A majestic humpback whale, dramatic coastlines and a coral reef ecosystem star in NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Photo competition ‘Get Into Your Sanctuary’. The winning photos celebrate the National Marine Sanctuary Systemwhich covers more than 629,000 square miles and includes 17 National Marine Sanctuaries and National Marine Monuments of Papahānaumokuākea and Rose Atoll.
Freediving in a school of akule in the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary of the Hawaiian Islands. Sanctuary Recreation, second place Credit: Christian Crook
The winners were named in five categories: Sanctuary Views, Sanctuary Life, Sanctuary Recreation, Sanctuaries at Home and Sanctuaries Around the World.
Sunset on Rialto Beach in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. View of the shrine, second place Credit: Elliot GilfixPotato Harbor on Santa Cruz Island is one of the few wind-protected places to stay in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Wind and swell still creep into the small anchorage under the setting sun. View of the shrine, third place Credit: Dustin HarrisCamping under the stars in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Sanctuary Recreation, first place Credit: Daniel Eidsmoe McWay Falls in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. View of the shrine, first place Credit: Peter ReinoldAtlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) are ocean-dependent birds that spend most of their lives on open waters. The productive North Atlantic Canadian waters around Newfoundland provide some of the best habitat for these beloved seabirds. Shrines around the world, second place Credit: Carolyn CopperMale seahorses (Hippocampus erectus) like this one at the Blue Heron Bridge in West Palm Beach, Florida, receive eggs from the female and store them in a pouch where she fertilizes and carries them until they are ready to hatch. Shrines around the world, third place Credit: Tamara ChristianA humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae) dives at sunset in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This photo was taken with a telephoto lens from a safe distance. Sanctuary Life, third place Credit: Kaelyn DeYoungAn arrow crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis) sits in front of a Caribbean long-spine sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Sanctuary life, first place Credit: Gabriel JensenThe giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) walks the deep cold-water reef in the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Sanctuary Life, second place Credit: Robert LeeKite flying on a beach near Palm Coast, Florida. Shrines at home, second place Credit: Daniel EidsmoeA green sea turtle (Chelonia) surfaces for air in the shallow waters of Playa Punta Corola on San Cristobal in Galapagos, Ecuador. Shrines around the world, finalist Credit: Dan Shipp Split coastline and underwater view of the coral reef ecosystem around Fakarava Atoll in French Polynesia. Shrines at home, first place Credit: Justin Wallace
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