The Best Ocean Photos of the Year
Drone, coastal, and underwater perspectives The post The Best Ocean Photos of the Year appeared first on Nautilus .
The 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year contest showcases 84 finalist images that capture the beauty and challenges of ocean ecosystems. Winners are selected in nine categories, including Wildlife, Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds, Ocean Unseen: Human Connection, Fine Art, and Adventure. Photos range from seals learning to swim in the Falklands to colorful fish bunching together tightly off Seattle.
Hidden creatures like the pygmy seahorse and camouflaged hydroids are highlighted, as well as interactions between humans and the ocean, like a diver and a giant oceanic sunfish. Human impact on the ocean is depicted in photos of a shark caught in an illegal longline and a fish market in the Maldives, where fish waste is emptied into the sea.
Conservation efforts are also showcased, such as juvenile European lobsters being raised in a UK hatchery to improve their survival chances.
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