Described as ‘a celebration of our beautiful blue planet, as well as a platform to highlight the many plights it is facing’, the annual Awards are open to ocean photographers at all levels of experience. The judging panel comprises some of the world’s leading underwater photographers, including International Photography Hall of Fame inductee Paul Nicklen, founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Cristina Mittermeier, and renowned, Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Shawn Heinrichs.

Working with companies that share its mission, Oceanographic partnered with Princess Yachts, Swiss watch company Blancpain and see Tourism Western Australia to celebrate the world’s oceans and highlight the problems that are facing them. Speaking of the quality of the 2021 submissions, Kiran Haslam, chief marketing officer at Princess Yachts, said: “We are honoured to have seen outstanding images submitted; they are of an incredible standard, capturing some truly exceptional moments. The images submitted poignantly highlight the fact that the most important thing we can do right now is act quickly to protect our planet and our oceans.”

In total, there were eight winners across several categories with prizes worth more than £500,000 being awarded, including the finalists’ pictures being exhibited in a month-long, public exhibition on the Queen’s Walk near Tower Bridge. In addition to various cash prizes, there were also awards of equipment, plus print publication of images and social media exposure reaching millions of people. Summarising the feelings of all of the judges, Cristina Mittermeier, co-founder and president of SeaLegacy, said: “The calibre of the images submitted was incredible. [The judges] spent a lot of time discussing the power these images have to inspire people all over the world to advocate for ocean protection.” She continued, “We also spent a considerable amount of time admiring the incredible artistry. Thank you to everyone who entered, and congratulations to [the 2021] finalists.”