Underwater photography is an art form that captures the stunning and often surreal beauty of the ocean’s depths. These award-winning underwater photos reveal the vibrant colors and intricate details of marine life, showcasing the extraordinary skill of the photographers. Each photograph tells a unique story of the underwater world’s magnificence and the photographer’s ability to capture these fleeting moments. Through this blog, we explore some of the top award-winning underwater photographs that have mesmerized audiences worldwide.
Top Award-Winning Underwater Photos
“Whale Bones” by Alex Dawson
Award: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024

This haunting photograph captures the skeletal remains of a whale lying on the ocean floor beneath the ice in Greenland. The quiet, frozen setting enhances the haunting impact of the whale’s bones, highlighting the stark beauty and the poignant truth of marine life cycles.
Bio: Alex Dawson is a renowned underwater photographer from Sweden, celebrated for his ability to capture striking images in challenging conditions. His work often focuses on the dramatic and poignant aspects of marine environments
“Mimic Octopus” by Tobias Friedrich
Award: Best of Show, Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition
This image showcases a mimic octopus displaying its incredible camouflage skills. The octopus’s mimicry and the photograph’s detail highlight the fascinating behavior of this unique creature.
Bio: Tobias Friedrich is an acclaimed underwater photographer known for his stunning and detailed images. His work has earned him multiple awards and recognition in the underwater photography community
“Seahorse Bus” by Jules Casey
Award: Highly Commended, Ocean Photography Awards
Captured under Blairgowrie Marina in Victoria, Australia, this photograph showcases six baby seahorses all facing the same direction while sharing a piece of weed. The image highlights the unique behavior of these baby Short Head and Bigbelly Seahorses and captures a rare, fleeting moment in their lives.
Bio: Jules Casey is an Australian underwater photographer renowned for her dedication to capturing marine life. She transitioned from video to still photography in early 2019, using a second-hand Olympus TG-4 camera. Spending almost every day in the water, Jules has become known for her detailed and evocative images of marine creatures, particularly seahorses.
“The Ancient Mariner” by Laurent Ballesta
Award: Grand Title Winner, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023
This ethereal photograph captures a tri-spine horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) accompanied by three golden trevallies, taken in the protected waters of Pangatalan Island, Palawan, Philippines. The image highlights the ancient, almost alien appearance of the horseshoe crab, an organism that has remained largely unchanged for over 100 million years but is now threatened by habitat destruction and overfishing.
Bio: Laurent Ballesta is a French marine biologist and renowned underwater photographer. Co-founder of Andromède Océanologie, he has led major scientific and diving expeditions, capturing unprecedented images of marine life.
“The Great Migration” by Greg Lecoeur
Award: Grand Prize, National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
This dynamic image captures the annual sardine run off the coast of South Africa, with dolphins, birds, and other predators hunting the sardines. The photograph’s composition and timing highlight the chaos and beauty of this natural phenomenon.
Bio: Greg Lecoeur is an award-winning underwater photographer from France, known for his breathtaking images of marine life and underwater landscapes. His work often focuses on natural events and behaviors in the ocean.
“Green Turtles in the Rays” by Henley Spiers
Award: Highly Commended, Underwater Photographer of the Year
Taken in Sipadan, Malaysia, this photograph shows green turtles illuminated by sun rays filtering through the water, creating an ethereal and serene scene.
Bio: Henley Spiers is a British underwater photographer and writer. His work has been recognized for its artistic quality and technical excellence in capturing marine life.
“Grey Whale Connection” by Rafael Fernandez Caballero
Award: Winner, Portrait Category, Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024
This captivating photograph features a close-up of a grey whale’s eye, taken while Rafael Fernandez Caballero was drifting in a small boat in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico. The image beautifully captures the curious and friendly nature of the grey whale as it approaches the camera, offering an intimate glimpse into the creature’s world.
Bio: Rafael Fernandez Caballero is an acclaimed Spanish underwater photographer celebrated for capturing dramatic marine life interactions
“Drowned in Plastic” by Caroline Power
Award: Runner-Up, Underwater Conservation, Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition
This image depicts turtle hatchlings swimming among plastic debris in Honduras, emphasizing the critical issue of ocean pollution.
Bio: Caroline Power is a conservation photographer dedicated to highlighting the environmental challenges facing marine ecosystems
“A Journey Begins” by Sumer Verma
Award: Best in Show, Our World Underwater 2014
This award-winning image captures the enchanting moment of baby turtles swimming in the shallow waters of the Lakshadweep Islands, India. Taken with a split-image technique, the photo beautifully portrays the beginning of these tiny creatures’ journey from their nests to the open ocean, highlighting the delicate and fleeting nature of their early life stages.
Bio: Sumer Verma is a pioneering underwater photographer and filmmaker from India. With a career spanning over two decades, Sumer has completed more than 9,000 dives, capturing the beauty and intricacies underwater photos of marine life.
These award-winning underwater photographs offer a glimpse into the incredible beauty and diversity of the underwater world. Each underwater photos not only showcases the photographers’ technical skills and creativity but also highlights the importance of preserving our oceans. Through their lenses, we can appreciate the intricate details and vibrant life that exist beneath the surface, inspiring a deeper connection with the marine environment.
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