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Journey Under the Sea With 20 Amazing Photos of Marine Life, From Seahorses to Manta Rays to Orcas to Turtles

These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images feature the captivating creatures that live beneath the waves

A hawksbill sea turtle
A hawksbill sea turtle

A hawksbill sea turtle munches away on a sponge near Juno Beach.

Thomas Green, Florida, 2010

Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries

Journey Under the Sea With 20 Amazing Photos of Marine Life, From Seahorses to Manta Rays to Orcas to Turtles

These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images feature the captivating creatures that live beneath the waves

Photographs selected Donny Bajohr

A hawksbill sea turtle
A hawksbill sea turtle munches away on a sponge near Juno Beach. Thomas Green, Florida, 2010

Scientists estimate that sharks were swimming the seas some 190 million years before dinosaurs roamed the earth, and they’re still here. That’s only one reason why we’re fascinated by the creatures that live in the oceans—one of the few areas of the earth where humans do not roam.

Whether they’re in cold Arctic environments or the warm tropics of the Caribbean, sea creatures surprise and amaze us. See the seas’ fish, underwater mammals and birds, reptiles, coral and more!

Lights from an underwater camera attract an octopus
Lights from an underwater camera attract an octopus out hunting in the dark waters of the night. Jay Harker, Florida, 2022
squid swim by a cluster of eggs
As Fully grown squid swim by a cluster of eggs, they pump water around them, giving the cluster a fresh supply of arrive to oxygen.  Franco Tulli, Indonesia, 2020
a ghost gobby seemingly rests on bubble coral
Shining like a fluorescent bulb, a ghost gobby seemingly rests on bubble coral. Franco Tulli, Philippines, 2024
a squadron of manta rays
Divers get a close look at a squadron of manta rays off the Japanese island of Ishigaki. Reiko Takahashi, Japan, 2021
A pod of orcas hunt for herring
A pod of orcas hunt for herring while sea gulls whirl overhead looking for scraps. Charlie Wemyss-Dunn, Norway, 2023
The reflection of a dugong, a cousin of the manatee, is captured as it prepares to breach the surface
The reflection of a dugong, a cousin of the manatee, is captured as it prepares to breach the surface. Mok Wai Hoe, Philippines, 2022
fringed blenny in the ocean
Found in coral reefs in the western Indian Ocean, fringed blenny normally live in cold, deep waters. Sayaka Ichinoseki, Japan, 2020
Two huge sea turtles cross paths on the ocean floor as a batfish takes in the scene.
Two huge sea turtles cross paths on the ocean floor as a batfish takes in the scene. Franco Tulli, Indonesia, 2022
silver and golden sweepers cover a coral reef
Both silver and golden sweepers cover this coral reef. Mok Wai Hoe, Indonesia, 2020
a seahorse with a blade of grass
A blade of grass helps to camouflage a seahorse, keeping it safe from its many predators in the Atlantic Ocean. Suzan Meldonian, Florida, 2020
A shark swims out from a reef.
A shark swims out from a reef. Bing Lin, Indonesia, 2023
Longfin bannerfish nibble at a jellyfish near Qaruh Island
Longfin bannerfish nibble at a jellyfish near Qaruh Island. Suliman Alatiqi, Kuwait, 2022
Colorful Coleman shrimp
Colorful Coleman shrimp are identified by their distinct brown-red spot pattern. Jeffrey de Guzman, Philippines, 2009
A school of sardines next to a striped marlin
A school of sardines makes a fine buffet for a striped marlin in Baja Magdalena. Franco Banfi, Mexico, 2020
a young sea other eating
A young sea otter looks straight at the lens but won’t be distracted from its meal of giant kelp in Monterey. Bob Western, California, 2017
A humpback whale calf sails through the sapphire-blue waters of the Pacific near Tonga
A humpback whale calf sails through the sapphire-blue waters of the Pacific near Tonga. Sean Steininger, Tonga, 2019
A walrus wades in the chilly waters near the Magdalenefjorden fjord.
A walrus wades in the chilly waters near the Magdalenefjorden fjord. Olav Thokle, Norway, 2022
a penguin in the water
A playful gentoo penguin entertains onlookers at the Sea Life aquarium in Melbourne. Peter Virag, Australia, 2018
baby sea turtles head to the ocean
Olive ridley sea turtles spend their entire lives in the ocean and migrate thousands of miles between feeding and mating grounds in the course of a year. Kallol Mukherjee, India, 2023

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