The ocean has an undeniable allure, untamed, enigmatic, and brimming with untold stories. This spirit is vividly captured by the winners of the 13th United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition, whose remarkable photographs reveal the wonders found both above and beneath the waves, as seen through the lenses of gifted photographers from around the globe.
Every year, this competition celebrates the ocean’s beauty, variety, and significance. The selected photographs are displayed during the UN World Oceans Day event at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The contest, organized with help from groups such as the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, DivePhotoGuide, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and Nausicaá, has earned a reputation as a leading showcase for marine photography. Since 2016, it has been curated by renowned underwater photographer Ellen Cuylaerts.
The judging panel for this year brought together top underwater photographers, including Ipah Uid Lynn, William Tan, Jane Morgan, and Dave Alexander, who founded a well-known dive publication. They chose winners in four categories: Connecting Oceans, Big and Small Underwater Faces, Underwater Seascapes, and Above Water Seascapes. With 13 winners from nine different countries, the competition underscores how stories of the sea resonate around the world.
This year’s top honors were awarded to Valentina Cucchiara (Italy), Kasuhiik Sabramaniam (United Kingdom), Ysabela Coll (Dominican Republic), and Bruce Sudweeks (United States). Their outstanding photos are a powerful reminder that every wave, reef, and sea creature is part of the ongoing story of our planet’s oceans.
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1. Connecting Oceans – Winner: Valentina Cucchiara, Italy
"Suspended in the pristine darkness of Cenote Nariz, a diver illuminates a breathtaking ancient underwater world formed drop by drop over millennia. This vast subterranean aquifer serves as the vital heart of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, acting as the primary source of fresh water that sustains its sprawling jungles, diverse wildlife, and human communities."
2. Connecting Oceans – 2nd Place: James Ferrara, USA
"While diving inside a cave in the Kingdom of Tonga, I watched as a freediver was surrounded by a swirling school of baitfish. Sunlight pouring in from the cave’s entrance created a striking silhouette, perfectly framing the diver and fish in a fleeting moment of harmony between shadow and motion."
3. Connecting Oceans – 3rd Place: James Ferrara, USA
"A freediver glides beneath the frozen surface of North America’s Lake Huron, suspended in a silent and surreal world. The view from below reveals intricate patterns in the ice, sculpted by weather and waves. Experiencing a scene like this makes braving the elements more than worthwhile."
4. Connecting Oceans – Honorable Mention: Wendy Mitchell, Australia
"There has never been a more critical time to take action to protect the places we love. Globally, coral reefs are being lost at an alarming rate, largely driven by the relentless impacts of burning fossil fuels. The release of carbon dioxide trapped in coal, oil, and gas is the leading contributor to climate change, driving ocean temperatures to extreme levels. Yet, hope remains through awareness and responsible leadership."
5. Big and Small Underwater Faces – Winner: Kaushiik Subramaniam, UK
"A curious juvenile gray whale approaches our boat in a lagoon in Baja California Sur, Mexico. This was an incredibly special encounter, as the whale spent over an hour with us, coming in close enough for me to dip my camera into the water and capture this image. These whales are known for their friendly and inquisitive nature, and seem to genuinely enjoy interacting with humans."
6. Big and Small Underwater Faces – 2nd Place: Verona Chadwick, Australia
"In Anilao in the Philippines, this moray eel was hiding in a hole in a reef wall, popping its head out intermittently. A snooted flash with a color filter was set up behind the subject to create the red rim light—which wasn’t easy because the eel kept moving around. I used a second snooted flash to focus a narrow white beam on the eye. It took many attempts to get everything aligned to capture this shot."
7. Big and Small Underwater Faces – 3rd Place: Jeon Min-seok, South Korea
"This bobtail squid was encountered during a night dive off Tongyeong Beach on Korea’s southern coast. As the cephalopod swam upwards, its arms opening wide, I managed to capture this picture, with the animal’s reflection on the surface."
