Indonesia-based macro photographer, Yury Ivanov has been named Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025, celebrated by a panel of judges for his image of two synchronised ‘ladybugs of the sea’ – a species that measures just 3mm tall.

Ivanov’s vibrant image mesmerised the panel, who connected with the simplicity of its message: that the ocean is a place of wonder, colour, and life of all sizes. It was taken at Ivonov’s local dive site in Bali, Indonesia and was chosen from more than 15,000 images from around the world.

Speaking about what it meant to be named Ocean Photographer of the Year, Ivanov said: “Winning Ocean Photographer of the Year is an incredible feeling; I’m deeply grateful for the recognition. This award is not just about one image, but about celebrating the ocean itself – its fragility, its diversity, and its extraordinary power to inspire us.”

A connection with the ocean that was sparked when he was just ten years old, Yury has been diving for the best part of four decades. It was his move to Bali, however, some 15 years ago that he calls his “turning point”.

“Surrounded by such extraordinary marine biodiversity, I realised that photography could be more than just documentation – it could tell stories, spark emotions, and inspire people to care,” he told Oceanographic Magazine.

This year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year collection of finalists and winning images comprise epic wildlife images, including a drooling dragon, torpedo-like penguins, and a puffin desperately trying to evade a thief; sensational visions of fine art, such as a stingray atop a billowing sand-cloud, the mountain range-like ruffles of a Weddel seal’s fur coat, and a juvenile candy crab ruling over its pink wonderland; a nuanced exploration of our own species’ connection with the ocean, including a gravity-defying surfer launching toward a rainbow, the brutal reality of whale hunting in the Faroe Islands, and a team of conservationists and marine mammal rescuers attempting to save a beached whale.

The recipient of this year’s Female Fifty Fathoms Award is Chinese photographer Jialing Cai. The Female Fifty Fathoms Award was created in 2021 by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain to celebrate pioneering and boundary-pushing women in ocean photography. Unlike other categories, the recipient of this award is nominated by her peers and judged by the Ocean Photographer of the Year jury, including esteemed ocean photographer Laurent Ballesta, editorial staff at Oceanographic and a Blancpain delegation led by Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO. 

Reflecting on receiving the award, Cai said: “It’s amazing to be recognised by organisations such as Oceanographic and Blancpain. I deeply admire the ocean work Blancpain supports, such as Laurent Ballesta’s Gombessa Expeditions.

“Being honoured by people I respect empowers me to dive even more fearlessly into the deep. The Female Fifty Fathoms Award is also a beautiful reminder that women can be celebrated simply for following their passion.”

Hosted this year at Kanaloa House in London, the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 winners span ten categories, including: Fine Art, Wildlife, Adventure, Conservation (Impact), Conservation (Hope), Human Connection, Young, Portfolio, FFF, and Overall Ocean Photographer of the Year.

British underwater photographer, videographer, and mussel boat worker, Aaron Sanders won this year’s Young Photographer of the Year for his image of two bobtail squids engaged in an intimate display as they mate on the seabed here in the UK.

“This image is the moment I have been hoping to capture for a long time. I am incredibly honoured and proud to be named Young Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025. For a long time I have been fascinating by these tiny little squid, and I have spent many dives trying to capture them,” said Sanders.

“I have entered this competition a number of times with varying results, this was my last chance to enter the Young Ocean Photographer of the Year category, so it is such an honour to have finally made it.”

The Ocean Photographer of the Year, presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, has a simple mission: to shine a light on the wonder and fragility of our blue planet, and to celebrate the photographers giving it a voice. The competition is a cornerstone of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, which unites all the brand’s efforts to protect the ocean.

The program is composed of three interconnected pillars: raising awareness of the ocean’s beauty, supporting scientific research on ecosystems and underwater phenomena, and taking concrete conservation actions, such as helping to create marine protected areas around the world. 

“The winners of this year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year remind us that photography is more than art – it is a bridge. Their images connect people to the ocean in ways words cannot, reaching those who may never dive in it or paddle on it, but whose lives are deeply intertwined with it. In a time of planetary urgency, their work invites the world to see, feel, and ultimately care, because we protect what we understand,” said Will Harrison, director of Ocean Photographer of the Year. 

“The Fifty Fathoms has long played a pioneering role in the history of diving and ocean exploration. Today, through our Ocean Commitment programme and the Ocean Photographer of the Year competition, we proudly continue to support underwater photography as a powerful ally in ocean exploration and conservation – helping to raise awareness, inspire, and drive protection,” says Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain.

View the full Ocean Photography of the Year winners gallery here and click here for more from the Oceanographic Newsroom.