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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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9. Name: Craig Parry Location: Australia People try to rescue a stranded humpback whale. “For 15 hours, they worked tirelessly,” says Parry. “Sadly, she could not be saved, but the compassion shown is powerful reminder of what can be achieved when people come together."
Craig Parry / OPY
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10. Name: Yifan Ling Location: USA A one-year-old Bigg’s orca catches a harbour seal. “At this age, orcas typically rely on milk,” Ling explains. “His skill highlights the Salish Sea’s richness, where harbour seals and orcas have rebounded thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972."
Yifan Ling / OPY
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11. Name: Andrew Sullivan-Haskins Location: Hawai’i Inside the world’s largest albatross colony, a technician from the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project carries a ghost net. "During their mission, the team removed more than 70,000 pounds of marine debris,” says Sullivan-Haskins. “This is action-based conservation at its finest."
Andrew Sullivan-Haskins / OPY
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12. Name: Antonio Bertran Regas Location: Spain A jellyfish resembles a rocket in space. “I used a fisheye lens and took the photo just as the sun was rising. I don't think I'll ever be as close to space as I was that day,” says Bertran Regàs.
Antonio Bertran Regas / OPY