Although 2020 was anything but a normal year, this year’s Ocean Art 2020 Underwater Photo Competition managed to produce some of the best underwater photography that we have seen to date! Underwater explorers around the world took photos in their own backyards or select destinations open to travel , and revisited their archives to bring us some truly eye-catching photography. These photos showcase the perseverance of underwater artistry amidst the adversity of the times.
Photographers from 80 countries entered images, and over $45,000 in sponsored prizes have been awarded -making the Ocean Art prize value among the highest in the world. This unique assortment of photos could not have been possible without the help of our generous sponsors who have all had to navigate a changing travel and dive industry. Earlier this year, many of these same sponsors helped the Ocean Art competition raise money to donate to the WHO and CDC in their fight against Covid-19 .
Winners were asked to rank their prize choices and were awarded one prize based on the total points earned from all their winning photos.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to our world-renowned judges Tony Wu, Mark Stickland, and Marty Snyderman, and Bluewater Photo Bluewater Travel Click here to view the judges comments for Ocean Art 2020 .
Press Release and Media Contact: /ocean-art-2020-press-release
Click here to view the Ocean Art 2020 winners at a larger size (best for desktop)
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Compact Category:
List of Winners
Best of Show
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“The Day of the Tentacles”
Best of Show – Gaetano Dario Gargiulo
Shot in New South Wales, Australia
Our Sponsors:
Wide-Angle Category
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“The Day of the Tentacles”
1st Place – Gaetano Dario Gargiulo
Shot in New South Wales, Australia
“Bullet”
2nd Place – Gilles Auroux
“Mom and Calf”
3rd Place – Qing Lin
Shot in Vavau, Tonga
“ My New Toy “
4th Place – Celia Kujala
Shot in Hornby, Canada
“ Reflections 2 “
Honorable Mention – Matt Curnock
Shot in Great Barrier Reef, Australia
“Waterlily”
Honorable Mention – Flip Staes
Shot in Turnhout, Belgium
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“Seahorse”
1st Place – Galice Hoarau
Shot in Siladen, Indonesia
“Baby Anglerfish”
2nd Place – Sayaka Ichinoseki
3rd Place – Ludvic Galko-Rundgren
Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia
“Latest Gossip”
Honorable Mention – Andy Schmid
Shot in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
“Soulmates”
Honorable Mention – Erika Miura
Shot in Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan
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“Mating Crabs”
1st Place – Steven Kovacs
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA
“A Mother’s Watchful Eye”
2nd Place – Louise Nott
Shot in Shellharbour, Australia
“Shy and Brave”
3rd Place – Salvatore Ianniello
“New Life Into The World”
4th Place – Mayumi Takeuchi-Ebbins
Shot in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
“Old Friends”
Honorable Mention – Adam Martin
Shot in Moorea, French Polynesia
“Take Cover”
Honorable Mention – Luke Gordon
Shot in West Yaukuve Levu Island, Fiji Islands
Portrait
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“Anglerfish”
1st Place – Galice Hoarau
“Mardi Gras Blenny”
2nd Place – Jeff Molder
Shot in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
“Harlequin Sweetlips”
3rd Place – Igor Bogachenko
Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia
“The Eyes Have It”
4th Place – Thomas Gaitley
Shot in Jamestown, Rhode Island, USA
“Never Smile at a Crocodile”
Honorable Mention – Catherine Holmes
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“Cathedral of Kelp”
1st Place – Jon Anderson
Shot in Monterey, California, USA
“Waiting for the Kiss”
2nd Place – Johan Sundelin
Shot in Halland, Sweden
“The Push”
3rd Place – Matthew Sullivan
Shot in Shetland Port Fidalgo, Alaska, USA
“Jewel of the Kelp Forest”
Honorable Mention – Jon Anderson
Shot in Monterey, California, USA
“Dream Meeting”
Honorable Mention – Celia Kujala
Shot in Coronado Island, Mexico
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“Quarantine”
1st Place – Wen Chou Wu
“Queen of Sistiana”
2nd Place – Luca De Pauli
Shot in Sistiana, Italy
“The Sea Slug”
3rd Place – Raffaele Livornese
Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
“Maculata”
Honorable Mention – Jon Anderson
Shot in Monterey, California, USA
“Diana’s Chromodoris”
Honorable Mention – Fred Turoff
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“Acanthonus Armatus”
