakes and watch as ephemeral Arctic sunlight percolates through the ice. Adam Martin’s idea of an Icelandic vacation isn’t for the faint of heart, but it did win him an honorable mention in Cold Water category.