2023 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest results

Thank you to all the photographers who shared their view of national marine sanctuaries with us! 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.

Sanctuary Recreation

National marine sanctuaries provide an idyllic setting for a variety of recreational activities. This category celebrates the people who visit them.

Four kayakers are seen in the water near a cliffside, purple flowers decorate the edge of the clear water as birds fly overhead.
1st Place: Chuck Graham. Tranquil kayaking through Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
A kayaker stands next to a dead tree and kayak, looking up at an expansive sky filled with stars.
2nd Place: Daniel Eidsmoe. Sailing with friends at the races with rocky waves in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
An overview shot of an angler and a paddleboarder with a shipwreck under the crystal clear lake.
3rd Place: Bryan Dort. An angler and a stand-up paddleboarder over the shipwreck Albany in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Back to category winners

Honorable Mentions

A panoranmic shot of several dive boats surrounding a lighthouse situated on a coral reef outrcropping.
Dive boats on Sombrero Reef near Marathon, in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daniel Eidsmoe.
Marine debris technicians stand on a sandy beach picking up large amounts of nets, rope and trash. Waves crash into shore in the backgroundas the beach is littered with debris.
On Kamole, also known as Laysan Island, marine debris technicians from the non-profit Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP) Hawaii remove derelict fishing gear like ghost nets from the shoreline. These nets pose a threat to the flora and fauna of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Photo: Andrew.
Marine Debris Technicians from PMDP Hawaii stand on a boat and remove a ghost net from the reef at Kamokuokamohoaliʻi, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Marine Debris Technicians from Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP) Hawaii remove a ghost net from the reef at Kamokuokamohoaliʻi, in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Photo: Andrew.
A dog rests its head on a white table with the ocean in the background.
An American Shepherd (Canis lupus familiaris) in Henderson Harbor, NY. Photo: Brenda L. Williams.
Several people stroll and fish along the beach as the waves roll in with mountains in the background.
Saturday morning enjoying Monterey State Beach at the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Christina Parsons.
A kayak sits on clear water in a cave.
Kayaking in the Green Room, a cave in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Chuck Graham.
A sailboat passes green land as a wave crashes behnd it.
Waves crash ashore near the Point Pinos Lighthouse on a beautiful winter day in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Douglas Croft.
A large humpack whale breaks the water next to a small sailboat with faded mountains in the background.
When humpback whales (Megaptera novaengliae) are breaching, everyone stops to watch! This group stopped their sailing adventure to get a glimpse. Photo: Douglas Croft.
A surfer is seen dropping in on a large wave as it capps over
Skiing a 50-foot wave at Jaws, Maui, in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Douglas Hoffman.
The edge of a kayak sits on clear water, and is pointed towards the entrance of a half-submerged rock cavern.
A kayaker gazes into a deep cave on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dustin Harris.
A group of kayakers is seen exiting from inside of a partially submerged cave.
Kayakers gather outside of a sea cave on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dustin Harris.
A group of kayakers are approaching a rock archway over the ocean.
Kayaking through the Anacapa Arch, in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dustin Harris.
Sailboats are seen anchored beyond the mouth of a cave onshore.
Sailboats anchor behind Scorpion Rock, in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dustin Harris.
A group of kayakers exits a dark cave an paddles closer to the light coming from the mouth.
"Be The Light" Photo: Dustin Harris.
A group of kayakers is seen floating on the outside of a cave, pictured in black and white.
"From The Belly of the Beast" Photo: Eric Foote.
A group of kayakers enter a large partially-submerged cave.
"The Light in the Darkness" Photo: Eric Foote.
Kayakers paddle towards the light at the mouth of the cave.
"Facing Fears" Photo: Eric Foote.
A man is sitting in his kayak, paddling through clear waters with large boulders in the background.
Kayaking the beautiful waters off Islamorada, in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Gregory D Bunch.
The bow of an underwater shipwreck is covered with corals and alage. Divers can be seen in the background swimming over the boat.
Divers on the bow the United States Coast Guard cutter Duane in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jack Teasley.
A diver is seen hovering holding a large camera, pointed at the photographer.
