2016 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 Views

See the beautiful scenery of the National Marine Sanctuary System through visitors' eyes..

photo of sunset in american samoa
1st Place: A foaga site on Tutuila Island, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. The basins in this volcanic rock have been worn over the years by people making stone tools. Credit: Jason Jaskowiak
photo of rocks stacked on a beach
2nd Place: Stacked river rock on Ruby Beach, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Selah Preskey Martin.
photo of school of fish
3rd Place: Molasses Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, complete with French, bluestriped, caesar, and Spanish grunts, as well as yellow goatfish and gray, lane, and mahogany snappers. Credit: Daryl Duda

All Submitted Photos

photo of bird with green eyes
Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kevin Ward
photo of an colorful sunset in channel islands
Sunset leaving Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro
photo of a bull kelp with mountains in the background
Bull kelp on the Near Johnson's Lee at the south side of Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Stuart Halewood
garibaldi and coral
Garibaldi and golden gorgonian in the kelp forest off Santa Barbara Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kelly Teich
photo of a close up of giant kelp
Light through giant kelp blades near Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Stuart Halewood
photo of a gray whale breaching
Gray whales in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Stuart Halewood
photo of a wave coming on shore
Sunset at Johnson's Lee, Santa Rosa Island, in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Stuart Halewood
photo of a beatiful blue flower bush with cliffs and shore in the background
Blooms atop San Miguel Island, overlooking Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Cindy Shaw
photo of a purple urchin and fish
From the photographer: "The underwater landscape of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary rivals any topside views. This purple hydrocoral beckoned exploration at Gull Island by Santa Cruz Island." Credit: Cindy Shaw
photo of a sailboat at sunset
A sailboat and brown pelican in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro
photo of a seagul up close and kayakers in the back
Kayakers in Scorpion Bay, Santa Cruz Island, in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Lola Lynch
photo of striped seaperch in a kelp forest
The kelp forest near San Miguel Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kelly Teich
photo of a beutiful sky
Looking west at the east end of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ken Tatro
photo of a sunrise over anacapa island
Sunrise over Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Patrick Smith
photo sunset from view on a boat
From the photographer: "Sunset aboard the dive boat M/V Fling during last summer’s “Down Under Out Yonder” Coral Reef Workshop and Scuba Diving Experience for educators sponsored by the Gulf of Mexico Foundation and NOAA." Credit: Bruce Stewart
photo of bleached coral
Endangered Acropora cervicornis coral in the reef of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jessica Hogan
photo of aboat winch in black and white
A boat winch at Winch Hole, Molasses Reef, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Steve Miller
photo a turtle underwater
From the photographer: "This green sea turtle glided by me out of the blue (literally) at Grecian Rocks in Key Largo, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. For several minutes it swam alongside me with a curious demeanor, allowing me to capture this photo of the breathtaking encounter." Credit: Meredith Kucik
photo of a sunset and a boat in key west florida
From the photographer: "Sailboat intruding on the last moments of sunset" in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Jessica Hogan
photo of a blue hearon at sunset
A blue heron sits in a tree at sunset in Stump Pass Beach State Park, near Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Craig Croson
photo a stump pass beach at sunset
Stump Pass Beach State Park, near Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, at sunset. Credit: Craig Croson
photo of a winter sunset in the mangroves
Winter sunset in mangroves. Credit: Allie Meuser
photo of a school of yellow goatfish
A school of yellow goatfish cruises around Molasses Reef in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda
photo a stump pass beach at sunset
Bowling Ball Beach in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Margaret Lindgren
photo of dunes and a cliff
From the photographer: "The wind blown dunes of Walk On Beach in The Sea Ranch, CA. These dunes are vital to the repopulation of sand on our beaches. They're not just for looks -- they have purpose!" These incredible dunes are located along the northern region of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Margaret Lindgren
photo of a beach with elephant seals
Elephant seals in Cambria, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laurel Jones
photo a a light station in cambria with yellow flowers in the foreground
Piedras Blancas Light Station, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laurel Jones
photo of a sunset over the beach in monterey bay
Sunset at Cambria, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laurel Jones
photo of a beach with elephant seals
Sunset at Leffingwell Landing, Cambria, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laurel Jones
photo a a light station in cambria with yellow flowers in the foreground
From the photographer: "Looking at the beautiful coastal spruce forest that comes right down to the beach" at Cedar Creek, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Mandy Miller
photo ofbeautiful coastal spruce forest that comes right down to the beach
From the photographer: "Looking at the beautiful coastal spruce forest that comes right down to the beach" at Cedar Creek, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Mandy Miller
photo of beautiful coastal spruce forest that comes right down to the beach
From the photographer: "Looking at the beautiful coastal spruce forest that comes right down to the beach" at Cedar Creek, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Mandy Miller
photo beautiful coastal spruce forest that comes right down to the beach
Sunset at Cedar Creek, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Mandy Miller
photo ofbeautiful coastal spruce forest that comes right down to the beach
Sunset at Cedar Creek, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Mandy Miller
photo of cedar creek
Cedar Creek, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Mandy Miller
cedar creek
Cedar Creek, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Mandy Miller
photo of a crab on the beach
Crab on the beach in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kellen Garcelon
photo of cape fattery trail
The end of the Cape Flattery Trail in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Kellen Garcelon
driftwood on ruby beach
Driftwood on Ruby Beach, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, at sunset. Credit: Selah Preskey Martin
photo of sand point.
Sand Point, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Mandy Miller
photo of a double rainbow
A double rainbow over Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Lilly
photo of boats docked
Rockport Harbor, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ashlyn Biundo
photo of ropes.
Ropes in Rockport Harbor, near Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Ashlyn Biundo
photo of a sunrise
Sunrise over Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Laura Lilly
photo of purple flowers up close
Floral growth on the Port Washington south beach near the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Linda Chaloupka
photo of water and rocks.
Looking south to the Port Washington lighthouse by the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Linda Chaloupka
photo of port washington
Port Washington, near the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Tish Hase
photo of port washington
Looking north from Sandy Beach Road in Belgium Wisconsin, near the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Linda Chaloupka
photo of boats docked
The Port Washington marina and lighthouse by the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Linda Chaloupka
photo of port washington lighthouse
The Port Washington Wisconsin lighthouse, near the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Linda Chaloupka
photo of two light stations protecting entry to port washington
The two light stations protecting the entry point to the Port Washington, Wisconsin harbor, near the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Linda Chaloupka
photo of boats docked at port washington
The Port Washington Marina in Port Washington, Wisconsin, near the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan sanctuary site. Credit: Suzanne Schreiner