2020 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest results

Below are the winners and entries for the Sanctuary Life category. Thank you to all those who participated! Click each photograph to see the full version.

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. All photographers followed marine life viewing guidelines while taking photos.

fish popping out of bryozoan — **1st Place: Jon Anderson.** A yellowfin fringehead (*Neoclinus stephensae*) peeks out from behind a red-rust bryozoan (*Watersipora subtorquata*) in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Rissos dolphins swimming out of the water. — **2nd Place: Douglas Croft.** Risso’s dolphins (*Grampus griseus*) in a hurry in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This photo was taken 100 yards away from wildlife in compliance with all responsible wildlife viewing guidelines.

**3rd Place: Stan Schone.** French Angelfish (*Pomacanthus paru*) snacking on a sponge in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

Back to category winners

All submitted photos

Sea Nettles — Pacific sea nettles (*Chrysaora fuscescens*) drift above frilled anemones (*Metridium senile*) just off Cannery Row in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jon Anderson

market squid — Market squid (*Doryteuthis opalescens*) aggregate to mate in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jon Anderson

Snowy Plover in the sand — Western snowy plover (*Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus*), Marina State Beach, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Photo: Steve Zmak

Chicks squabbling — Black-crowned night heron chicks (*Nycticorax nycticorax*). Photo: Jerry Loomis

Bird in the water — Green heron (*Butorides virescens*), Carmel Valley, California in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jerry Loomis

Humpback tail — A playful humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) splashes at the surface as a flock of brown pelicans (*Pelecanus occidentalis*) fly by in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dustin Harris

Whale tail with birds — A playful humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) splashes at the surface as a flock of brown pelicans (*Pelecanus occidentalis*) fly by in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dustin Harris

dolphins leaping out of the water — Two common dolphins ( *Delphinus delphis*) leap out of the water in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dustin Harris

whale tail — Blue whale (*Balaenoptera musculus*) fluking in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tara Brown-Petrich

Herring Gull — American herring gull (*Larus smithsonianus*) with reflection, Santa Cruz, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jenna Biggs

Moray Eel — California moray eel (*Gymnothorax mordax*) in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Photo: Bruce Sudweeks

Nudibranch swirl — Nudibranch (*Felimare californiensis*) swirl (photo taken through reflective plumbing pipe) in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks

Dolphin leaping out of the water — An offshore common bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*) goes for big air. Just off Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Douglas Croft

Bermuda Chubs — Bermuda chubs (*Kyphosus sectatrix*) at East Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Joyce Burek

Cocoa damsel fish — Cocoa damselfish (*Stegastes variabilis*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Joyce Burek

long spined sea urchin — A long-spined sea urchin (*Diadema antillarum*) at night in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Stan Schone

French angelfish up close — French angelfish (*Pomacanthus paru*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Joyce Burek

Juvenile blue angelfish (*Holacanthus bermudensis*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Joyce Burek

Loggerhead turtle — Loggerhead sea turtle (*Caretta caretta*) at East Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Frank Burek

Marbled Grouper — Marbled grouper (*Dermatolepis inermis*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Frank Burek

Neon Goby — Neon goby (*Elacatinus oceanops*) at East Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Joyce Burek

Painted elysia (*Thuridilla picta*) at East Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Joyce Burek

red night shrimp — Red night shrimp (*Cinetorhynehus manningi*) at East Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Frank Burek

ridged slipper lobster — Ridged slipper lobster (*Scyllarides nodifer*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Frank Burek

Rock hind (*Epinephelus adscensionis*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Joyce Burek

Seaweed blenny (*Parablennius marmoreus*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Joyce Burek

spotted moray Eel — Spotted Moray Eel (*Gymnothorax moringa*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Frank Burek

spotted scorpionfish — Spotted Scorpionfish (*Scorpaena plumieri*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Frank Burek

squirrelfish — Squirrelfish (*Holocentrus* sp.) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Frank Burek

rigid slipper lobster — A Ridged Slipper Lobster (also called a Knobby Slipper Lobster) on a nighttime hunt for dinner in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Stan Schone

Yellowmouth grouper (*Mycteroperca interstitialis*) at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Frank Burek

atlantic spade fish — Atlantic spadefish (*Chaetodipterus faber*) at the *Benwood* wreck in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryl Duda

bristleworm — Bristle worms in shallows around Fort Jefferson near Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jenna Biggs

