2023 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest Results

Below are the winners and honorable mentions for the Sanctuaries Around the World category. Thank you to all those who participated! 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.

Sanctuaries Around the World

Ocean connection can happen anywhere, not just in the National Marine Sanctuary System. This category portrays special places across the globe where you feel connected to the ocean and marine life found within it.

Aggregation of pygmy devil rays swim together through the dark blue water.
1st Place: María Rodríguez-Salinas. Aggregation of pygmy devil rays (Mobula munkiana) in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
A whale shark is seen swimming through the water, surrounded by smaller silver fish.
2nd Place: Lawrence Alex Wu. "Behold the majestic whale shark (Rhincodon typus). While these magnificent creatures are endangered, we are privileged to witness their grace and beauty in the wild worldwide. Let's cherish every encounter as a reminder of our responsibility to protect and conserve their precious habitat."
A group of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) penguins is seen jumping from ice into the water
3rd Place: Kayvon Malek. Gentoo penguins dive off a piece of ice into the frigid but extremely rich waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. This photo was taken in the Antarctic peninsula and features Pygoscelis papua.
Back to category winners

Honorable Mentions

A colorful peacock mantis shrimp sitting on the sand of the seafloor.
Peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) in Amed, Bali.
A scorpion fish sits atop a reef.
Scorpion fish (Scorpaenopsis oxycephala) in Amed, Bali.
A green sea turtle swims along the ocean floor.
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) with orange head.
A marine iguana looks sideways at the camera and appears to be smiling.
This marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) from Galapagos National Park appears to be smiling.
A diver is seen in the background of a large coral reef, decorated with fish.
A diver explores Tubbataha Reef Natural Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
A spotted scorpionfish sits on a coral reef.
Portrait of a spotted scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri).
A mangrove tree grows on a rocky shoreline next to the ocean with a sunset in the background.
Mangrove tree on shoreline, in West End, Grand Bahamas.
A Southern right whale is seen swimming towards the camera, about to break the surface.
Portrait of southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) taken in Peninsula Valdes, Argentina. Photographed under special permit from the government of Argentina with Ocean Souls Films.
People walking along a beach are sillouetted against the orange sunset sky.
Golden talk on the beach.
Rock formation rises out of the water, sillouetted against a colorful sunset scattered with clouds.
León Dormindo (Kicker Rock) rises above the waters in Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve.
The lysan albatross is seen sitting in the foliage facing the sun.
Lysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) in Turtle Bay and Kahuku Point Nature Restoration and Sanctuary.
A green sea turtle surfaces to breathe with dark mountains in the background.
A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) surfaces to breathe within St. John National Park.
A southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) feeds, surrounded by clouds of sand within the St. John National Park.
A southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) feeds, surrounded by clouds of sand within St. John National Park.
A textured, common octopus in front of pink, vibrant corals.
A common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) displaying an unusual texture pattern while hidden among corals and sponges on the seabed of the Atlantic Islands National Park in Galicia, Spain.
A split, over/under shot showing a lion's mane jellyfish drifting along in front of Iceland's iconic Mount Kirkjufell.
A lion's mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) drifts along in front of Iceland's iconic Mount Kirkjufell.
A group of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) penguins is seen jumping from ice into the water
"Gentoo penguins dive off a piece of ice into the frigid but extremely rich waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. This photo was taken in the Antarctic peninsula and features Pygoscelis papua"
A mother and baby monk seal are seen resting on the shoreline as waves crash over behind them.
Mom and baby Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi).
A curious Hawaiian monk seal peers down in the water to look at the camera.
A curious Hawaiian Monk Seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) hovers overhead, at Pyramid Point, Lehua Crater, Ni'ihau, Hawaii.
