“It is such an exciting time in underwater photography because photographers are capturing such amazing new images, by visiting new locations and using the latest cameras,” Alex Mustard, chair of the judging panel, said in a press release.
‘Whale Bones’ by Alex Dawson
The winner of this year’s contest is Alex Dawson of Sweden, whose photo “Whale Bones” shows giant whale skeletons scattered on the Arctic seabed.
“Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions, as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear witness to the carcasses,” Mr. Mustard said. “A very arresting image right from the start; for me this got bigger and better with every viewing.”
The photo was taken in arctic Greenland, famous for its strong hunting and fishing culture that dates back thousands of years.
‘Window of Opportunity’ by Lisa Stengel
American Lisa Stengel was crowned “Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year.” Thanks to her intrepid nature and fast responses, Ms. Stengel succeeded in bagging a rare shot of a mahi-mahi hunting sardines in Mexico.
“This photo captures the instant of the attack,” Ms. Stengel said. "I chose not to wear a hood and noticed a distinct noise from the bait ball every time the mahi would attempt to hit a target.
‘Grey Whale Connection’ by Rafael Fernandez Caballero
Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero’s “Grey Whale Connection”—a remarkable close-up photo of a gray whale—was ranked first in the Portrait category.“Few people have ever gazed into the eye of a whale, but through this remarkable image many will be able to catch a glimpse of this intelligent soul. A ground-breaking underwater portrait,” Mr. Mustard said.
Mr. Caballero took the shot while drifting in a small boat in the Pacific saltwater lagoon of Magdalena Bay, in Mexico’s Baja California Sur. He says encounters with gray whales are “extremely special” as these mammoth creatures are known for their “friendly and curious nature.”
Recounting the special moment, he said: “[The whale] displayed a friendly gaze toward my camera, resembling a human look of curiosity and innocence. ... These special moments highlight the beauty and intelligence of the whales, creating enduring memories for both observers and, surely, the curious whales themselves.”
In addition to scooping gold in the Portrait category for “Grey Whale Connection,” Mr. Caballero took top prize in the “Behavior” category for his astonishing shot of a Bryde’s whale attacking a shoal of sardines, also in Baja California Sur.
‘Star Attraction’ by Jenny Stock
Far away in Scotland’s Loch Leven, British photographer Jenny Stock was busy exploring the murky depths on a dusk dive. The water was “refreshing” she said, but her cold-water adventure paid off when her torchlight revealed the bright colors of thousands of brittlestars.
Ms. Stock said: “Captivated by the variety of hues and patterns each star took, I felt this was an incredible encounter with a species I’d never seen before. I was happily snapping away, when I spotted this purple sea urchin and I got really excited.”
‘Attack from Above’ by Jon Anderson
Photographer Jon Anderson’s “Attack from Above” showcases the surprising encounter he had with a cormorant at a Monterey dive site in California.
“I planned a dive on a sunny afternoon hoping to catch a cormorant beneath the kelp forest pierced by the afternoon sun. I had numerous cormorants approach me, peck at my head and tank, follow me around, and try to eat my camera,” Mr. Anderson said.
As soon as one curious cormorant came closer and paused for a moment, probably after seeing itself reflected in the dome port, the photographer captured the perfect head-on portrait.
‘Chieftain Tanks’ by Martin Broen
Photographer Martin Broen’s winning photo captured the iconic “symmetry of the Chieftain Tanks and strong presence of their 120 mm guns.” The resulting picture, taken with a fish-eye lens at the underwater military museum in Aqaba, Jordan, bagged him the top position in the Wrecks category.
The war machines, sunk in 50 to 90 feet of water, are stationed along reefs in the Red Sea in tactical battle formation.
‘Saving Goliath’ by Nuno Sá
The top prize in the Marine Conservation category and Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year went to Nuno Sá, from Portugal. “Saving Goliath” is a poignant portrayal of hope, effort, and eventual sadness, showing the day beachgoers attempted to rescue a wounded sperm whale.
The event took place on the sands of Costa da Caparica, just across the river from Lisbon, when sunbathers spotted the massive creature struggling to swim just off the coast.
“Soon its giant wounded body was passing by surfers and swimmers and reaching the shallow waters of the beach,” Mr. Sá said. “But suddenly dozens of sun seekers start running towards the whale. Together they push and chant trying to help the giant back into the sea, as it slowly slaps its tail back and forth, and breathes heavily. Several hours later the whale takes its last breath, its body crushed by gravity as it lays on the sand.”
Here are some more photos from the competition:
