What's your photograph of the day 1097?

A 7 Image Gallery of Marine Photos Shortlisted For The Ocean Photographer Of The Year Contest. Just Awesome! Do Enjoy 🤍

With their dramatic marine wildlife encounters, gorgeous examples of our species’ connection with the ocean and stark reminders of the human impact on our seas, underwater photographers bring the best of our ocean planet to life and highlight the many perils it faces.

‘“As we gaze at this marine iguana, with half of its body submerged in the waters and the other half emerging above the surface, it's impossible not to marvel at the uniqueness of these creatures,” says Fernandez Caballero. “Without a doubt, marine iguanas are living dinosaurs, a testament to the countless stages and transformations life on our planet has undergone.”

Im happy but there is a heavy feeling of sadness in my heart that I just can't remove. Why am I like this?

Papua New Guinea's Conflict Islands

With many thanks to:

SHANE GROSS - OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024

Unexpected Nova Just Appeared In The Night Sky – And You Can See It With The Naked Eye - IFLScience

“The (African pompano) juveniles look very different from adults,” says Pietro Formis. “They are very thin, with a silver body and very long appendages on their fins. Usually, the filaments stretch out behind them, making it almost impossible to capture the whole fish. The long fins created circles around the silver fish, looking like neon lights at night.”’

JAKE WILTON - OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024

Philippines

What is the most unwatchable movie you have sat through?

A marine iguana sits on a rock. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Portfolio Award, British Columbia, Canada

Baby Plainfin Midshipman fish, still attached to their yolk sacs, are hidden under a rock in an intertidal zone in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds - CNN

A crested sculpin hiding

PIETRO FORMIS - OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024

A crested sculpin hides in the stinging tentacles of a lion’s mane jellyfish. “The tentacles provide both shelter and food for the cryptic fish in Alaska’s Prince William Sound,” explains Shane Gross.

Is it common for people to fall in love with someone else while still married? If so, why do they choose to stay in their marriage?

RAFAEL FERNANDEZ CABALLERO - OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024

A spotted eagle ray’s natural pattern is on as-if-by-designer display. “On one of my dives, this beautiful eagle ray caught my eye,” says Palomeque Gonzalez. “It swam calmly across the sandy bottom as it exposed its intricate back to us all. I was amazed that nature inspires the most revolutionary creations. Its skin pattern reminds me of a binary code.”

The hunt, Baja California Sur, Mexico

What was the worst decision you ever did?

Baby plainfin midshipman fish

MERCHE LLOBERA - OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024

MIZAEL PALOMEQUE GONZALEZ, MEXICO - OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024

Do you believe that the US and Israel's preparations for all possibilities in response to potential Iranian attacks are sufficient to prevent a wider Middle East conflict?

Above, pelicans in the sea off Mexico’s Baja California Sur dive from the sky in a well-coordinated dance. Underwater, mahi-mahi dart around at top speed, chasing sardines. “The surface was murky from the feast, with sea lions also joining the action,” says Merche Llobera. “Whales passed by, but none went for the sardines.”

A spotted eagle ray’s natural pattern

SHANE GROSS - OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024

Volcanic gold discovered in Hawaii may have come directly from Earth's core - Earth.com

Conservation efforts have transformed former poachers into protectors. Amid this success swims the rare leucistic green sea turtle.