Otherworldly images show beauty of oceans in photo competition
Jialing Cai was the overall winner for this photograph taken in the Philippines of a paper nautilus drifting on a piece of ocean debris at night, surrounded by heavy sediment.
Jialing Cai/Ocean Photographer of the Year
Franco Banfi took third place in the adventure category for this shot of a scuba diver exploring the underside of a gigantic iceberg in east Greenland.
Franco Banfi/Ocean Photographer of the Year
Two pale octopuses sit on a pipe that forms part of an artificial reef built to attract octopuses and other marine life to the area. Jules Casey won second place in the conservation (hope) category for the image from Australia.
Jules Casey/Ocean Photographer of the Year
A polar bear cub contends with the fragility of melting ice in Svalbard, Norway. Florian Ledoux's picture won first place in the conservation (impact) category.
Florian Ledoux/Ocean Photographer of the Year
A striped marlin hunts a bait ball in Mexico by Merche Llobera, winner of the Female Fifty Fathoms Award.
Merche Llobera/Ocean Photographer of the Year
A curious group of Steller sea lions in Canada circle the photographer, Celia Kujala.
Celia Kujala/Ocean Photographer of the Year
Artisanal fishing fences stand in the sea in China. Jingyi Wang's picture won the human connection category.
Jingyi Wang/Ocean Photographer of the Year
A school of red snapper sweeps over a healthy hard coral reef during a vibrant sunset in Rangiroa, French Polynesia. Renee Capozzola, Ocean Portfolio Award.
Renee Capozzola/Ocean Photographer of the Year
A young grey reef shark is hooked by an angler at night at Burma Bank, an offshore plateau in the Andaman Sea. Sirachai Arunrugstichai, Ocean Portfolio Award.
Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Ocean Photographer of the Year
Kat Zhou's northern gannets dive beneath the waterline in Shetland, Scotland.
Kat Zhou/Ocean Photographer of the Year
Jack Pokoj won the wildlife category with this picture, taken in the Philippines, as a lizardfish opens its mouth to reveal its last meal.
Jack Pokoj/Ocean Photographer of the Year
A bodyboarder paddles out to sea, while big storm clouds block the sun and create an electric blue color effect on the wave. This image taken in Western Australia landed Jarvis Smallman with the young ocean photographer of the year award.