A diver hovers above a vibrant coral pinnacle covered with hard and soft coral, sillouetted by the sun.
"Beneath the crystal-clear waters of the Similan Islands, a vibrant tapestry of life unfolds. These pristine coral reefs are a testament to the wonders of nature, where a kaleidoscope of colors & diverse marine species flourish. Let's cherish & protect these treasures for generations to come."
A diver poses behind a rock outcropping with a green moray and a honeycomb moray.
"The Maldives boasts approximately 300 km² of land versus an estimated 4200 km² of stunning coral reefs & animal life! In essence, the entire country is a pristine national sanctuary, a testament to its commitment to preserving its natural wonders." Two eels are featured in this image: Giant green (Gymnothorax funebris) and honeycomb moray (Gymnothorax favagineus).
A diver hovers over a coral outcropping decorated in colorful coral formations.
"Brunei's underwater treasures remain a hidden gem! Amidst the azure waters, you'll discover some of the most remarkably pristine, vibrant, and colorful coral gardens. Nature's masterpiece, untouched and thriving beneath the surface. Let's ensure these precious ecosystems endure for generations to come."
A diver looks down as he is surrounded by a variety of silver fish, who ball around him.
"Cocooned by a swirling ball of frenzied glass fish. Nature made his outfit for several minutes!"
A school of snappers swims over a lush reef of colorful soft corals.
In Mo Koh Lanta National Marine Park, a school of snappers (Lutjanidae) glide over a lush reef of soft corals.
Smooth stingray accompanied by fish in a cave.
In the depths of a tranquil underwater cave, a smooth stingray shares its secret refuge with a shimmering school of fish. This harmonious scene illustrates the delicate balance of a thriving marine ecosystem, where every creature plays a vital role in the intricate web of life beneath the waves.
A whale shark is seen swimming through the water, surrounded by smaller silver fish.
"Behold the majestic whale shark (Rhincodon typus). While these magnificent creatures are endangered, we are privileged to witness their grace and beauty in the wild worldwide. Let's cherish every encounter as a reminder of our responsibility to protect and conserve their precious habitat."
A whitetip shark is seen swimming amongst a school of jackfish above a vibrant coral reef.
"In a moments flash, a ruffling wave of fish blast by me like wind swept rain in a storm, with whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) and jackfish (Caranx hippos) prowling amongst the feast of prey. Then in another instant, the action subsides and all parties return to their casual manner again."
Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings are seen sitting on the pavenement with sand dunes in the background.
Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings (Carretta Caretta) at Cumberland Island National Seashore.
Aggregation of pygmy devil rays swim together through the dark blue water.
Aggregation of pygmy devil rays (Mobula munkiana) in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Above two sharks swimming over the reef below.
Leopard sharks (Stegostoma fasciatum) dancing underwater in Julian Rocks Marine Reserve, Australia.
A gentoo penguin stands in profile at the top of a snowy slope, holding its flippers by its sides and thrusting its head forward. It has a white chest, black and white head and red beak, but everything is blurred by a fierce blizzard.
A gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) stands at the top of a snowy slope during a fierce blizzard.
A humpback whale surfaces just in front of an inflatable boat packed with photographers wearing multicoloured jackets and carrying cameras. The whale's dorsal fin is visible above the waves, and in the background can be seen a steep cliff covered in snow.
A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) surfaces just in front of an inflatable boat.
Two penguins look at a rock on the beach. The penguins both have black and orange heads, white breasts with orange patches at the throat, grey backs and flippers and black feet.
A king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) looks down and wonders what's lying on the beach: is it an egg to nest on or just a rock to step over? Another penguin is having a look, too.
A Dalmatian pelican floats on a calm, blue lake, cocking its head and casting a reflection. It has white plumage with an orange eye and a red and black beak.
A Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) floats on a calm, blue lake, cocking its head and casting a reflection.
A Dalmatian pelican glides over a lake in bright sunshine with the water turned into blurred streaks. It has white plumage with an orange eye and a red and black beak.
A Dalmatian pelican glides over a lake in bright sunshine with the water turned into blurred streaks. It has white plumage with an orange eye and a red and black beak.
