The Ocean Photographer of the Year contest, organized by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, has become an essential event every year to celebrate the beauty and fragility of our oceans. Its mission? To highlight the diversity of the marine world, value committed photographers, and raise awareness about protecting our blue planet.
Yury Ivanov crowned Ocean Photographer of the Year
The 2025 edition of the contest honored Yury Ivanov, an expert in macro photography based in Indonesia, who wins the prestigious title « Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025. » His captivating image of two amphipods nicknamed « sea ladybugs, » caught while feeding in Balinese waters, literally enchanted the jury.
The scene, immortalized at a local dive site in Bali, highlights the vitality and diversity of underwater life, even on a millimeter scale: these amphipods measure only 3 mm. This shot, chosen from over 15,000 images worldwide, conveys a simple yet powerful message: the ocean is full of colors, life, and unsuspected wonders.
An international and committed competition
This year once again, the competition received thousands of excellent submissions from all over the globe. Coastal photographs, drone shots, underwater works, or artistic compositions: the jury explored a comprehensive panorama of the ocean’s facets.
– Over 15,000 images submitted
– Photographers from all over the world
– Landscapes, marine wildlife, life scenes, and environmental issues
Yury Ivanov, touched by this international recognition, confides: » Winning the Ocean Photographer of the Year award is an incredible feeling; I am deeply grateful for this recognition. This award not only praises a single image, but celebrates the ocean itself, its fragility, its diversity, and its extraordinary power to inspire. »
His winning shot was acclaimed for its simplicity, evocative strength, and the technicality of underwater macro photography, a demanding field that requires patience, expertise, and a keen sense of observation.The contest does not only focus on wildlife: many works explore the relationship between humans and oceans. We discover:
– A surfer defying gravity, racing towards a rainbow
– The harsh reality of whale hunting in the Faroe Islands
– The solidarity action of rescuers trying to save a stranded whale
Each photo is an invitation to reflection, an open window onto the mysteries of the underwater world.
The contest does not only focus on wildlife: many works explore the relationship between humans and oceans. We discover thus:
– A surfer defying gravity, racing towards a rainbow
– The harsh reality of whale hunting in the Faroe Islands
– The solidarity action of rescuers trying to save a stranded whale
Each photo is an invitation to reflection, an open window onto the mysteries of the underwater world.
The winners by category
The Blancpain Female Fifty Fathoms: honoring pioneering women
Jialing Cai is the winner of the Female Fifty Fathoms 2025
Among the major distinctions of the contest, the Blancpain Female Fifty Fathoms award holds a place of choice. Created in 2021 by the watchmaking brand, this award honors innovative and pioneering women in underwater photography.
Blancpain Ocean Commitment: serving ocean preservation
The contest is at the core of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment program, which unites the brand’s initiatives towards oceans. This strategy is based on three complementary axes:
– Awareness: introducing the fragile beauty of oceans to the general public
– Support for scientific research: accompanying projects and studies on underwater ecosystems
– Concrete conservation actions: creation and development of marine protected areas around the world
Marc A. Hayek, president of Blancpain, summarizes the ambition of this program:
« The Fifty Fathoms has long played a pioneering role in the history of diving and oceanographic exploration. Today, thanks to our Ocean Commitment program and the Ocean Photographer of the Year contest, we are proud to continue supporting underwater photography, a powerful ally of exploration and ocean conservation, which helps to raise awareness, inspire, and encourage protection. »
To learn more about the brand’s commitments: http://[www.blancpain.com]
All the awarded images
To find the entire collection of lauded photographs of this edition, visit the official gallery on the Oceanographic Magazine website: https://oceanographicmagazine.com/winners-gallery/
The launch of the major Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 exhibitions will take place at the Australian National Maritime Museum, in Sydney, starting November 6. A unique opportunity for diving and marine photography enthusiasts to admire the awarded images in an exceptional setting.