Underwater Life

Photo © Audrey Jeane

1st classified

Whale Milk
by Karim Iliya


During a dive, Karim seized the chance to capture an extraordinary image. He was documenting a rare phenomenon: the abandoned swirl of milk floating in the depths as the humpback whale calf missed it. Just as he prepared to resurface for air, he spotted the calf rising in the bac...

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2nd classified

The rain I’ve been waiting for
by Kazushige Horiguchi


When it rains, the frog pairs come down to the river to spawn.
After fleeing attacks from other males, they finally reach their spawning site.
Once they lay eggs, they return to the mountains, leaving behind a brief but captivating story that unfolds over just one week.

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3rd classified

Humpback Nursery
by Renee Capozzola


A mother and calf humpback whale interact closely near the surface just off the coast of Tahiti's island. These whales migrate to the islands of French Polynesia all the way from Antarctica, to mate and give birth. Renee captured the scene with an over-under image to showcase bot...

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Honorable mention

Lunch Time
by Alessandro Giannaccini


As Alessandro snapped photos in the mudflat by Lake Porta in Tuscany during lunchtime, an extraordinary sight unfolded: an Italian green frog, with a lightning-fast leap, captured a centipede and began devouring it.

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Honorable mention

The Scream
by Filippo Borghi


During a dive in Antarctica, a leopard seal approached Filippo with curiosity, drawn by his camera. For several minutes, it showed him its incredible mouth and, most notably, its formidable set of teeth.

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Honorable mention

Nautilus Rider
by Renee Capozzola


A female paper nautilus or Argonaut, carrying her egg case, rides a small jellyfish during a blackwater dive. These otherworldly creatures, just 2 cm in size, rise to the surface at night to aerate their eggs and feed. Using their beaks, they extract nutrients from the jellyfish.

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Honorable mention

Icy Gaze
by Matthew Smith


As Matthew navigates towards Paradise Harbour in the Antarctic Peninsula, a leopard seal boldly approaches his boat, circling around in curiosity to explore its territory. Without a moment's hesitation, Matthew dons his wetsuit and silently slips into the water.

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Honorable mention

The ghost
by Salvatore Ianniello


During a nighttime freedive in the waters of Bacoli in the Gulf of Naples, Salvatore managed to capture the image of a white spotted octopus gliding beneath the sea’s surface. By tilting his camera, he immortalized its enchanting reflection.

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Honorable mention

La morte in attesa
by Pietro Formis


A stargazer fish (Uranoscopus scaber) blends seamlessly into the sandy seabed, awaiting its prey. Through a cascade of turquoise water, a monstrous mask appears to shimmer, as if death were patiently lurking for its next victim. This image was captured using flash and a slow shut...

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Honorable mention

Split shark
by Alvaro Herrero Lopez Beltran


In the crystal-clear waters of French Polynesia, a blacktip reef shark glides near the surface. Once accustomed to being fed, the protection of these majestic creatures now prohibits such interactions. Yet, their innate curiosity persists, drawing them near the boat with the hum...

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Remarkable Artwork

Chinook Salmon
by David Herasimtschuk


A group of adult Chinook salmon congregates in a small pool as they migrate to their spawning waters. This species is currently of conservation concern due to significant declines across its native range in Western North America.

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Remarkable Artwork

Carp Love
by Ferenc Ifj. Lorincz


A mirror carp and a scaly carp appear to be kissing in the lake, reminiscent of a romantic moment between a man and a woman. This enchanting moment was captured in Lake Čierna Voda, Slovakia.

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Remarkable Artwork

Puppy Love
by Anita Verde


Two young sea lion pups frolic in their 'pup pond' at Los Islotes, the southernmost rookery of California sea lions in Mexico's Baja Peninsula. Here, amidst the safety of this protected rocky pool, the new pups learn to swim and socialize, ensuring a fun and playful environment f...

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Remarkable Artwork

Grey seal hello
by Kirsty Andrews


With kelp-covered gullies and shallow rocks exposed at low tide, the Farne Islands host a thriving grey seal colony. Curious and confident, seals often approach the camera, intrigued by their reflection in the lens. In the golden afternoon sunlight, this inquisitive seal came clo...

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Remarkable Artwork

Gannets
by Franco Banfi


Gannets spend almost their entire lives above and in the sea, tracking their prey from the air and catching it with a spectacular "jabbing dive." To seize their prey, these birds dive straight down into the water from heights of about 30 meters, folding their wings back and stret...

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Remarkable Artwork

The orchestra and its conductor
by Manuel Castellanos Raboso


A bait ball of this size is a mesmerizing showcase of rhythm, lightning reflexes, and collaboration, all without central intelligence. Tightening into a compact mass to minimize volume, it can disperse and surround you in a split second as predators charge from the opposite side.

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Remarkable Artwork

Mr. Blue
by Jose Alejandro Alvarez


Blennies are among my favorite subjects to photograph. Despite their small size (usually between 1 to 3 inches in length), they possess remarkable attitude, character, and courage. They are not only fascinating to observe but also delightful to capture through photography.

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Remarkable Artwork

la caccia
by Filippo Borghi


A group of sea lions gorge on a school of sardines. From October to January, in the swirling blue waters rich in nutrients off the coast of Magdalena Bay, a mesmerizing event unfolds: predators of all kinds gather to join in the sardine hunt.

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Remarkable Artwork

A different crib
by Andrea Michelutti


This tiny crab found refuge in a sponge, where it carefully guards its precious orange eggs. The eye contact, its perch atop the sponge, and the eggs cradled by its claws all come together to create this compelling environmental portrait.

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