The 7th annual Oceans of Life photo competition has kicked off again. To celebrate the amazingness that is the ocean, have a look at the top 10 photos from last year's competition! Entries are open to all at www.oceansoflife.co.za
More info: oceansoflife.co.za
1st: Old Man behind the Pilots (Chris Fallows)
A massive Mola Mola with human like features swims across the open sea, lonely except for two pilot fish that keep him company
2nd: Alien Squid (Colin Marshall)
Bigfin Reef Squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) at night.
3rd: Blizzard Shag (Espen Lie Dahl)
A European Shag during a blizzard. These birds a though creatures able to handle arctic winter conditions. I used slow shutter speed to visualize the snow and the windy conditions.
Joie de vivre (Chris Fallows)
Three Dusky Dolphins leap in incredible Athletic synchrony at least 4-5m clear of the water off Argentina's Puerto Madryn coast line.
Wandering albatross courting (Ryan Reisinger)
A pair of wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) show off their impressive wingspan during a courtship display at sunset.
Catch of the day (Teresa Nel)
In Flatanger, Norway there is about 17 breeding pairs of White-tailed sea eagles, which allows for ample opportunities to photograph these birds. This image was taken early morning of one of these birds with its catch.
The Order of Things (Allen Walker)
During the annual Sardine Run, sharks and gannets are driven to predate on alternate food source other than the expected Sardines, in this event the entire bait ball was consumed by over 200 sharks, gannets and game fish. The degradation of the Sardine Biomass is very evident, no biomass, no run.
Flower Gift (Laura Dyer)
During the nesting season, puffins will collect many 'gifts' for their partners which they use to line their burrows in which their solitary egg is incubating. This puffin was so proud of his freshly picked flower, and hurried off down into the burrow where his lifelong mate was waiting.
Splash (Teresa Nel)
This image was taken from a small fishing boat of the coast in Flatanger, Norway. This particular evening the sea was completely calm which allowed for this type of shot with a full reflection of the gull landing in the water.
Cirque du Soleil (Morgan Ball)
Silhouette of a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) at sunset.