The 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year competition celebrates Big Blue’s striking beauty and also highlights the urgent need to protect it in a rapidly changing world. “In the midst of a deepening climate and biodiversity crisis on our blue planet, ocean photography has never been more important,” Ocean Photographer of the Year Director, Will Harrison, said in a statement. Ocean Photographer of the Year continues to be a vital platform for sharing critical stories from above and below the waterline. I managed to get a shot of him surrounded by whales.”Location: DominicaCredit: Romain Barats / Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025An opportunistic pelican swoops in to steal a fish from strand-feeding dolphins. He never came closer, but he didn’t leave either.”Location: French PolynesiaCredit: Joaquin Fregoni / Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025