The winners of the 2024 World Oceans Day Photo Competition were announced on June 7th, celebrating the best in underwater photography from around the world. This prestigious event, hosted by DivePhotoGuide, highlights the beauty and diversity of our oceans while raising awareness for ocean conservation. The winning images, which capture stunning marine life, seascapes, and environmental messages, will be showcased at the United Nations, bringing global attention to the importance of preserving our oceans. Explore the captivating winning photos and learn more about the competition.
© Renee Capozzola (USA). Awaken New Depths — Winner
“Bringing Up The Net”: In Kona, Hawaii, a large, discarded fishing net was found entangled on a reef at a depth of 30 meters. Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA) Volunteers collaborated closely to remove the net, using lift bags to raise it onto a boat provided by Kona Honu Divers. Earlier that day, ODA also removed large amounts of fishing lines from the reef. Debris like this significantly threatens our oceans, damaging reefs and endangering marine life. Thanks to organizations like ODA, efforts to clean and protect marine ecosystems continue.
© Patrick Webster (USA). Awaken New Depths — 2nd Place
Kelp restoration technician Andrew Kim removes purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) from an experimental site designed to test whether divers can effectively protect and restore kelp forests that have been devastated by warming oceans. Since 1980, the canopy coverage of kelp forests around Monterey Bay has declined by over 90%. The situation worsened dramatically starting in 2013, when a "perfect ecological storm" struck, further stressing the kelp and emboldening its grazers due to the absence of their natural predators. The widespread loss of kelp along the coast has sounded the alarm, prompting numerous organizations and dedicated divers to take on the role of kelp forest gardeners. By stepping in as surrogates for sea otters, sunflower stars, and seaweed, these passionate coastal stewards are striving to strengthen the coastline, giving it a fighting chance to build a more resilient ecosystem and community in the face of climate change.
© Sina Ritter (Germany). Awaken New Depths — 3rd Place
“Guiding Fins”: This photo captures a poignant moment in Costa Rica, where local conservationists gently release hawksbill turtle hatchlings into the ocean. The image draws us into the tender care of a conservationist, guiding these tiny, vulnerable creatures toward the vast expanse of the sea—their ultimate sanctuary. As these hatchlings face a world filled with predators and natural obstacles, the photo underscores the vital role humans play in safeguarding our planet’s wildlife. It serves as a vivid reminder of the fragile thread of life and how focused conservation efforts can greatly enhance the survival chances of these young turtles.
© Mathieu Macias (France). Big and Small Underwater Faces – Winner
This photograph is a portrait of a leafy seadragon, captured in its native waters of Rapid Bay, South Australia. From the moment I first saw a photo of this enchanting creature, I was captivated, and it became a dream of mine to encounter one in person. Although my first attempt was unsuccessful, I returned a few months later, and my dream finally came true. Meeting this adorable, almost otherworldly animal with its incredible camouflage was an unforgettable experience. Photographing it was a challenge due to its shy nature, but I’m thrilled with the result.
© George Kuowei Kao. Big and Small Underwater Faces — 2nd Place
During a dive, I came across a hard coral teeming with blennies, whose charm rivaled that of groundhogs, as seen through my new lens. As I captured their images, a surge of creativity inspired me to push the boundaries of the scene. Using a snoot, I crafted a dramatic, overexposed standoff between two blennies. My guide, Jason, added a heart-shaped gesture, transforming a shared glance into a shared vision. This photo, blending spontaneous nature with a flash of inspiration, is the result of that memorable dive.
© Irene Middleton (New Zealand). Big and Small Underwater Faces — 3rd Place
This is a juvenile football octopus (Ocythoe tuberculata), a pelagic species typically found in midwater at depths around 200 meters, where they are favored prey for lancetfish and Risso’s dolphins. Juveniles occasionally venture near the surface, often using large salps for protection. On this day at the Poor Knights Islands off New Zealand’s northeastern coast, I spotted several juveniles sheltered in salps, but this was the only free-swimming one I encountered.
© Daniel Sly (Australia). Underwater Seascapes — 2nd Place
During the winter months, hundreds of thousands of giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama) gather in the shallow waters of the upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia with one purpose: mating. The gathering is heavily skewed toward males, with a ratio of about eight to one, leading to intense competition for the limited number of females. In the foreground of this image, a large male has fully enveloped a smaller female with his arms, while in the background, several other males can be seen challenging each other for the chance to mate with a nearby female.
© Taryn Schulz (Canada). Underwater Seascapes — Winner
“Cormorant Love”: This image was taken at Isla Islotes, off the Mexican state of Baja California, a location known for its sea lion colony. The day we dived here, there happened to be a large number of sardines taking refuge by the island, which became an exciting spectacle in the water, with pelicans and cormorants like in this photo flying around and torpedoing themselves in the water. Moments before this shot, the sardines were swimming very quickly, so I turned around as I knew something was coming, and I was so happy to capture the heart shape of the sardines as they fled from the cormorants.
© Vanessa Mignon (Australia). Underwater Seascapes — 3rd Place
I traveled to Baja California, Mexico, with the hope of witnessing the Mobula munkiana aggregation. On this particular day, we encountered a mesmerizing vortex of them in the deep, blue waters. They circled and swam in perfect unison, creating a beautiful, hypnotic dance. Seeing such large aggregations might give the impression that their populations are thriving. However, Mobula munkiana is actually listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
© Romeo Bodolai (Hungary). Above Water Seascapes — 3rd Place
In Myanmar, a fisherman uses a traditional technique to catch fish for his family. This photo was captured on Inle Lake.
© Emmett Sparling (Canada). Above Water Seascapes — 2nd Place
On our first night in the Tuamotus, French Polynesia, we anchored in Tahanea—an uninhabited atoll nestled deep within this breathtaking archipelago. The evening was perfectly still, with the ocean turning to glass. By the next morning, the water remained mirror-like as a group of blacktip reef sharks patrolled around our boat. In the Tuamotus, rainbows and sharks are common sights, yet they never cease to amaze me.
© Michael Sswat (Germany). Above Water Seascapes – Winner
Sitting at the rocky shore in Norway watching the northern lights and their reflection in the sea surface with friends—what more do you want?! In this case, we even had more beautiful nature to experience, as earlier in the day, we were diving through canyons into incredible kelp forests meeting lobsters and nudibranchs, in the Namsfjord, off the village of Utvørda, north of Trondheim.