2019 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest results

Thank you to all the photographers who shared their view of national marine sanctuaries with us! Click each photograph to see the full version.

Please note that we may use any of the photos we received for this contest on our website, on social media, and in other NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation publications. We will provide credit to photographers whenever we use any of the photos. Organizations other than NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation may use photographs submitted in this contest to promote sustainable and responsible activities in the National Marine Sanctuary System, as long as the photographer is credited. These photos are not for sale and are not for commercial use unless prior permission is arranged.

Sanctuary Life

From tiny krill to enormous gray whales, thousands of species call the National Marine Sanctuary System home! This category depicts the amazing marine life that you can find in your national marine sanctuaries.

fish swimming around a shipwreck — **1st Place: Bruce Sudweeks.** Schools of fish swirl around the wreck of an old tugboat near Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

two barracudas swimming over coral reef — **2nd Place: Mike Johnson.** A pair of barracuda lurk behind a school of yellowtail snapper at Alligator Reef Lighthouse in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

humpback whales lunge feeding — **3rd Place: Douglas Croft.**: Humpback whales lunge feed at the surface in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

All submitted photos

blue whale tail — A blue whale throws up its tail in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Chuck Graham

breaching humpback whale — A humpback whale breaches for breath in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Chuck Graham

humpback whale tail — The quintessential whale's tail surfaces in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Chuck Graham

two pigeon guillemots in a sea cave — Love birds: a mating pair of pigeon guillemots shelter inside a sea cave at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Chuck Graham

sea lions sunbathing — Sea lions sunbathe in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Mary Byrd

sheephead fish among kelp — A sheephead fish swims among the towering kelp in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks

pink snail — A pink *Simnia* snail brightens up Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Kendra Chan

atlantic spadefish — A school of Atlantic spadefish hides between cement poles supporting a bridge at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tiffany Duong

dolphins swimming in a boat wake — Dolphins swim along the wake of a boat in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Alicia K. Bishop

octopus in a shell — A jewel in the crown: a sleeping carribbean reef octopus inside its shell home at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tiffany Duong

floating reef squid — A fluorescent Caribbean reef squid floats near the surface in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tiffany Duong

A bioluminescent ctenophore creates its own light in the darkness of the ocean in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Olivia Williamson

foureye butterflyfish and coral — A foureye butterflyfish swims alongside a colony of coral in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Olivia Williamson

two goliath groupers — Two goliath groupers swim together in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Vicki Thomas

A green moray eel peeks out from a crevice in the reef at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Olivia Williamson

green sea turtle swimming at the surface — A green sea turtle swims at the surface in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Olivia Williamson

juvenile green sea turtle and seagrass — A juvenile green sea turtle cruises over dense seagrass in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jessica Hogan

A lettuce sea slug grazes on pink algae in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tiffany Duong

manatee in a marina — A manatee hangs around a marina in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Alicia K. Bishop

baby fish taking refuge in a moon jelly — Baby fish find safety within a moon jelly at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tiffany Duong

bluehead wrasse swims over coral — A bluehead wrasse swims over bright yellow coral in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Olivia Williamson

scorpionfish camouflaged against the reef bottom — A scorpionfish camouflages itself against the reef bottom in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tiffany Duong

scrawled filefish and moon jelly — Scrawled filefish inspect a moon jelly in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Olivia Williamson

A spotted eagle ray glides peacefully over the sand in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Olivia Williamson

tube sea anemones — Tube sea anemones shine brightly in Flordida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tiffany Duong

cassin's auklet taking off from ocean surface — A Cassin's auklet takes flight in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Patrick Sysiong

kelp and seaweed — Kelp and seaweed tangle together in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Pauline Scott

kelp and other seaweed — Kelp and seaweed tangle together in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Pauline Scott

northern fulmar in flight — A northern fulmar flies over the gray waters of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Patrick Sysiong

ochre star on a beach — An ochre star rests on the beach at Schooner Gulch Beach in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Anne Mary Schaefer

seabird in flight — A seabird flies beneath the clouds in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Patrick Sysiong

dorsal fin of a bottlenose dolphin above the water — The dorsal fin of a bottlenose dolphin peeks out of the water in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eden Zang

dolphin bowriding in a boat wake — A bottlenose dolphin bow rides in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eden Zang

A lone bottlenose dolphin swims off the coast of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eden Zang

a group of bottlenose dolphins — A group of bottlenose dolphins swim in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eden Zang

