Winners Gallery
Finalist Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Catherine Holmes Maldives
"I have rarely seen such verdant colourful soft corals on this scale anywhere, so was overjoyed to dive this site in the Maldives, at Maalhoss Thila, North Ari Atoll," says Holmes. "Also known as Blue Caves, this site has been thriving for years, and having dived it over twenty years ago, it now seems more colourful and prolific than ever before - a beacon of hope for the future."
BEHIND THE LENS
Catherine Holmes Australia
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Early morning shoot
- 30m visibility
- Glassy-calm water
- F/s9, 1/80S, ISO 640
Catherine Holmes is an award-winning underwater photographer, watercolour artist, and dentist whose work aims to inspire protection of our fragile ocean ecosystems. Originally from Australia and now based in England, she travels extensively to capture vibrant underwater scenes across Indonesia, Oceania, the Red Sea, the Galápagos, the Maldives, the Caribbean, and Europe. A member of the British Society of Underwater Photographers, Catherine blends her passion for colour with a painterly approach, creating images that reflect the beauty and urgency of marine conservation. Through her lens and brush, she advocates for the protection of coral reefs and ocean life worldwide.
