2016 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest Results

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 publications. We will provide credit to photographers whenever we use any of the photos. We would like to thank all those who participated. Click each photograph to see the full version

Sanctuary Life

From tiny krill to enormous gray whales, thousands of species call the National Marine Sanctuary System home! This category depicts the amazing marine life that you can find in your national marine sanctuaries.

photo of bird with green eyes — 1st Place: This young Brandt's cormorant was photographed preening on the rocks on the Coast Guard Pier/Breakwater in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Christina Parsons

photo of an anemone that is very colorful — 2nd Place: This large sunburst anemone (Anthopleura sola) was spotted during a safety stop at 15 feet near Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Evan Barba

photo of a white bird in flight with wings forward over body — 3rd Place: Backdropped by a cloudless sky, a Manu-o-Kū flies over Kure Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: Andrew Sullivan-Haskins

All Submitted Photos

photo of bird flying over water — A black vented shearwater flies in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro

photo of a pelican taking off — A brown pelican takes off in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro

photo of a common dolphin — A common dolphin leaps on the north side of Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Stuart Halewood

photo of a pair of commmon dolphins — A pair of common dolphins get a bit of air over a glassy sea in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro

photo of a colorful fish close up — A fish peeks out from a scallop shell at Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Cindy Shaw

photo of a a squadron of sea lions and some humpback whales — Five humpbacks and a squadron of sea lions feed off of Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Patrick Smith

photo of a humpback whale — A humpback whale swims near Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Patrick Smith

photo of a fringehead — A fringehead pops its head up in front of a sea urchin at Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Cindy Shaw

photo of a garibali — A garibaldi near Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Stuart Halewood

photo of a garibaldi — A garibaldi in Scorpion Marine Reserve in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. From the photographer: "These fish can be very territorial and this one got quite close to the camera." Credit: Evan Barba

photo of a humpback — A humpback whale begins a sounding dive in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro

photo of a humpback — A young humpback whale breaches in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jessie Meyer

photo of a juvenile rockfish — A juvenile rockfish swims on the south side of Cat Rock on Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Stuart Halewood

photo of a kelp and a fish — A calico bass swims in the kelp forest off Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Stuart Halewood

photo of a humpback — A kelpfish off Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Patrick Smith

photo of a mola mola — A mola mola swims in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Stuart Halewood

photo of 2 nudibranchs — These two small orange-spike polycera nudibranchs (Polycera atra) were crawling around near Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, likely feeding on a group of hydroids. The larger nudibranch is about 8mm. Credit: Evan Barba

photo of an orca tail — A female orca dives in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro

photo of a red gregorian — Red gorgonian (Lophogorgonian chilensis) near Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary displays its 8-armed polyps used to capture prey. Credit: Evan Barba

photo of a jellyfish or sea butterfly — This pteropod, or sea butterfly (Corolla spectabilis) was photographed at about 10 feet near Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Says the photographer, "Visibility was exceptionally clear during this dive!" Credit: Evan Barba

photo of sea lion pups — Sea lion pups near Santa Barbara Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Patrick Smith

photo of a sea lion and kelp — A curious sea lion greets the photographer on his descent at Santa Barbara Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Patrick Smith

photo of sealions — Sea lions near Santa Barbara Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary investigate the photographer. Credit: Cindy Shaw

photo of bird over water — A sooty shearwater cruises over a glassy sea in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro

photo of a sooty shearwater landing on water — A sooty shearwater takes off in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro

photo of spanish shawl nudibrach — A Spanish shawl nudibranch pauses at Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Cindy Shaw

photo of a spanish shawl nudibranch — A Spanish shawl nudibranch close to the wreck of Peacock off Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Stuart Halewood

photo of anemone and starfish — A cluster of small life including sea stars, tunicates, and anemones off San Miguel Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Cindy Shaw

photo of a red bearded fireworm — A bearded fireworm crawls in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Steve Miller

photo of a spanish shawl nudibranch — Christmas tree worms and coral in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Steve Miller

photo of a moray eel — A moray eel at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jeff Guthrie