A green sea turtle swims in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Michelle Smith

green sea turtles fighting over a piece of kelp — Two green sea turtles fight over a piece of kelp in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Suzanne Young

hawaiian monk seal chasing a bird away from her pup — Mother Hawaiian monk seal Pohaku fends off a black crowned night heron from her pup, Nanea, in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Melody Bentz

molting hawaiian monk seal — Hawaiian monk seals are a critically endangered species and it is crucial that people respect their space. This seal is going through her annual catastrophic molt, shedding her old fur for new on the coast of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Melody Bentz

hawaiian monk seal mother and pup resting on a beach — Mother and pup Hawaiian monk seals rest on the beach after a long swim in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Melody Bentz

hawaiian monk seal holding her flipper over her face — A Hawaiian monk seal shields her eyes from the morning sun near Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Melody Bentz

two humpback whales swimming together — Two humpback whales swim together in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eden Zang

humpback whales swimming — Humpback whales swim off Maui in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eden Zang

A bright lagoon triggerfish swims in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Michelle Smith

whitemouth moray eel and peacock grouper — Whitemouth morays and peacock groupers sometimes form mutualistic relationships, as seen in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Michelle Smith

two white terns — White terns, or *Manu o Kū*, are endemic seabirds to the Hawaiian Islands. Manu o Kū do not build nests, they lay and incubate their eggs on tree branches. This parent and chick are enjoying another beautiful day in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! Photo: Melody Bentz

A yelloweye filefish swims in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Michelle Smith

blood-spot dorid nudibranch — The blood-spot dorid is an uncommon but iconic nudibranch species in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal

gray albatrosses eating on the ocean surface — Three black-footed albatross dine on a meal of gray whale blubber in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Patrick Sysiong

A school of blue rockfish soak up the sun's rays in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks

blue rockfish and jelly — A slow-speed chase occurs in the kelp forests of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks

brandt's cormorant drying its wings — A Brandt's cormorant dries its wings after a dive into the rocky coast of Lovers Point in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Allison Formica

breaching humpback — This humpback whale jumped entirely out of the water in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Carpenter

brown pelican in flight — A brown pelican soars in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Peggy Langford

california sea lion — A friendly California sea lion examines the camera in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Steve Peletz

A cockscomb nudibranch stretches away from the seawall in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal

A copper rockfish explores alcoves in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Megan Crabtree

egret silhouetted by the sunset — The sunset silhouettes an egret on Pebble Beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Peggy Langford

elephant seal scratching its head — A sleepy young elephant seal scratches its head mid-nap in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryll Carlson

elephant seal tossing sand over its back — An elephant seal tosses sand over its back on the beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryll Carlson

elephant seals on a beach — Elephant seals congregate in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryll Carlson

elephant seal vocalizing — An elephant seal vocalizes mid-nap in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryll Carlson

A curious young elephant seal wanders about Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryll Carlson

striped fish — A fish swims over a rocky reef in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eric Wahl

giant kelp — Giant kelp dances in the surge in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Megan Crabtree

gopher rockfish above strawberry anemones — A gopher rockfish poses on a rock covered in strawberry anemones in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Steve Peletz

A harbor seal peeks its head up at a kayaker in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Emily Pomeroy

hilton's aeolid — A large Hilton's aeolid hunts for fellow nudibranchs to feed on in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal

humpback whale flipper — A humpback whale waves to whale watchers in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Schouweiler

Seabirds flock near a humpback whale in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marie Johnson

humpback whale and sea lions — A humpback whale swims with California sea lions in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Kundis Craig

humpback whale at sunset — A humpback whale swims into the sunset in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Schouweiler

humpback whale jumping toward boat — A humpback whale dramatically jumps toward a whale watching boat in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, making for quite the trip! Photo: Douglas Croft

humpback whale, sea lion, and seabird — A humpback whale, California sea lion, and a seabird hunt for fish together in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Kundis Craig

humpback whales in fog — Humpback whales feed in the foggy morning waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Kundis Craig

humpback whale tail and sea lions — Water drips off the tail of a humpback whale in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Kundis Craig

humpback whale tail and gulls — A seabird flies past the outstretched tail of a humpback whale in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Kundis Craig

humpback whale trail and sea lions — Humpback whales and California sea lions feed together on large schools of small fish in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Kundis Craig

sun filtered through kelp and jellyfish — The sun peeks through kelp and a swarm of jellyfish in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks

A kelp rockfish acts as if it is invisible to the camera in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Megan Crabtree

A small ling cod swims close to the rocks in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Steve Peletz

humpback whales and birds feeding on anchovies — Two humpback whales, cormorants, western gulls, Bonaparte's gulls, and common murres all take part in an anchovy feeding frenzy in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Douglas Croft