Three Adélie penguins watch another jumping between two ice floes. They have black heads and backs with white bellies.
Three Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) watch another jumping between two ice floes. This image was taken at Brown Bluff, Antarctica.
A male polar bear stares towards the camera with a single golden eye on the left side of his face. He has whitish fur that has a blue tinge in the early morning light.
A male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) stares towards the camera.
A pink and white featherduster is shown on a dark black background.
Featherdusters (Sabellidae) are one of the most filigrane filter feeders. This image was taken at Wakatobi National Park in Indonesia.
Reefscape with heart-shaped giant barrel sponge and a little yellow Blacklip Butterflyfish passing by.
Reefscape with heart-shaped giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta) and a little yellow blacklip butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) passing by. This image was taken at Wakatobi National Park in Indonesia.
Tiny skeleton shrimps climb up blue bell sea squirt.
Tiny skeleton shrimps (Caprellidae) climb up namei tunicate or blue bell sea squirt (Perophora namei). This image was taken at Wakatobi National Park in Indonesia.
Sunburst over coral reef illuminating toadstool coral and purple tube sponge sillouetted against the surface of the water.
Sunburst over coral reef illuminating toadstool coral (Sarcophyton glaucum) and purple tube sponge (Aplysina lacunosa). This image was taken at Wakatobi National Park in Indonesia.
The Quill volcano sits on the water with blue skies dotted with white clouds in the background.
The Quill on St. Eustatius from the Southern Reserve of the marine park.
A seal lies basking on a rock next to the shoreline.
Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) in La Jolla, CA.
A group of blacktip sharks swim in shallow water.
Blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) in Tahiti.
A coral pinnacle covered in colorful growth, reaching toward the surface surrounded by colorful fish.
Vibrant coral in Suruga Bay, Japan.
A bed of seaweed reaching the surface of the water from the seafloor.
Seaweed (Sargassum fulvellum) and coral (Acropora studeri) in the warm waters of Suruga Bay, Japan. There used to be a lot of trash from anglers, but local divers cleaned it up and it is now a very beautiful place.
A spotted female fish is seen digging in a spawning bed.
A critically endangered Sakhalin taimen (Parahucho perryi) in Hokkaido, Japan.
A group of manatees float in the clear waters of a spring.
West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) gather in a warm place on Crystal River, FL, in the winter.
A curious turtle peers into the camera, near the surface of the water.
Kemp's Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) in Emerald Isle, NC.
A snowy egret looks down at his reflection in the water, waiting for a fish.
Snowy egret (Egretta thula) at Fish Haul Creek Beach, Hilton Head Island, SC.
Turtle in grass.
Mororrocoy turtle (Geochelone carbonaria) in Cordobá, Colombia.
A big blue octopus collaborates with a goatfish in their hunting endeavor.
An big blue octopus (Octopus cyane) and a goldsaddle goatfish (Parupeneus cyclostomus) at Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve, Israel.
Two geometric moray eels gracefully weaving between the corals of a vibrant reef.
A couple of geometric moray eels (Gymnothorax griseus) in Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve, Israel.
A blue-green damselfish is hiding in a stony coral.
Blue-green damselfish (Chromis viridis) hiding in a stony coral (Echinopora fruticulose) in Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve, Israel.
Trumpetfish swims through coral.
Western Atlantic trumpetfish (Autostomus maculatus) in Roatan National Marine Sanctuary.
A horseshoe crab is seen moving across the sand towards the foamy waves of the shoreline.
Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) on the sands of Bethany Beach, DE.
A close-up photo of a California bubble snail in a tidepool.
California bubble snail (Bulla gouldiana) in the tidepools of Leo Carrillo State Park.
Female blue crab with craws out wide on the shore.
A fiesty blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) on the beach.
Two people riding a jet ski as it crests over a large wave.
A pair enjoying a fun time on a jet ski on the Spanish coast.
A man and his dog sit on the edge of a rocky cliff with the ocean in the background.
A dog and owner sit on a cliff on the Spanish coast.
A surfer waits on his surfboard floating on the clear waters.
Surfer in the sea on the Spanish coast.
Men are seen dancing in the sand on the beach wearing ceremonial clothes as they particpate in the Sankofas Ceremony.
Sankofas Ceremony at Fort Monroe, VA.

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 Views in the National Marine Sanctuary System. These photos are not for sale and are not for commercial use unless prior permission is arranged.