The Underwater Photography Guide is excited to announce the world’s best underwater photography in this year’s 12th annual Ocean Art competition. This year featured thousands of entries from over 90 countries around the world! As we embark on another exciting chapter, Ocean Art 2023 stands as a celebration of ever-evolving photographic artistry alongside technological innovation.
Ocean Art could not have been possible without the help of our generous sponsors who were responsible for the largest selection of prizes ever in an underwater photo contest – with over $120,000 in prizes awarded! Please take a moment to check out our sponsors below and keep them in mind as you shop for underwater photo gear or dive travel.
This year’s competition featured new rules to address the use of AI in post processing, as well as two new categories – Underwater Digital Art and Underwater Fashion. These two categories are the exception in the competition where we removed editing rules to encourage creativity.
The winners were asked to rank the prizes and were awarded one prize based on the total points earned from all their winning photos.
We would also like to thank our world-renowned judges Tony Wu, Mark Stickland, Marty Snyderman, and Bluewater Photo and Bluewater Travel for their utmost support. Click here to view the judges’ comments for Ocean Art 2023.
Overall, the Ocean Art 2023 was a remarkable event that showcased the beauty of the underwater world through the lens of talented photographers. Congratulations to all the winners and participants, and thanks to the organizers, sponsors, and judges for their contributions to the world of underwater photography.
Press Release and Media Contact: /ocean-art-2023-press-release
We hope you keep diving, learning and exploring.
Click here to view the Ocean Art 2023 winners at a larger size (best for desktop)
Want to win next year? Join one of our underwater photo workshops
Need help finding the right underwater photo gear including from our sponsors, Ikelite, SeaLife, Think Tank, Marelux and Sea & Sea? Check out Bluewater Photo!
Quick Links:
Best in Show
Wide-Angle Category
 “Spinner Stampede”
2nd Place – Ines Goovaerts
Shot in Sataya Reef, Marsa Alam, Egypt
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 “In Our Shadow”
3rd Place – Bryant Turffs
Shot in Florida, USA
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 “Mahi-Mahi Bloom”
Honorable Mention – Fabien Michenet
Shot in South of Magdalena, Bay, Mexico
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Macro
 “Pygmy Poser”
2nd Place – Byron Conroy
Shot in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
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 “Clownfish and Its Baby”
3rd Place – Dennis Corpuz
Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
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 “Backlit Blenny”
Honorable Mention – Greg Sherman
Shot in Sea of Cortez, Mexico
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 “Eye See You”
Honorable Mention – Keith Mash
Shot in Sulawesi, Indonesia
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Marine Life Behavior
 “Mother’s Day”
2nd Place – Josh Raia
Shot in Crystal River, Florida, USA
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 “Rough Love”
3rd Place – Kat Zhou
Shot in Gulf of Eleuthera, Bahamas
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Portrait
 “Octopus Macropus, Polpessa”
2nd Place – Alessandro Raho
Shot in Ligurian Sea, Italy
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 “Fresh Start”
3rd Place – Jules Casey
Shot in Victoria, Australia
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Coldwater
 “Pup Playtime”
2nd Place – Celia Kujala
Shot in Coronado Islands, Mexico
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 “Group Hug”
3rd Place – Johan Sundelin
Shot in Vattern, Sweden
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Nudibranchs
 “Cutie Guardian”
2nd Place – Yen-Po Huang
Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia
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 “Spotlight Nudibranch”
3rd Place – Jenny Stock
Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia
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Blackwater
 “Mirror”
2nd Place – Peter Pogany
Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
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 “Snowy Night”
3rd Place – Jialing Cai
Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
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Underwater Conservation
 “Massacre”
2nd Place – Yinan Liu
Shot in Magdalena Bay, Mexico
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 “Plastic Bag”
3rd Place – Andrea Michelutti
Shot in Puerto Galera, Philippines
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Underwater Digital Art
 “Ice Cream Nudies”
2nd Place – Francisco Sedano Vera
Shot in Puerto Galera, Philippines
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 “Fall Writter”
3rd Place – Conor Culver
Shot in Alor, Indonesia
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Black & White
 “Afternoon Acrobatics”
2nd Place – Jon Anderson
Shot in Carlos Beach, Monterey,California, USA
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 “Dress for the sea”
3rd Place – Serge Melesan
Shot in Mayotte Indian Ocean
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Underwater Fashion
 “Elegance in the Springs”
2nd Place – Anna Aita
Shot in Gilchrist Springs, Florida, USA
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 “Would You Like a Big Burger?”
3rd Place – Julian Nedev
Shot in Varna, Bulgaria
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 “Alice in Waterland II”
4th Place – Lucie Drlikova
Shot in Prague,Czech Republic
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 “Black & White Muse”
Honorable Mention – Vanessa Torres Macho
Shot in Mona Vale, Sydney, Australia
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Compact Wide Angle
 “Sunbass Home”
2nd Place – Enrico Somogyi
Shot in Westbruch Quarry, Germany
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 “Wroom”
3rd Place – Andrea Michelutti
Shot in Red Sea, Egypt
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Compact Macro
 “Radioactive”
2nd Place – Marcus Commodore
Shot in Bali, Indonesia
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 “Riding”
3rd Place – Regie Casia
Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
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Compact Behavior
 “Chance encounter”
2nd Place – Brandon Hannan
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 “Kiss me”
3rd Place – Andrea Michelutti
Shot in Puerto Galera, Philippines
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 “Circle of life”
Honorable Mention – Andrea Michelutti
Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
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List of Winners
1st Place: Suliman Alatiqi
2nd Place: Ines Goovaerts
3rd Place: Bryant Turffs
4th Place: Giancarlo Mazarese
Honorable Mention: Fabien Michenet
Honorable Mention: Ipah Uid Lynn
Macro
1st Place: Alberto Casati
2nd Place: Byron Conroy
3rd Place: Dennis Corpuz
4th Place: Lilian Koh
5th Place: Guillermo Viveros
Honorable Mention: Greg Sherman
Honorable Mention: Keith Mash
Marine Life Behavior
1st Place: Kenji Sato
2nd Place: Josh Raia
3rd Place: Kat Zhou
4th Place: Johan Sundelin
Honorable Mention: Brandi Romano
Honorable Mention: Todd Aki
Portrait
1st Place: Suliman Alatiqi
2nd Place: Alessandro Raho
3rd Place: Jules Casey
4th Place: Gabriel Jensen
Honorable Mention: Celia Kujala
Honorable Mention: Kat Zhou
Coldwater
1st Place: Alessandro Giannaccini
2nd Place: Celia Kujala
3rd Place: Johan Sundelin
4th Place: Ferenc Lorincz
Honorable Mention: Josh Raia
Honorable Mention: Mayumi Takeuchi-Ebbins
Nudibranch
1st Place: Peter Pogany
2nd Place: Yen-po Huang
3rd Place: Jenny Stock
Honorable Mention: Cédric Péneau
Blackwater
1st Place: Keigo Kawamura
2nd Place: Peter Pogany
3rd Place: Jialing Cai
4th Place: Chris Gug
Honorable Mention: Kat Zhou
Honorable Mention: Steven Kovacs
Underwater Conservation
1st Place: Victor Huertas
2nd Place: Yinan Liu
3rd Place: Andrea Michelutti
Honorable Mention: Dan Mele
Underwater Digital Art
1st Place: Justin Lutsky
2nd Place: Francisco Sedano Vera
3rd Place: Conor Culver
Honorable Mention: Anna Aita
Black & White
1st Place: Joergen Rasmussen
2nd Place: Jon Anderson
3rd Place: Serge Melesan
4th Place: Enrico Pompei
Honorable Mention: Serge Melesan
Underwater Fashion
1st Place: Lucie Drlikova
2nd Place: Anna Aita
3rd Place: Julian Nedev
4th Place: Lucie Drlikova
Honorable Mention: Vanessa Torres Macho
Honorable Mention: Lucie Drlikova
Compact Wide Angle
1st Place: Bryant Turffs
2nd Place: Enrico Somogyi
3rd Place: Andrea Michelutti
Compact Macro
1st Place: Imogen Manins
2nd Place: Marcus Commodore
3rd Place: Regie Casia
Honorable Mention: Miguel Ramirez
Compact Behavior
1st Place: Derek Singer
2nd Place: Brandon Hannan
3rd Place: Andrea Michelutti
Honorable Mention: Keri Frankenstein
Honorable Mention: Andrea Michelutti
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