photo of a variety of colorful fish — Fish swim by the HI-389A platform in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Steve Miller

photo of a an angelfish — A French angelfish at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jeff Guthrie

photo of a moray eel — A juvenile goldentail moray eel at the HI-389A platform in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Steve Miller

photo of a lionfish — Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish at East Flower Garden Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jeff Guthrie

photo of a an angelfish — A rock beauty at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jeff Guthrie

photo of a balloon fish — A balloonfish peers out from its hideaway at Pickles Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda

photo of a spotted trunkfish — A spotted trunkfish in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Russell Lincoln

photo of a blue parrotfish — A blue parrotfish swims in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Russell Lincoln

photo of a blue angelfish — A blue angelfish at the wreck of City of Washington off Key Largo in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda

photo of coral — Coral in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Russell Lincoln

photo of a green moray eel — A green moray eel at Long Key Ledge in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Steve Miller

photo of a green sea turtle — A green sea turtle relaxes on the sea floor at Snapper Ledge in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda

photo of grunts and snapper — Grunts and snappers swim at Snapper Ledge off Key Largo and Tavernier in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda

photo of a moon jelly — A moon jelly in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Steve Miller

photo of a nurse shark — A nurse shark at Looe Key in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Steve Miller

photo of very colorful queen angelfish — A queen angelfish swims at Pickles Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda

photo of a rock beauty — A rock beauty at Molasses Reef off Key Largo in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda

photo of a sea whip — A sea whip, or gorgonian, at Pickles Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda

photo of snowy egret — A snowy egret steals a shrimp at Stump Pass Beach State Park, not far from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Craig Croson

photo of A school of Atlantic spadefish — A school of Atlantic spadefish at Molasses Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda

photo of soft coral and fireworm — Soft coral and fireworm at Speigel Grove, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Carolyn Wagner

photo of a spotted moray eel — A spotted moray eel in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Russell Lincoln

photo of A star coral and cleaner goby — A star coral and cleaner goby at Looe Key in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Steve Miller

photo of a humpback whale — From the photographer: "A curious male humpback whale took a break from competing over females [in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary] to interact with our whale watching vessel. He was so close that we couldn't turn the engines on to leave. We ended up being 20 minutes late." Credit: Christopher Ferrante

photo of a flounder — A flounder in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Russell Lincoln

photo of a brown pelican — A brown pelican cruises past Del Monte Beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Christina Parsons

photo of a common dolphin — The photographer caught this common dolphin seeming to levitate alongside the boat while whale watching in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Douglas Croft

photo of a cormorant in the fog — A cormorant blends into the fog off San Carlos Beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Christina Parsons

photo of an elephant seal — An elephant seal at Piedras Blancas in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laurel Jones

photo of a elephant seal pup — From the photographer: "This curious elephant seal pup was playing in the waters edge near San Simeon, California [in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary] in February 2011. I sat still at a distance with my camera and watched her for a long time. She kept rolling around and peeking back to watch me right back." Credit: Cindy Shaw

photo of a gray whale cow and calf — The cliffs of Big Sur in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary offer a bird's eye view as a gray whale cow and calf make their way through the kelp forests. Credit: Douglas Croft

photo of a great blue heron — A great blue heron in Monterey Harbor, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Christina Parsons

photo of a great blue heron — A great blue heron plucks a fish from Monterey Harbor, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Christina Parsons

photo of humpback whales — A group of humpback whales lunge feed in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jessie Meyer

photo of a male elephant seal on the beach — A male elephant seal relaxes on the beach at San Simeon, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This photo was taken with a telephoto lens. Credit: Patrick Smith

photo of a male elephant seal — A male elephant seal in San Simeon, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This photo was taken with a telephoto lens. Credit: Patrick Smith

photo of molting elephant seals — Molting elephant seals near Piedras Blancas, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laurel Jones

photo of a mother sea otter and her pup — From the photographer: "A mother sea otter and her pup share a moment as they make their way through Moss Landing Harbor [in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary]. This was shot with a 600mm lens from the viewing area at Moss Landing State Beach so I would not disturb these two." Credit: Douglas Croft

photo of a raft of sea otters — From the photographer: "This raft of southern sea otters generally hangs out in a protected area of Moss Landing Harbor [in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary], napping, grooming, playing, fighting. It is not unusual to see 20 to 30 otters gather here. We need to educate people to enjoy these endangered animals from a distance and not bother them (as is getting all too common here in Moss Landing and in the Elkhorn Slough). This was shot with a long lens from the designated viewing area." Credit: Douglas Croft

photo of otters — From the photographer: Though these otters seem to be waving hello, they're actually just keeping their paws warm. This was shot with a 600mm lens, so it looks much closer than we were." In Elkhorn Slough Reserve, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Douglas Croft

photo of two orcas — Two transient orcas from a pod of about thirty that were hunting in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Douglas Croft

photo of a whimbrel in the sand — From the photographer: "I caught the morning sun warming the waves as a whimbrel stopped its feeding in the sand" in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Christina Parsons

photo of anemones — Anemones at Cape Flattery, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kellen Garcelon

photo of anemones — Anemones in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kellen Garcelon

photo of bulb kelp — Bulb kelp at Cape Flattery in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kellen Garcelon

photo of a cormorant taking flight — A cormorant takes flight at Cape Flattery in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kellen Garcelon

photo of a kelp crab — A kelp crab in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kellen Garcelon

photo of a sea star in a tidepool — A sea star in a tidepool in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kellen Garcelon

photo of two brown boobies on a buoy — Two brown boobies hitch a ride on a derelict navigational buoy the photographer encountered off French Frigate Shoals while conducting a remote sensing survey in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: Michael Krivor

photo of two brown boobies on a buoy — Two brown boobies hitch a ride on a derelict navigational buoy the photographer encountered off French Frigate Shoals while conducting a remote sensing survey in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Credit: Michael Krivor

photo of laysan albatrosses — Non-breeding Laysan albatrosses wander around Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in Papahānaumokuākea Marine national Monument on a blustery April afternoon. Credit: Wayne Sentman

photo of A pair of Koloa Pōhaka — From the photographer: "A pair of Koloa Pōhaka (Laysan duck) on Kure Atoll [in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument] in November 2015. Twenty-eight critically endangered Koloa Pōhaka (Laysan duck) were translocated to Kure Atoll in September of 2014 to create just the third population on the planet." Credit: Andrew Sullivan-Haskins

photo of a red-footed booby — A red-footed booby nests among native vegetation -- naupaka and koali 'awa flowers -- on Kure Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Photo: Andrew Sullivan-Haskins

photo of a humpback breaching — A humpback whale breaches in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jane Fay Baker

photo humpbacks feeding using a bubble net — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo of a humpbacks using bubble nets to feed — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo humpbacks feeding using a bubble net — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo humpbacks feeding using a bubble net — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo of a humpbacks using bubble nets to feed — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo humpbacks feeding using a bubble net — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo humpbacks feeding using a bubble net — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo of a humpbacks using bubble nets to feed — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo humpbacks feeding using a bubble net — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo humpbacks feeding using a bubble net — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo of a humpbacks using bubble nets to feed — Humpback whales act as a team while bubble net feeding in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about five miles north of Race Point, Provincetown. Credit: Bill Richardson

photo of a common dolphin — A common dolphin in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of a humpback and calf — Freckles, a humpback whale, and her calf in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of a humpback opening mouth to feed — The grand dame humpback whale of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Salt, open mouth feeds. Salt has been spotted in the sanctuary almost every year since 1976 and has had more than ten calves. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of gray seals — Gray seals off the east coast of Truro, Massachusetts in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jane Fay Baker

photo of a shearwater gliding over the atlantic ocean — A greater shearwater glides over the Atlantic in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Chris Ferrante

photo of a humpback opening mouth to feed — Hancock, a humpback whale, feeds in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of a humpbackwhale swimming — A humpback whale swims, just visible under the surface of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Allison Langone

