Indonesia-based macro photographer Yury Ivanov has been named Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025. Ivanov’s vibrant image of two synchronised ‘ladybugs of the sea’ mesmerised the judging panel, who connected with the simplicity of its message: that the ocean is a place of wonder, colour and life of all sizes (the ladybugs are just 3mm tall). The winning photograph – taken at Ivanov’s local dive site in Bali, Indonesia – was chosen from more than 15,000 images from all over the world. Speaking about what it meant to be named Ocean Photographer of the Year, Ivanov said: "Winning Ocean Photographer of the Year is an incredible feeling; I’m deeply grateful for the recognition. This award is not just about one image, but about celebrating the ocean itself — its fragility, its diversity, and its extraordinary power to inspire us."This year’s photographs comprise epic wildlife images, including a drooling dragon, torpedo-like penguins and a puffin desperately trying to evade a thief; sensational visions of fine art, such as a stingray atop a billowing sand-cloud, the mountain range-like ruffles of a Weddel seal’s fur coat, and a juvenile candy crab ruling over its pink wonderland; a nuanced exploration of our own species’ connection with the ocean, including a gravity-defyingsurfer launching toward a rainbow, the brutal reality of whale hunting in the Faroe Islands, and a team of conservationists and marine mammal rescuers attempting to save a beached whale. The full gallery can be viewed here The Ocean Photographer of the Year is presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain.
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1. Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 overall winner Indonesia-based macro photographer Yury Ivanov Ivanov's vibrant image of two synchronised ladybugs of the sea mesmerised the judging panel, who connected with the simplicity
Yury Ivanov / OPY
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2. Name: Romain Barats Location: Dominica A diver is surrounded by a pod of sperm whales. “We saw 15whales socialising,” says Barats. “The sea was rough but when you get to see something like that, you quickly forget the conditions.”
Romain Barats / OPY
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3. Name: Wendy Mitchell Location: Indonesia "In 2024/25, mass coral bleaching affected 84% of reefs globally," says Mitchell. "Yet, some areas proved resilient, like this mangrove system. For Papuan communities, these reefs are part of their cultural identity and provide food and livelihood.”
Wendy Mitchell / OPY
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4. Name: Ben Thouard Location: Portugal A rough Nazaré day. “The wind came from the north which made the surf tricky,” says Thouard. “Not many surfers went out and it was hard to shoot anything because of the big sets but eventually, this moment occured.”
Ben Thouard / OPY