2025 Get Into Your Sanctuary - Sanctuaries Around the World

Ocean connection can happen anywhere, not just in the National Marine Sanctuary System. This category portrays special places across the globe where you feel connected to the ocean and marine life found within it.

Below are the winners and honorable mentions for the Sanctuaries Around the World category. Thank you to all those who participated! Click each photograph to see the full version.

Please note that we may use any of the photos we received for this contest on our website, on social media, and in other NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation publications. We will provide credit to photographers whenever we use any of the photos. Organizations other than NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation may use photographs submitted in this contest to promote sustainable and responsible Views in the National Marine Sanctuary System. These photos are not for sale and are not for commercial use unless prior permission is arranged.

Humpback cow and calf enjoying an early morning swim.
1st Place: Ben Caswell. A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and calf swim in Vava'u, Tonga.
A proud banded jawfish male awaits its newest clutch of eggs to hatch.
2nd Place: Tamara Christian. A banded jawfish (Opistognathus macrognathus) male at the Blue Heron Bridge, Riviera Beach, Florida.
Detailed Willan's chromodoris nudibranch sits atop a colorful reef.
3rd Place: Devyn Winner. "In Anilao, Philippines, I photographed a nudibranch (Chromodoris willani) with vivid blue and black markings. Using a more shallow aperture I was able to capture the green and orange corals in the backdrop which perfectly complemented its colors."
Back to category winners

Honorable Mentions

Blue-footed booby doing mating dance for potential mate.
Daniel Greene. A blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) doing a mating dance in the Galapagos. "It was incredible to visit the breeding grounds for blue-footed boobies and to see them doing their mating ritual."
Large male sea lion underwater.
Nam Pham. A male sea lion (Zalophus Californianus) patrolling at La Reina, near La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
An octopus crawling over the rocks on a reef of soft coral.
Nam Pham. An octopus at La Reina, near La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Black and white photo of a pair of sea lions basking the sun beneath the surface near a rocky shore.
Nam Pham. California sea lions (Zalophus Californianus) swimming at La Reina, near La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Backlit leaf scorpionfish sits atop the reef.
Devyn Winner. "In Anilao, Philippines, I captured this striking backlit portrait of a leaf scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) with the help of my dive guide who carefully held my light behind the subject. The light passing through its fin and body revealed the delicate textures of this unique animal."
A large goliath grouper passes nearby with a large bait ball of fish surrounding it.
Tamara Christian. A goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) and bait ball in Jupiter, Florida.
Overhead drone photo of a marsh with winding paths during low tide.
Julio Aguilar. Aerial view of the estuary at Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Please note that we may use any of the photos we received for this contest on our website, on social media, and in other NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation publications. We will provide credit to photographers whenever we use any of the photos. Organizations other than NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation may use photographs submitted in this contest to promote sustainable and responsible recreation in the National Marine Sanctuary System. These photos are not for sale and are not for commercial use unless prior permission is arranged.