Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 – Lady Bugs
Credit Yury Ivanov
Through the Lens: Yury Ivanov was named Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 for this image of two amphipods feeding in the waters off Bali, Indonesia.
The winners of Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025, sponsored by Blancpain—the event’s co-organizer—celebrated the synchronized ‘ladybugs’ as the competition’s laureates. They also presented Jialing Cai with the Female Fifty Fathoms Award, underscoring the Maison’s dedication to showcasing and conserving underwater life.
Ivanov’s vibrant image of two synchronized ‘ladybugs of the sea’ mesmerized the judging panel, who connected with the simplicity of its message: that the ocean is a place of wonder, color, and life of all sizes (the ladybugs are just 3mm tall). The winning photograph – taken at Ivanov’s local dive site in Bali, Indonesia – was selected 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 single image, but about celebrating the ocean itself — its fragility, its diversity, and its extraordinary power to inspire us.”
Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Credit Jialing Cai
Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Credit Jialing Cai
Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Credit Jialing Cai
This year’s photographs 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.
Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Credit Jialing Cai
Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Credit Jialing Cai
Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Credit Jialing Cai
The recipient of this year’s Female Fifty Fathoms Award is Jialing Cai, a Chinese marine biologist, blackwater photographer, and science communicator specializing in revealing the world of zooplankton. The Female Fifty Fathoms Award was established in 2021 by Blancpain to honor pioneering and boundary-pushing women in ocean photography. Unlike other categories, the award recipient is nominated by her peers and judged by the Ocean Photographer of the Year jury, which includes esteemed ocean photographer Laurent Ballesta, editorial staff at Oceanographic, and a Blancpain delegation led by Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO.
Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Credit Jialing Cai
Reflecting on her nomination and win, Cai says: “It is 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.”
Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Credit Jialing Cai
Jialing Cai – Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Credit Jialing Cai
Jialing Cai
Credit Blancpain
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 who give 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 Fifty Fathoms collection
Credit Blancpain
“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.
