Through the Lens: Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 winners announced

Indonesia-based macro photographer Yury Ivanov has been named Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025.

Ivanov’s vibrant image of two synchronised ‘ladybugs of the sea’ mesmerised the judging panel, who connected with the simplicity of its message: that the ocean is a place of wonder, colour and life of all sizes (the ladybugs are just 3mm tall).

The winning photograph – taken at Ivanov’s local dive site in Bali, Indonesia – was chosen from more than 15,000 images from all over the world.

Speaking about what it meant to be named Ocean Photographer of the Year, Ivanov said: “Winning Ocean Photographer of the Year is an incredible feeling; I’m deeply grateful for the recognition. This award is not just about one single image, but about celebrating the ocean itself — its fragility, its diversity, and its extraordinary power to inspire us.“

This year’s photographs comprise epic wildlife images, including a drooling dragon, torpedo-like penguins and a puffin desperately trying to evade a thief; sensational visions of fine art, such as a stingray atop a billowing sand-cloud, the mountain range-like ruffles of a Weddel seal’s fur coat, and a juvenile candy crab ruling over its pink wonderland; a nuanced exploration of our own species’ connection with the ocean, including a gravity-defying surfer launching toward a rainbow, the brutal reality of whale hunting in the Faroe Islands, and a team of conservationists and marine mammal rescuers attempting to save a beached whale.

Blancpain Female Fifty Fathoms Award

The recipient of this year’s Female Fifty Fathoms Award is Jialing Cai, a Chinese marine biologist, blackwater photographer, and science communicator specialised in revealing the world of zooplankton. The Female Fifty Fathoms Award was created in 2021 by Blancpain to celebrate pioneering and boundary-pushing women in ocean photography. Unlike other categories, the recipient of this award is nominated by her peers and judged by the Ocean Photographer of the Year jury, including esteemed ocean photographer Laurent Ballesta, editorial staff at Oceanographic and a Blancpain delegation led by Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO.

Reflecting on her nomination and win, Cai says: “It is amazing to be recognised by organisations such as Oceanographic and Blancpain; I deeply admire the ocean work Blancpain supports, such as Laurent Ballesta’s Gombessa Expeditions. Being honoured by people I respect empowers me to dive even more fearlessly into the deep. The Female Fifty Fathoms Award is also a beautiful reminder that women can be celebrated simply for following their passion.”

The Ocean Photographer of the Year, presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, has a simple mission: to shine a light on the wonder and fragility of our blue planet, and to celebrate the photographers giving it a voice. The competition is a cornerstone of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, which unites all the brand’s efforts to protect the ocean. The program is composed of three interconnected pillars:

• Raising awareness of the ocean’s beauty
• Supporting scientific research on ecosystems and underwater phenomena
• Taking concrete conservation actions, such as helping to create marine protected areas around the world.

“The Fifty Fathoms has long played a pioneering role in the history of diving and ocean exploration. Today, through our Ocean Commitment programme and the Ocean Photographer of the Year competition, we proudly continue to support underwater photography as a powerful ally in ocean exploration and conservation — helping to raise awareness, inspire, and drive protection,” says Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain.