Fine Art Photographer of the Year: Joaquin Fregoni, French Polynesia
The 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year competition has once again unveiled the ocean’s mesmerizing beauty, showcasing images that celebrate marine life and our deep connection to the sea.
Finalist photographs range from intricate underwater scenes to sweeping coastal vistas, capturing rare and intimate moments with sea creatures in their natural habitats. These powerful visuals go beyond aesthetics, telling stories of environmental fragility, resilience, and the urgent need for ocean conservation. Photographers from around the world contributed their unique visions, blending technical mastery with emotional depth to honor the ocean’s wonders. Altogether, the finalist images serve as both stunning works of art and compelling calls to protect the marine world.
More: Oceanographic, Instagram
Fine Art Photographer of the Year: Ysabela Coll, Mexico
Fine Art Photographer of the Year: Rafael Armada, South Georgia Island
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Suliman Alatiqi, Indonesia
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Daniel Sly, Australia
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Takumi Oyama, Japan
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Arturo de Frias, Galapagos
Adventure Photographer of the Year: Ben Thouard, Portugal
Adventure Photographer of the Year: Gergo Rugli, Australia
Adventure Photographer of the Year: Karim Iliya, Hawai’i
Adventure Photographer of the Year: Romain Barats, Dominica
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year: Daniel Flormann, Indonesia
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year: Claudio Moreno Madrid, Australia
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year: Richard Smith, Papua New Guinea
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year: Aaron Sanders, Indonesia
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year: Jenny Stock, Indonesia
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year: Catherine Holmes, Maldives
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean: Jianping Li, China
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean: Craig Parry, Australia
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean: Kaushiik Subramaniam, Mexico
Young Photographer of the Year: Aaron Sanders, United Kingdom
Young Photographer of the Year: Yuka Takahashi, French Polynesia