Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 Showcases Deep-Sea Wonders
A photography contest has chosen 10 amazing pictures of life near and under the ocean.
One photo shows a seahorse with its newly born babies.
Another shows a giant sunfish swimming near divers in Mexico.
Some pictures show animals hunting or eating, including a seal, a scorpionfish and orcas.
Other photos show seals and penguins resting or exploring their surroundings.
An American crocodile is shown moving through mangroves in Cuba.
The pictures come from places including French Polynesia, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and Indonesia.
The contest is presented by Oceanographic and Blancpain.
The 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year contest features 10 extraordinary underwater and coastal images.
Photographs show marine life including seahorses, an ocean sunfish, seals, penguins, crocodiles and an orca pod.
The images capture feeding, hunting, breeding, parenting and survival behaviors across ocean habitats.
Featured locations include French Polynesia, Mexico, New Zealand, Cuba, the Falkland Islands and Indonesia.
The contest is presented by Oceanographic and Blancpain, with photographs credited to individual photographers.
- Who
- The Ocean Photographer of the Year contest, presented by Oceanographic and Blancpain, and the photographers whose images were selected.
- What
- Ten winning or featured images portray marine animals and ocean habitats.
- When
- The article was published on September 20, 2026, and identifies the images as part of the 2026 contest.
- Where
- The photographs were taken in locations including French Polynesia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, Cuba, Indonesia and the Pacific Ocean.
- Why
- The images are presented to showcase extraordinary marine life, behavior and underwater environments.
- Contest
- Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026
- Presenters
- Oceanographic and Blancpain
- Images featured
- 10
- Animals shown
- Seahorses, an ocean sunfish, seals, a scorpionfish, an American crocodile, orcas, penguins and a pipefish
- Featured habitats
- Seaweed-filled shallows, coral reefs, mangroves, rock pools and open Pacific waters
- Publication date
- September 20, 2026
- Article format
- A one-minute photo explainer