Nature's Best Photography - Majestic Ocean Views (12 photos)

Over 10,000 photos were entered into the Nature's Best Photography‒Ocean Views competition. The gallery features stunning shots of the ocean through the eyes of professional and emerging photographers, as well as naturalists and adventurers.

First prize went to Bryce Flynn of Woburn, Massachusetts who took this amazing shot (above) of a humpback whale feeding.

"Late spring aboard whale-watching vessels is the best time to view bubble-and-lunge feeding," says Flynn. "Often, flocks of herring gulls give advance warning that a whale is coming to the surface, driving a school of northern sand lances ahead of it. This humpback uses its lower jaw to strain the fish off the surface as gulls dart in to snatch their own meals, sometimes right out of the whale’s open mouth."

Below are more breathtaking shots taken from the majestic sea.

Andrew Sallmon. Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, The Bahamas

Jason Bradley
"This hatchling is one of many being guided toward the ocean by conservationists on this remote beach in Costa Rica. Leatherback turtles are critically endangered in the eastern Pacific, and this young turtle is a symbol of hope for their future."

Alan Studley. Hammerhead Shark, Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Pedro Carrillo. Green Sea Turtle, Armeñime, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Charles Viggers. Squid at Sunset Reef Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Deborah Smrekar. Giant Pacific Manta Ray, Roca Partida Sea Mount, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico

James A. Galletto. Black Skimmer, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, New York, USA

Steffen Binke. Dwarf Minke Whale, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Michael Thomas Gallagher. Parrotfish, Kuredu House Reef, Maldives

Phillip Colla. Adélie Penguins, Paulet Island, Antarctica

Peter Lik. Kilauea Volcano, Kalapana, Hawaii, USA
"As we hiked out under the moonlight over the smoldering, crunchy lava, a mate of mine informed me of the story of Pele, the Goddess of Fire in Hawaiian folklore. I can visualize her profile in the upper left of this image as if she is blowing or whispering into the ocean, causing the steam to part on the surface of the water below."