Brown noddy (*Anous stolidus*) on rusted base around Fort Jefferson near Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jenna Biggs

Gray Angelfish — Gray angelfish (*Pomacanthus arcuatus*) at Molasses Reef off Key Largo in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryl Duda

Green sea turtle and nurse shark — A green sea turtle(*Chelonia mydas*) and nurse shark(*Ginglymostoma cirratum*) at Snapper Ledge off Key Largo in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryl Duda

green sea turtle on a wreck — The King of the *Benwood* Wreck, Green Sea Turtle holding Court. The *Benwood* Wreck is off Key Largo in the Florida Keys in the National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryl Duda

Angelfish — Gray angelfish (*Pomacanthus arcuatus*) in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jill Brown

christmas worms — Christmas tree worms (*Spirobranchus giganteus*) in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jill Brown

Turtle — “A juvenile sea turtle on Molasses reef off Key Largo. Such a beautiful shell, and the calmest little friend – it's easy to appreciate the value of marine protected areas in places like Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.” Photo: Liah McPherson

Nurse shark — Eye contact with a nurse shark (*Ginglymostoma cirratum*) at Pickles Reef off Key Largo in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Daryl Duda

spotted eagle ray — Spotted eagle ray (*Aetobatus narinari*) flying through Pickles Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Key Largo, Florida. Photo: Andrew Ibarra

Elkhorn coral (*Acropora palmata*) on Pickles Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Key Largo, Florida. Photo: Andrew Ibarra

queen angelfish — Queen angel (*Holacanthus ciliaris*) among Schoolmaster snappers in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: William Brown

Common snook (*Centropomus undecimalis*) in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: William Brown

nudibranch — A sea slug (*Ercolania*) sp.) near Anini Beach, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: April McCormack

breaching humpback — Breaching humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*), Maalaea Bay near Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tom Ayers

breaching whale — Breaching humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*), Maalaea Bay near Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tom Ayers

Honu, or green sea turtle, (*Chelonia mydas*) wrapped, cut free by Doug and Ed Lyman in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Doug Boyd

fish on a reef — “I took this photo in the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The photo shows a blackside hawkfish (*Paracirrhites forsteri*) resting on coral with a fourspot butterflyfish (*Chaetodon quadrimaculatus*) and arc-eye hawkfish (*Paracirrhites arcatus*) in the background.” Photo: Bill Pigott

moray eel and fish — “I took this photo in the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The photo shows a bluefin trevally (*Caranx melampygus*) and an eel (*Gymnothorax* sp.) during mutualistic hunting.” Photo: Bill Pigott

“I took this photo in the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. This photo shows a SCUBA diver observing a green sea turtle (*Chelonia mydas*) from a distance.” Photo: Bill Pigott

goatfish and octopus — “I took this photo in the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The photo shows a face to face meetup between a Hawaiian day octopus (*Octopus cyanea*) and orange goatfish (*Mulloidichthys pfluegeri*).” Photo: Bill Pigott

dried up puffer on beach — “These were taken during an early morning walk along the shoreline of the Waihee Dunes and Wetlands Refuge on Maui's northeast shoreline in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary during the first week of July. That day, amongst the ever present rock and driftwood, was this unfortunate fish, who must have really blown it somehow.” Photo: Michael Stettner

greenwing teal — Greenwing teal (*Anas carolinensis*) from Laguna Grande Seaside, California in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jerry Loomis

“Beach clean up crew, naturally. These turkey vultures (*Cathartes aura*) were feasting on a marine mammal carcass on the beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which they clean up regularly and naturally.” Photo: Christina Parsons

california sea lions — “Far from their clumsy appearance on land, California sea lions (*Zalophus californianus*) are agile and athletic once they hit the water! So fun to watch these two playing in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.” Photo: Douglas Croft

