2025 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest - Sanctuary Recreation

National marine sanctuaries provide an idyllic setting for a variety of recreational activities. This category celebrates the people who visit them.

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.

Woman viewing telescope with old bridge and Milky Way in the background
1st Place: Daniel Eidsmoe. Viewing the telescope near the old seven mile bridge in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
A kayaker fishing through an area with submerged aquatic vegetation.
2nd Place: Patrick Boyle. A kayaker fishing in an area with submerged aquatic vegetation in Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary.
Kayakers enter a cave while a research boat is anchored in the distance
3rd Place: Dustin Harris. Kayakers paddle into a sea cave on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. In the background, the NOAA research vessel Shearwater conducts scientific dives in the kelp forest.
Back to category winners

Honorable Mentions

A white tall ship on a calm ocean surrounded by dolphins.
Larry Feder. The brigantine Exy Johnson introducing kids to Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The ship is accompanied by several common dolphins (Delphinus delphis).
Woman with kayak admiring the Milky Way.
Daniel Eidsmoe. A night kayak adventure near Big Pine Key in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
A family playing in the waves on a rocky ocean coast.
Grace O'Malley. "I love all of our public beaches in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, and am passionate about capturing their beauty."
Volunteers carrying garbage bags on the beach.
Lee First. Volunteers hauling marine debris from the waters in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
Two scuba divers hover near a shipwreck.
Haley Dalian. On a dive in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. "My dad and I (each other's dive buddies) feel beyond lucky to share these underwater moments together—marveling next to history while blowing bubbles!"
Diver swims above coral reef with cameras.
Michael Studivan. A closed-circuit rebreather diver (Dr. Ashley Rossin) swims over the reef at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, collecting thousands of photos using a special camera rig in order to build a 3D representation of the reef for data analysis.

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.