A giant plumose anemone fans out its tentacles to catch drifting food particles in the waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Sabrina Wong

northern elephant seals — Northern elephant seals bark at each other at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Emily Pomeroy

opalescent nudibranch on a jeweled top snail — An opalescent nudibranch inches across the brightly colored shell of an appropiately named jeweled top snail in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal

two orcas — Two orcas from the CA140 pod head out on on a mission to catch prey in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal

A large male orca surfaces in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Kaelyn De Young

pacific white sided dolphin — A Pacific white-sided dolphin jumps in early morning glassy waters in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal

three pacific white sided dolphins — Three Pacific white-sided dolphins porpoise through Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Douglas Croft

pacific white sided dolphins — Two Pacific white-sided dolphins cut through the glass-like water in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Emily Pomeroy

A pelagic cormorant in breeding plumage rests on the ocean surface at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Trish Lyon

pelagic cormorant carrying seaweed — A busy bird: a pelagic cormorant carries seaweed back to its future nesting site in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Trish Lyon

seaweed underwater — Brightly colored *Pterygophora* and *Laminaria setchelli* sway in the waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Megan Crabtree

A sculpin rests in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Steve Peletz

seabirds in flight — Seabirds sail above the water in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eric Wahl

sea lion in kelp forest — A sea lion hangs around a kelp forest in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Steve Peletz

sea nettles — Sea nettles drift in the blue waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Steve Peletz

sea otter smiling — A sea otter smiles for the camera in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Schouweiler

sea otter eating — A sea otter enjoys an afternoon snack in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryll Carlson

A sea otter kicks its flippers up in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Schouweilerl

raft of sea otters with a pelican flying overhead — A raft of sea otters floats while a pelican flies past in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Carpenter

A leather star rests on the rocky reef in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eric Wahl

many birds on a beach — Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary boasts its feathered friends on a beautiful day. Photo: Peggy Langford

a crab in a tide pool — A crab hides away in the tide pools of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryll Carlson

a crab on a rock — A curious crab lurks in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Peggy Langford

shore crabs — Shore crabs eat other crabs in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Carpenter

A southern sea otter stretches out in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Emily Pomeroy

sea otter eating crab — A southern sea otter feasts on a Dungeness crab for breakfast in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Douglas Croft

spanish shawl nudibranch — This Spanish shawl nudibranch holds onto its perch as an underwater surge pushes through Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Sabrina Wong

two spanish shawl nudibranch — Two Spanish shawl nudibranchs use their long oral tentacles and tiny eyespots to help them find prey in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal

strawberry anemones — Strawberry anemones cover many rock walls in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Steve Peletz

A sea cucumber stretches out in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Eric Wahl

western gull feeding its chicks — A western gull feeds its chicks in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Douglas Croft

whale tail and bird — A whale shows off its tail flukes in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Kundis Craig

whale tails — Two humpback whales proudly show their tails in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Kundis Craig

A white dendronotus nudibranch creeps forward in a deep tidepool in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal

yellowhead aeolid nudibranch — One of the smallest nudibranchs in the Eastern Pacific, a yellowhead aeolid hides amongst iridescent algae in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robin Agarwal

beached jellyfish — A beached jelly encapsulates the shores of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Getta Rogers Workman

Sea stars and sea anemones shine bright during low tide in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Trinity Reyes

sea anemones at low tide — Sea anemones droop during low tide in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Trinity Reyes

An alewife fish swims up a fish ladder in search of fresh water to spawn in near Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: James Garner

american eel elvers — American eel elvers reach the end of their 3,000 mile migration from the Sargasso Sea. These eels could have migrated through Gray's Reef, Monitor, and Stellwagen Bank national marine sanctuaries on their way to the Jones River in Massachusetts. Photo: James Garner

two nudibranchs — A *Flabellina verrucosa* couple begin courtship in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: James Garner

harbor seal lifting its head above the water — A harbor seal lifts its head above the waters of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to say hello! Photo: Bruce Stewart

A nudibranch searches for food on a bed of barnacles in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: James Garner

A rainbow smelt rests after being caught, measured, and released by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Science near Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: James Garner

A summer flounder gazes toward the surface of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: James Garner

A common snapping turtle dives slowly into the depths of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: James Garner

A largemouth bass stares defiantly at the camera in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: James Garner

Please note that we may use any of the photos we received for this contest on our website, on social media, and in other NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation publications. We will provide credit to photographers whenever we use any of the photos. Organizations other than NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation may use photographs submitted in this contest to promote sustainable and responsible recreation in the National Marine Sanctuary System. These photos are not for sale and are not for commercial use unless prior permission is arranged.