Brown pelicans (*Pelecanus occidentalis*) circling at the bird sanctuary at Carmel River State Beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Carpenter

common dolphins — “Common dolphins (*Delphinus delphis*) playing alongside our boat in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.” Photo: Douglas Croft

seal scratching head — Contemplation: Point Lobos in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dennis Segers

cormorants — Courting Brandt’s cormorant (*Phalacrocorax penicillatus*), Point Lobos in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dennis Segers

curlew taking off — A curlew (*Numenius* sp.) takes off out of an incoming wave at Marina State Beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Carpenter

great blue heron — Great blue heron (*Ardea herodias*) in China Cove at Point Lobos in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jerry Loomis

whale with open mouth out of the water and birds flying around — Feeding frenzy in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Humpback whales (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) lunge through a school of anchovies at the surface while gulls circle, waiting to feast on the leftovers. Photo: Douglas Croft

Two godwits (*Limosa* sp.) at Marina State Beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa Carpenter

gull over kelp — A gull flies over kelp beds in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Kate Sutter

“Heermann’s gull (*Larus heermanni*) overlooking artificial nesting site. This gull was landward of an artificial nesting site built for Herrmann’s gulls in Roberts Lake, near where the lagoon flows into Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.” Photo: Christina Parsons

humpback breaching — “We have overcast skies much of the time in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This flattens out the light and allows our cameras to get fantastic detail. It also makes everything appear in shades of gray. I really liked how stripping out the little bit of color that was there enhanced the detail even more on this humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) breach.” Photo: Douglas Croft

humpback feeding above water — “Anchovies fly as a humpback whale (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) lunges from beneath them. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a feeding zone for humpbacks and eating is pretty much all that is on their minds when they are here. Anchovies, krill and even some sardines are on the menu. Photo: Douglas Croft

pelican in flight — Brown pelican (*Pelecanus occidentalis*) in flight, Point Lobos near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dennis Segers

jellyfish — Jellyfish Eclipse (*Chrysaora fuscescens*) in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks

sealions — Sea lion ballet (*Zalophus californianus*) in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Bruce Sudweeks

blue crab — eeny blue porcelain crab (*Petrolisthes galathinus*) at Mavericks Beach tide pools in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Audrey West

Ochre sea star (*Pisaster ochraceus*) making a comeback at Mavericks Beach tide pools in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Audrey West

osprey — Osprey (*Pandion haliaetus*) hunting in Harkin Slough in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jerry Loomis

Southern sea otter (*Enhydra lutris nereis*) at Elkhorn Slough in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dennis Segers

Pigeon guillemot (*Cepphus columba*) under Cannery Row in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This photo was taken where a group of pigeon guillemots had been nesting and this one was resting on the rocks just below the Chart House on Cannery Row.” Photo: Christina Parsons

seals in kelp — Harbor seals (*Phoca vitulina*) swim in kelp beds in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Kate Sutter

A southern sea otter (*Enhydra lutris nereis*) with a double crab feast in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Douglas Croft

woodduck — Wood duck (*Aix sponsa*) from Neary Lagoon in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Santa Cruz, California. Photo: Jerry Loomis

“Point Lobos Weston Beach tide pools during the King Tide’s lowest tidal point. The pastel colors of the bat sea stars (*Patiria miniata*) are relatively easy to spot against the black rocks and bright green sea grass of their native habitat in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.” Photo: Meg McWhinney

harbor seal and pup — Harbor seal (*Phoca vitulina*) mother and pup rest after a swimming lesson on the Pacific Grove 5th St Beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Meg McWhinney

brants cormorant — “Absolutely my favorite birds to watch during the breeding season, this pair of Brandt’s cormorants (*Phalacrocorax penicillatus*) begin to build a nest on the edge of the Monterey Jetty Pier in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.” Photo: Meg McWhinney

“A huge draw for whale watching boats right now, this mature female leatherback sea turtle (*Dermochelys coriacea*) floats just above the submarine Monterey Canon Rim in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary looking for jellyfish.” Photo: Meg McWhinney

Two California sea lion pups (*Zalophus californianus*) comfort each other after their arrival at Monterey Jetty Pier in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Meg McWhinney

A snowy egret (*Egretta thula*) searches the Point Lobos Weston Beach tide pools in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary for food during the King Tide’s lowest tidal point. Photo: Meg McWhinney

harborseal pup — A lone harbor seal (*Phoca vitulina*) pup in evening light waits for its mother to return to the Pacific Grove 5th St. Beach in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Meg McWhinney

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.