8. Underwater Seascapes – Winner: Ysabela Coll, Dominican Republic
"Emerging from the darkness of a Mexican cenote, we entered this underwater garden teeming with colorful water lilies and small fish. The sudden contrast transformed the scene into a dreamlike world, where light, color, and life replaced the silence of the cave. Cenotes are vital freshwater reservoirs that sustain biodiversity and surrounding communities, yet pollution and climate change increasingly threaten their fragile balance. This moment of beauty is a reminder of our responsibility to protect these hidden ecosystems, where life depends on the purity and clarity of the water."
9. Underwater Seascapes – 2nd Place: Bingqian Gao, UK/China
"This expansive seascape captures one of the ocean’s most awe-inspiring spectacles: a “fever” of Munk’s devil rays (Mobula munkiana) gliding in unison in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. Bathed in the ethereal glow of the sun rays piercing the surface, the scene feels more celestial than aquatic. These vast migrations continuing to flourish beneath the surface remind us that protecting the ocean means safeguarding the ecosystems that depend on it."
10. Underwater Seascapes – 3rd Place: Eduardo Carrasco, Chile
"I fought the buoyancy of my 12-inch dome to capture the split second when these Heermann’s gulls, on the lookout for a meal, shattered the silvered surface. This view from below highlights the raw, dynamic boundary between the worlds above and below the water’s surface, illustrating a profound interdependence where the life in the sky is irrevocably tied to the health of the deep."
11. Above Water Seascapes – Winner: Bruce Sudweeks, USA
"The life of a grizzly bear cub on Alaska’s Kodiak Island consists of eating, playing, and napping. These two cubs have started their day at sunrise, frolicking in the river that provides their meals. The river is full of salmon heading upstream to spawn as their last mortal act. The bear cubs will effortlessly select a few salmon to eat, thereby denying the fish the opportunity to reproduce."
12. Above Water Seascapes – 2nd Place: James Ferrara, USA
"This single long-exposure image was taken at Blue Cypress Lake in my home state of Florida. After careful planning and a short boat ride in the middle of the night, I used a tripod in the water and light painting techniques to illuminate the cypress tree beneath the Milky Way above. Rapid population growth has transformed much of Florida’s once-pristine landscape into a patchwork of development and concrete, yet pockets of untouched wilderness still remain beyond the reach of urban sprawl and light pollution."
13. Above Water Seascapes – 3rd Place: Miesa Grobbelaar, South Africa/Australia
"The seaweed farms of Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan, southeast of Bali, stretch across the water in rows of green. From above, I noticed how naturally the locals moved through them, not controlling the ocean but working in tune with it, with a sense of unity and collaboration, as if they were one with the sea. From the sky, it resembles a woven, living tapestry across the water, where human hands and nature are threaded together."
FAQs:
What is the UN World Oceans Day Photo Contest?
The UN World Oceans Day Photo Contest is an annual international photography competition that celebrates the beauty and importance of the world’s oceans. It invites photographers to showcase marine life, underwater landscapes, and ocean-related stories that inspire conservation and global awareness.
Who organizes the World Oceans Day Photo Competition?
The competition is organized in collaboration with the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, DivePhotoGuide, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and Nausicaá. Together, they promote ocean awareness through powerful visual storytelling and photography.
What categories were featured in the 2026 competition?
The 2026 contest included four categories: Connecting Oceans, Big and Small Underwater Faces, Underwater Seascapes, and Above Water Seascapes. These categories encourage photographers to capture diverse perspectives of marine ecosystems, wildlife, and the relationship between humans and the ocean.
Who won the top awards in the 2026 contest?
The first-place winners were Valentina Cucchiara from Italy, Kasuhiik Sabramaniam from the United Kingdom, Ysabela Coll from the Dominican Republic, and Bruce Sudweeks from the United States. Their images stood out for creativity, technical excellence, and emotional impact.
Why is ocean photography important for conservation?
Ocean photography helps people connect emotionally with marine environments and wildlife. Powerful images can raise awareness about conservation challenges, inspire action, and encourage individuals, communities, and governments to protect ocean ecosystems for future generations.
