The 2023 edition of the Ocean Photographer of the Year contest has unveiled its winners, and the stunning photos showcase the true beauty of our oceans.
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This year’s grand winner is 25-year-old marine biologist and amateur photographer Jialing Cai, with an impressive image of a nautilus floating amidst oceanic debris. The shot was taken during a dive in dark waters after a volcanic eruption in the Philippines.
“Navigating through low visibility and dense fog during a blackwater dive, I encountered this female paper nautilus drifting on a wooden stick. When I pressed the shutter, the particles reflected my light,” explained Cai to the contest website.
“As underwater photographers, we aim to capture images in clear waters, but this picture reminds us that grains of sand, organic matter, or small organisms are integral parts of the underwater environment.”
All winning photos will be on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia, until May 26, 2024. Below, check out some stunning shots from this year’s contest:
