Check out 18 spectacular images from a water photography contest

The year has not quite begun and we are already being presented with amazing images from photo contests! The ones you will see below participated in an aquatic art and photography competition called the Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition, which this year hosted its 7th edition.

According to Rich Haridy of New Atlas, the contest is divided into 16 categories - among them, which depicts the behavior of marine species, underwater art, macro and supermacro photography and underwater landscapes - and was attended by thousands of photographers (both professional and amateur) from around the world. Check below which photos were the winners and a selection of the best images:

1 - Water Ballet

(Duncan Murrell / Ocean Art)

The image above, by Duncan Murrell, was the overall winner of the contest and shows three lanes in the mating ritual.

2 - Giant of the Seas

(François Baelen / Ocean Art)

Image by François Baelen, winner of the “Wide Angle” category, shows a humpback whale and her calf in the background.

3 - Exodus

(Edwar Herreno / Ocean Art)

Massive Pacific ray migration recorded by Edwar Herreno, who ranked 5th in the “Wide Angle” category.

4 - Sun and sea

(Jordan Robins / Ocean Art)

Second in the “Underwater Art” category, the photo by Jordan Robins was captured early in the morning at Hyams Beach, Australia.

5 - Immensity

(Guillaume Nery / Ocean Art)

Scuba diver photographed by Guillaume Nery in Mexico. The photo was in 3rd place in the category “Underwater Art”.

6 - Towards the light

(Alexandre St. Jean / Ocean Art)

Honorable Mention in the “Underwater Art” category, the photo by Alexandre St. Jean shows a diver in a cenote in Mexico.

7 - Detailed Portrait

(Wayne Jones / Ocean Art)

Wayne Jones photo of crab shot in 2nd place in the “Supermacro” category.

8 - Watching you

(Shane Keena / Ocean Art)

The image captured by Shane Keena, which shows the eye of a close-up humpback whale cub, came in 4th place in the “Portrait” category.

9 - Hi! Hello!

(Matteo Visconti / Ocean Art)

This photo of a clown fish among anemone tentacles recorded by Matteo Visconti has received honorable mention in the "Portrait" category.

10 - Hazard in the area

(Christina Barringer / Ocean Art)

From Christina Barringer, this photo was recorded in Mexico and took 2nd place in the category “Portrait”

11 - Face to face

(Alvin Cheung / Ocean Art)

Giant ray and diver face each other in this photo of Alvin Cheung in Mexico, and won the “Newbie DSLR” category.

12 - Wreck

(Fabrice Dudenhofer / Ocean Art)

Ship sunk in the Red Sea photographed by Fabrice Dudenhofer received an honorable mention in the contest.

13 - Why the bad mood?

(Rafi Amar / Ocean Art)

This fun photo by Rafi Amar also received an honorable mention in the competition.

14 - Inspecting the school

(Debbie Wallace / Ocean Art)

This image, by Debbie Wallace, came in 2nd place in the “Behavior” category.

15 - Dad's eye on the offspring

(François Baelen / Ocean Art)

Eggs being closely cared for by a clownfish male were recorded by François Baelen and ranked 3rd in the “Behavior” category.

16 - Colorful Environment

(Kate Tinson / Ocean Art)

Goldfish amidst colorful corals, by Kate Tinson, took 2nd place in the “Compact Macro” category.

17 - Look at me here!

(Greg Lecoeur / Ocean Art)

Playful foquinha earned Greg Lecoeur the 1st place in the “Cold Water” category.

18 - Under attack

(Pier Mane / Ocean Art)

Photo taken by Pier Mane showing a jellyfish under attack received an honorable mention in the competition.