Photographing the photographer on Molasses Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jack Teasley.
A young girl wearing a flower crown is squatting on the beach writing in the sand with her finger.
Writing in the sand in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jean Zuo.
A catamaran sailboat floats on calm waters in front of a sunset.
A sailboat appears to hover above the calm water within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jessica Hogan.
A snorkeler wearing a mask breaks the surface of the water.
Enjoying snorkeling the clear waters at Looe Key. Photo: Jim Majesky.
The moon reflects on the water off the coastline of the sandy beach.
The beach at Morris Bay has been shared by families for hundreds of years, as a nearby archaeological site proves. In the distance, the Middle Island Lighthouse guides ships as it has since 1905, helping to prevent more shipwrecks in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: John Caplis.
The sillouette of a diver is seen ascending back to the boat agains the sun.
A diver gives the universal symbol for being stoked (dual shakas!) as she ends a dive and returns to the boat while diving the kelp forests of Channel Islands, CA. Photo: Kayvon Malek.
A silouette stands on the beach, looking up at the night sky illuminated by the glow of the city in the background
"Stargazing at the milky way while the Monterey Bay is glowing blue as it bioluminescences with the lights of the city of Monterey behind. This is my home, this is my sanctuary." Photo: Kayvon Malek.
A surfer breaks through a large wave that has begun to spill over and create a tunnel.
A surfer bombs into a massive set during winter storms off the coast of Central California. Photo: Kayvon Malek.
The top of the photographer's legs and paddleboard as they float over the 'Portland' shipwreck.
Stand-up paddle boarding with a crystal clear view of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary shipwreck Portland. Photo: Madalyn Saddler.
The dark sillouette of a fisherman rigging lines during a golden sunset on the pristine waters of Lake Huron's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
North Bay fishermen rig lines during a golden sunset on the pristine waters of Lake Huron's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Madalyn Saddler.
Seven women stand wearing dresses with arms interlinked, facing out to water as they stand on a beach.
Feminine connection with nature! Photo: Margaret.
A father and daughter are seen kyaking through the mangroves.
Father and daughter enjoy kayaking in the mangroves of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marlies Tumolo.
A father and daughter side by side in the water on the beach wearing snorkel gear on their heads.
Father and daughter enjoy snorkeling in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marlies Tumolo.
Two snorkelers are seen in the water in front of a boat and lighthouse surrounded by clear blue water.
Experiencing pool-like clarity in nature at Alligator Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Michael Sipos.
Two snorkelers are seen in the water in front of a boat and lighthouse surrounded by clear blue water
Experiencing pool-like clarity in nature at Alligator Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Michael Sipos.
Divers diving amongst crevalle jacks and great barracuda.
Crevall jacks (Caranx hippos) and great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Mohannad Aljishi.
Dark colored bubbles are seen sitting on a black sand beach reflecting the image of the photographer.
Selfie bubbles, on the beach at Kalaloch, in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Shanon Dell.
A kayker is sillouetted against an orange sunset background.
Paddling the sunset in Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Shellie Perrie-Atlantic Kayak Company.
Receational kayakers are seen paddlng along a river flanked with large trees and greenery on the banks.
Paddling with friends in Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Shellie Perrie-Atlantic Kayak Company.
A large group of kayakers sitting in the water face their guide.
Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary: where nature, history, culture, and recreation come together. Photo: Shellie Perrie-Atlantic Kayak Company.
A boat carrying fishermen goes out to sea.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary lobster fisherman at work. Photo: Steve Alberts.
Smooth trunkfish inspects elkhorn coral planted by volunteers amongst the seafans in a reef.
Smooth trunkfish (Lactophrys triqueter) inspects elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) planted by volunteers with Coral Restoration Foundation amongst the seafans (Alcyonacea) at Pickles Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tara K. Halstead.
A diver is seen hovering over a large coral formation.
Scientist Matt floats over a massive coral off of Tau Island, in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Photo: Raymond Boland.
A man is seen crouching to touch the sand with the sillouette of figures in the water behind hin.
Enjoying the beauty of Fagetele Bay, in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Photo: Veronika M. Mortenson.

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