Ocean Photographer of the Year 2021 winners – in pictures
From Western Australia to Norway, photographers around the world capture animals and plants in their natural environment – and under threat from human activity
A green sea turtle hatchling cautiously surfaces for air, to a sky full of hungry birds, Heron Island, Queensland, Australia. Winner: Young Ocean Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Hannah Le Leu
A young trevally shelters in a box jellyfish, Lembeh, Indonesia. From the Collective Portfolio award. Photograph: Galice Hoarau
Speleothems cast long shadows at Cenote dos Pisos in Quintana Roo state, Mexico.
Winner: Exploration Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Martin Broen
Southern calamari squid (Sepioteuthis australis) at night in Bushrangers Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Third place: Exploration Photographer of the Year Photograph: Matty Smith
Two male blennies in a territorial fight over a nearby female. Nominee: Collective Portfolio award
Photograph: Steven Kovacs
A gull caught on a ‘ghost’ fishing line (lost or discarded gear), Saltstraumen, Norway. Second place: Conservation Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Galice Hoarau
A sperm whale amid sargassum weed off Roseau, Dominica. Nominee: Adventure Photographer of the Year
Photograph: James Ferrera
A manta ray feeds in the calm waters of Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia. Second: Female Fifty Fathoms award
Photograph: Aimee Jan
A freediver falls through an ocean full of moon jellyfish in the Raja Ampat islands, West Papua. Third place: Collective Portfolio award
Photograph: Alex Kydd
A dead moray eel hooked by an abandoned fishing line off Bodrum, Turkey. Winner: Conservation Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Kerim Sabuncuoğlu
A seahorse clings to a face mask, Stratoni, Greece. Highly commended: Conservation Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Nicholas Samaras
A freediver captures a photograph of a humpback whale, Réunion Island. Third place: Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Sébastien Pontoizeau/Alasy Photography
Diving gannets hit the water off the Isle of Noss, Shetland, UK. Second place: Ocean Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Henley Spiers
A green turtle, surrounded by glass fish, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Winner: Ocean Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Aimee Jan
A lone blacktip reef shark’s dorsal fin is aligned with the setting sun in Mo’orea, French Polynesia. Winner: Female Fifty Fathoms award
Photograph: Renee Capozzola
A hawksbill turtle hatchling, just 3.5cm long and a few minutes old, takes its first swim from Lissenung Island, Papua New Guinea. Third place: Ocean Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Matty Smith
A green sea turtle hatchling cautiously surfaces for air, to a sky full of hungry birds, Heron Island, Queensland, Australia. Winner: Young Ocean Photographer of the Year
Photograph: Hannah Le Leu