1st Place – Steven Kovacs
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA
“Attitude”
2nd Place – Steven Kovacs
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA
“Juvenile Sailfish”
3rd Place – Galice Hoarau
Shot in Siladen, Indonesia
“Dinner Time”
Honorable Mention – Steven Kovacs
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA
“Pretty as a Peacock”
Honorable Mention – Lureen Ferretti
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Underwater Conservation
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“French Reviera Corona Mask”
1st Place – Christophe Chellapermal
“Playing with Plastic”
2nd Place – Celia Kujala
Shot in Coronado Island, Mexico
“Cindy vs. Lionfish”
3rd Place – Stephanie Doniger
Shot in Honduras, Roatan
“The Rope”
4th Place – Eduardo Acevedo
“The Last Moments of a Sperm Whale”
Honorable Mention – Rafael Fernandez
“Eco Tourism”
Honorable Mention – Alex Lindbloom
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“Crocosmile”
1st Place – Jenny Stock
Shot in Gardens of the Queen National Park, Cuba, Caribbean Sea
“Drowning in Plastic”
2nd Place – Justin Lutsky
Shot in California, USA
“Merry Christmas”
3rd Place – Andrey Savin
Shot in Negros Oriental, Philippines
“Andromeda”
Honorable Mention – Michal Štros
Shot in Lembeh, Indonesia
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“Giant Frogfish”
1st Place – Enrico Somogyi
Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
“Alone”
2nd Place – Joanna Chen
Shot in New South Wales, Australia
“Ad Astra”
3rd Place – Andrea Michelutti
Shot in Trieste, Italy
“Pardon”
Honorable Mention – Na Mi
Shot in Vava’u Island, Tonga
“The Beast of Koh Tao”
Honorable Mention – Alexandra Vautin
Shot in Koh Tao, Thailand
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“5 Baby Seahorses”
1st Place – PT Hirschfield
Shot in Blairgowrie Pier, Melbourne, Australia
“My Eggs”
2nd Place – Brian Vaccarella
Shot in Lembeh, Indonesia
“Garfish Reflection”
3rd Place – PT Hirschfield
Shot in Blairgowrie Pier, Melbourne, Australia
“The Hedgehog”
Honorable Mention – Daniela Menegon
Shot in Quebec, Canada
“I am shy”
Honorable Mention – Kathrin Landgraf-Kluge
Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia
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“Coral Spawning”
1st Place – Chia Chi Chang
“Synchronized”
2nd Place – Jules Casey
Shot in Port Phillip Bay, Australia
“Life’s Purpose”
3rd Place – Jules Casey
Shot in Port Phillip Bay, Australia
“Barracuda Meets the Goggle Eyes”
Honorable Mention – Stephanie Doniger
Shot in Honduras, Roatan
“Life Begins”
Honorable Mention – Michele Sbrilli
Shot in Taranto, Italy
List of Winners
Wide Angle
1st Place: Gaetano Dario Gargiulo
2nd Place: Gilles Auroux
3rd Place: Qing Lin
4th Place Celia Kujala
Honorable Mention: Matt Curnock
Honorable Mention: Filip Staes
Macro
1st Place: Galice Hoarau
2nd Place: Sayaka Ichinoseki
3rd Place: Ludovic Galko-Rundgren
Honorable Mention: Andy Schmid
Honorable Mention: Erika Miura
Marine Life Behavior
1st Place: Steven Kovacs
2nd Place: Louise Nott
3rd Place: Salvatore Lanniello
4th Place Mayumi Takeuchi-Ebbins
Honorable Mention: Adam Martin
Honorable Mention: Luke Gordon
Portrait
1st Place: Galice Hoarau
2nd Place: Jeff Molder
3rd Place: Igor Bogachenko
4th Place Thomas Gaitley
Honorable Mention: Catherine Holmes
Coldwater
1st Place: Jon Anderson
2nd Place: Johan Sundelin
3rd Place: Matthew Sullivan
Honorable Mention: Jon Anderson
Honorable Mention: Celia Kujala
Nudibranch
1st Place: Wen Chou Wu
2nd Place: Luca De Pauli
3rd Place: Raffaele Livornese
Honorable Mention: Jon Anderson
Honorable Mention: Fred Turoff
Blackwater
1st Place: Steven Kovacs
2nd Place: Steven Kovacs
3rd Place: Galice Hoarau
Honorable Mention: Steven Kovacs
Honorable Mention: Lureen Ferretti
Underwater Conservation
1st Place: Christophe Chellapermal
2nd Place: Celia Kujala
3rd Place: Stephanie Doniger
4th Place Eduardo Acevedo
Honorable Mention: Rafael Fernanadez
Honorable Mention: Alex Lindbloom
Underwater Art
1st Place: Jenny Stock
2nd Place: Justin Lutsky
3rd Place: Andrey Savin
Honorable Mention: Michal Štros
Compact Wide Angle
1st Place: Enrico Somogyi
2nd Place: Joanna Chen
3rd Place: Andrea Michelutti
Honorable Mention: Na Mi
Honorable Mention: Alexandra Vautin
Compact Macro
1st Place: PT Hirschfield
2nd Place: Brian Vaccarella
3rd Place: PT Hirschfield
Honorable Mention: Daniela Menegon
Honorable Mention: Kathrin Landgraf-Kluge
Compact Behavior
1st Place: Chia Chi Chang
2nd Place: Jules Casey
3rd Place: Jules Casey
Honorable Mention: Stephanie Doniger
Honorable Mention: Michele Sbrilli
