2019 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest results
Thank you to all the photographers who shared their view of national marine sanctuaries with us! 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 activities in the National Marine Sanctuary System, as long as the photographer is credited. These photos are not for sale and are not for commercial use unless prior permission is arranged.
Sanctuary Recreation
National marine sanctuaries provide an idyllic setting for a variety of recreational activities. This category celebrates the people who visit them.
1st Place: Olivia Williamson. A scuba diver swims alongside a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas ) in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
2nd Place: Keith C. Flood. Divers explore the Florida shipwreck at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron. The steam ship sank under 200 feet of water after a collision in 1897, and can still be dived today.
3rd Place: Anne Mary Schaefer. A woman and her dog enjoy a sunset stroll at Schooner Gulch Beach in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
All submitted photos
A hiker enjoys the views of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary from Santa Cruz Island. Photo: Chuck Graham
A kayer explores Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Chuck Graham
A kayaker meets a local dolphin at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Chuck Graham
A stand up paddleboarder paddles towards Santa Rosa Island at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Chuck Graham
A diver explores the pristine reefs at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Scott Bauer
A diver admires a school of beautiful amberjacks at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Scott Bauer
A diver meets the local amberjacks at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Scott Bauer
A diver swims with the fish above the reef at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Scott Bauer
Anglers find the perfect place to fish at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Sepp Haukebo
Fishermen search for the perfect catch at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Sepp Haukebo
Boaters enjoy excellent fishing at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Sepp Haukebo
A fly fisher tries his luck at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: James MacMillan
A diver gets up close to a Cassiopea jellyfish (Cassiopea xamachana ) at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tiffany Duong
A snorkeler swims over Orbicella faveolata , one of a variety of corals found at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Olivia Williamson
Sunset sails with seabirds at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jessica Hogan
A canoe paddle digs through the water at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jeff Moore
Outrigger canoes await adventure under a rainbow at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jeff Moore
A freediver explores the coral caverns and underwater caves in the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marina Kulakova
A freediver explores the coral caverns and underwater caves in the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marina Kulakova
A freediver explores the coral caverns and underwater caves in the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marina Kulakova
A freediver strikes a pose while exploring the underwater caves in the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marina Kulakova
A freediver goes for a "run" in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marina Kulakova
A freediver explores the caves at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Crystal Dombrow
A fisherman casts a net at sunset at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jeff Moore
A freediver stretches among the local fish before descending into the depths at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marina Kulakova
A freediver explores beneath the surface at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marina Kulakova
A freediver explores incredible coral structures in the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Crystal Dombrow
A curious adult humpback whale comes to the surface to check out an outrigger canoe at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jeff Moore
Make way for the locals! A outrigger canoe paddler pauses to allow a mother humpback whale and her calf to pass at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Barbara Craig
Outrigger canoes set out at sunset at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Barbara Craig
A sunset sail provides incredible views of Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Carpenter
Even white sharks enjoy the surf at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jim Bryan
Friendly locals! A pod of bottlenose dolphins come up to say hello to a boogie boarder at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal
A diver explores the depths of the sea at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eric Wahl
A diver's bubbles rise through the kelp during an exploration of the giant kelp forest at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Sabrina Wong
A diver shows off flippers near Cannery Row in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eric Wahl
A diver weaves through the kelp forest at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eric Wahl
A diver explores the kelp forests at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks
The perfect date idea! Follow these divers' lead and go exploring at Lovers Point at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Megan Crabtree
Enjoying a night dive at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Megan Crabtree
A paddleboarder pauses over a sea of jellyfish at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks
A jellyfish comes up to greet a paddleboarder at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks
An underwater photographer surfaces after capturing the beautiful sights at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Steve Peletz
The best way to see the wonders of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is to grab a snorkel and dive into the water like this adventurer! Photo: Eric Wahl
When the tide rolls out, visitors from far and wide can come check out the tide pools at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Sierra Rose Garcia
A man investigates as low tide exposes the inhabitants of the rocky tide pools at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Sierra Rose Garcia
A diver meets one of the sand tiger sharks that guard the Atlas shipwreck near Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks
A man helps collect debris during a beach cleanup event at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Nancy Uziemblo
A participant in a beach cleanup helps collect debris at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Nancy Uziemblo
Divers explore one of the many shipwrecks at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Norman sank after a collision in 1895 and now rests in 210 feet of water. Photo: Keith C. Flood
Kayakers paddle over the Portland shipwreck at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This 150-foot wooden schooner was carrying a load of salt when it ran aground in 1877, and today it sits under eight feet of water. Photo: Bryan Dort
A stand up paddleboarder hovers over history as she rests above the Joseph S. Fay shipwreck. The 216-foot wreck sits under 17 feet of water just off the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bryan Dort
A stand up paddleboarder looks down at the historic Joseph S. Fay shipwreck at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The 216-foot wreck sits under 17 feet of water just off the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse. Photo: Bryan Dort
A stand up paddleboarder explores shipwrecks from above at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary at the wreck of Joseph S. Fay . Photo: Bryan Dort
A stand up paddleboarder explores the Joseph S. Fay shipwreck from above. The 216-foot wreck sits under 17 feet of water at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, just off the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse. Photo: Bryan Dort
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.