All the spectacular winning shots of the UN World Oceans Day photo competition
They say we know more about outer space than we do about the ocean, but something that we can all agree on when it comes to our seas is that they are pretty magnificent – and in dire need of protection.
To showcase them at their very best, a photo competition is held annually to align with the UN World Oceans Day, which is a collaboration between the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, DPG, Oceanic Global, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.
The winners for this year's edition have just been announced, and they're seriously mesmerising.
Recommended: In pictures: the winners of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
There were three returning categories: 'big and small water faces', 'underwater seascapes' and 'above water seascapes', and a new category of 'wonder: sustaining what sustains us', and the submissions, which were from thousands of amateur and professional photographers, were judged by a panel of experts. Scroll on for the stunning winning shots.
Photograph: © Rachel Moore (USA)
| Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us — Winner
Photograph: © Luis Arpa (Spain)
| Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us — 2nd Place
Photograph: © Steven Lopez (USA)
| Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us — 3rd Place
Photograph: © Ollie Clarke (UK)
| Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us — Honorable Mention
Photograph: © Andrey Nosik (Russia)
| Big and Small Underwater Faces – Winner
Photograph: © Giacomo Marchione (Italy)
| Big and Small Underwater Faces — 2nd Place
Photograph: © Lars von Ritter Zahony (Germany)
| Big and Small Underwater Faces — 3rd Place
Photograph: © Dani Escayola (Spain)
| Underwater Seascapes — Winner
Photograph: © Gerald Rambert (Mauritius)
| Underwater Seascapes — 2nd Place
Photograph: © Pedro Carrillo (Spain)
| Underwater Seascapes — 3rd Place
Photograph: © Lars von Ritter Zahony (Germany)
| Underwater Seascapes — Honourable Mention
Photograph: © Leander Nardin (Austria)
| Above Water Seascapes – Winner
Photograph: © Nur Tucker (UK/Türkiye)
| Above Water Seascapes — 2nd Place
Photograph: © Andrey Nosik (Russia)
| Above Water Seascapes — 3rd Place
Photograph: © Ken Findlay (South Africa)
| Above Water Seascapes — Honorable Mention
Did you see that the greatest outdoor travel destinations have been named in a new ranking?
Plus: The seven wonders of the world, ranked from best to worst.
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