photo of a humpback whale — A humpback whale in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of a humpback raising a flipper — A humpback whale -- the 2015 calf of Owl -- raises a flipper in the air in calm sea conditions in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Allison Langone

photo of a humpbackwhale calf swimming — From the photographer: "A humpback whale calf exhibits a very rare behavior called 'kelping.' Kelping is when the whale actively interacts and appears to be playing with seaweed." This whale, spotted in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, is the 2015 calf of a humpback whale known as Owl. Credit: Allison Langone

photo of two humpback whales — A pair of humpback whales in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary open-mouth feed with their baleen plates visible. Credit: Allison Langone

photo of a humpback whale — A humpback whale in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Own Payne

photo of a breaching humpback whale — A breaching humpback whale east of Cape Cod in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Richard Whitefield

photo of a humpback chin breaching — Abrasion, a humpback whale, chin breaches before kick feeding on sand lance in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Lilly

photo of a humpback whale breaching — A humpback whale breaches in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Lilly

photo of a humpback whale feeding — A humpback whale feeds on sand lance in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Lilly

photo of two humpbacks feeding — Two humpback whales feed in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Glenda Brungardt

photo of a 2 humpback whales eating — Two humpback whales feed in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Lane Blankenberg

photo of a humpback whale feeding — Two humpback whales feed on schooling fish among a flock of seagulls in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Allison Langone

photo of a humpback breaching — A juvenile humpback whale breaches in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This whale is the 2012 calf of a whale named Boomerang and does not have a name yet. Credit: Allison Langone

photo of an orange jelly fish — A lion's mane jelly and small fish in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Lilly

photo of a humpback whale feeding — Milkweed and Glo-Sick, two humpback whales, feed in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of a minke whale — A minke whale in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of a mola mola — A mola mola floats in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Allison Langone

photo of a humpback whale and calf — The humpback whale Owl (background) and her 2015 calf (rolling in the foreground) in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Allison Langone

photo of a close up of a whale calf — From the photographer: "A close-up photo of Owl’s 2015 calf. This young humpback whale was very curious of our boat and turned in toward us, giving a great look at the whale’s face." Taken in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Allison Langone

photo of a male humpback whale — From the photographer: "A humpback whale named Pele going on a deeper dive in glassy calm sea conditions. Pele is a presumed male humpback, first documented in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary area in 1997." Credit: Allison Langone

photo of a humpback whale and it's fluke — Reaper, a humpback whale in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, lifts her fluke out of the water as she is about to dive. Credit: Jill Wells

photo of a humpback whale and fluke — Reaper, a humpback whale in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, lifts her fluke out of the water as she is about to dive. Credit: Jill Wells

photo of a seagull — A seagull in midflight in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ashlyn Biundo

photo of a sei whale and it's fluke — A sei whale skim feeds at the surface in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Lilly

photo of a humpback whale breaching — Spoon's 2015 calf (a humpback whale) breaches in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of three humpback whales — Three humpback whales (Peresid, Aswan and Apex) feed in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of american white pelicans — American white pelicans on the shores of the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Chris Rohrer

photo of american white pelicans in flight — American white pelicans in the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Chris Rohrer

photo of a flock of pelicans — American white pelicans in the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Chris Rohrer

photo of a humpback whale breaching — Tinder, a humpback whale, breaches in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Howes

photo of a duck and ducklings — A duck and ducklings at the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Linda Chaloupka

photo of a flock of pelicans — From the photographer: "A flock of over 100 pelicans caused a lot of excitement when they hung out at Sheboygan's North Point on Lake Michigan," at the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Lisa Lehmann

photo of pelicans and seagulls — Seagulls squawk at incoming pelicans at Sheboygan's North Point on Lake Michigan, in the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Lisa Lehmann

photo of pelicans flying — Pelicans fly in the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Lisa Lehmann

photo of a flock of seagulls — Seagulls near Port Washington, Wisconsin in the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Linda Chaloupka