National marine sanctuary offices and visitor centers closed to the public; waters remain open
NOAA's national marine sanctuary offices and visitor centers are closed to the public while the waters remain open for responsible use in accordance with CDC guidance and local regulations. More information on the response from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries can be found on sanctuaries.noaa.gov/coronavirus/.
2020 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest results
Below are the winners and entries for the Sanctuary Views category. Thank you to all those who participated! Click each photograph to see the full version.
Sanctuary Views
See the beauty of the National Marine Sanctuary System through visitors' eyes.
1st Place: Jon Anderson. Sunbeams penetrate the canopy of a kelp forest in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary as blue rockfish congregate beneath.2nd Place: Steve Zmak. The sun sets on another beautiful day at Limekiln State Park in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.3rd place: Dustin Harris. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary can change wildly from one day to the next. This photo embodies a sense of peace and calm alongside a sea arch that takes immense force to create.
Gull flying over the Capitola Pier Capitola, California. Photo: Christina FordCondor's view of a Sunset, Big Sur Coast in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Steve ZmakAnemones and invertebrate life paint a bustling rocky reef at Point Joe with strokes of vibrance in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Photo: Jon Anderson
This is arguably the most photographed location along the Big Sur Coast, but the red Dudleya makes it unique with McWay Falls in the background. Photo: Chuck GrahamCapitola Beach and Wharf. Photo: Christina FordComet NEOWISE hangs among the stars over Prisoner’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island. Photo: Dustin Harris
Beach with other islands in view, Santa Cruz, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jenna BiggsErosion on the cliffside, Santa Cruz, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jenna BiggsFoggy cliffs, Santa Cruz, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jenna Biggs
Rocky Coastline, Santa Cruz, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jenna BiggsFort Jefferson moat from above, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jenna BiggsAt the end of a fun filled winter's day on Santa Cruz Island, we head home through Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, crossing the Santa Barbara Channel as the sun sets into the Pacific. Photo: Judy Willens
At the end of a fun filled winter's day on Santa Cruz Island, we head home through Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, crossing the Santa Barbara Channel as the sun sets into the Pacific. Photo: Judy WillensAt the end of a fun filled winter's day on Santa Cruz Island, we head home through Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, crossing the Santa Barbara Channel as the sun sets into the Pacific. Photo: Judy WillenSeascape at French Reef off Key Largo with Barracuda, Snappers, Grunts, and Yellow Goatfish. Photo: Daryl Duda
French Angelfish at the Tower at Elbow Reef off Key Largo. Photo: Daryl DudaDoctorfish with Snappers and Grunts at Mike's Wreck at Elbow Reef off Key Largo. Photo: Daryl DudaSeascape at Elbow Reef off Key Largo with Snappers and Grunts. Photo: Daryl Duda
Seascape at Molasses Reef off Key Largo with Gray Snappers and White, Bluestriped, and French Grunts. Photo: Daryl DudaFort Baker to the Golden Gate. Photo: Christina FordMakena Bay sunset near Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tom Ayers
Maluake Bay sunset near Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tom AyersPuako Petroglyph Park near Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tom AyersSteps created for scuba divers, leading down to the sanctuary waters to begin a dive trip in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Kate Berg
Dive flags in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary waters to protect divers from boats. Photo: Kate BergSteps created for scuba divers, leading down to the sanctuary waters to begin a dive trip in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Kate BergThe ghostly and beautiful Grecian Shipwreck (approximately 80' feet deep), almost exactly 114 years after it sunk in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Kate Berg
Mara Beach, Carmel-By-The-Sea near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Christina FordBreathtaking California Coast near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Christina FordHuge flock of Sooty Shearwaters visiting the Capitola wharf. Photo: Geoff Kershner
Huge flock of Sooty Shearwaters visiting the Capitola wharf. Photo: Geoff KershnerTide pools at Carmel Bay in the Monterey National Marine Sanctuary. We took a walk on the beach at Carmel and were fortunate that this Ochre Sea Star was hanging out in one of the tide pools. Photo: Douglas CroftShipwreck is the L.M. Mason at Presque Isle in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marc Hoeksema
Marina Footprints near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa CarpenterMarina Sunset near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Lisa CarpenterMonterey coast tide pool. Photo: Dennis Segers
Pfiefer Beach near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Jerry LoomisPoint Lobos Sunset near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dennis SegersPoint Lobos Sunset near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dennis Segers
Poppy Strewn Cliffs over Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Christina FordSeaside Beach on a Sunday Morning. This photo was taken in April 2020 while the coronavirus pandemic restrictions were in place and beach goers were keeping their distance. Photo: Christina ParsonsStewarts Cove near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dennis Segers
Waters of Carmel Point near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dennis SegersWaves at Soberanes Point near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Dennis SegersA wreck lays still. Photo: Kate Sutter
Low tide sunset at Third Beach/Hoh/Quileute Tribal Land. Photo: Justine YglesiasLow tide sunset at Third Beach/Hoh/Quileute Tribal Land. Photo: Justine Yglesias"I'm Listening" Enjoying the Golden Hour at the end of a great backpacking day. Point Reyes National Seashore, California. Photo: Christina Ford
A hunk of baleen from a whale washed up on the beach at Scorpion Anchorage near sunset on Santa Cruz Island. Photo: Chuck GrahamA variety of life bursts out on this tiny rock reef, with all different colors, textures, and biological purposes. Photo: Tiffany DuongOne of my favorite ways to take in the immense beauty of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is from the air. Here is an aerial view of the sanctuary surrounding the 7-mile bridge in Marathon, taken from a historic Ford Tri-Motor Airplane. Photo: Tiffany Duong
Shipwreck is the L.M. Mason at Presque Isle in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marc HoeksemaShipwreck is the L.M. Mason at Presque Isle in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Marc HoeksemaI shot this from Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island, the largest isle of the Channel Islands National Park. This image looks to the east toward, Chinese Harbor, Coche Point and Potato Harbor on the most biodiverse isle off California. Photo: Chuck Graham
My kayak at East Point on Santa Rosa Island pointed toward the west end of neighboring Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park. The Santa Cruz Passage, one of the most dangerous passages in the world is all that stood in the way of another channel crossing. I shot this near sunset, while reveling in another circumnavigation of the archipelago. Photo: Chuck GrahamI shot these wallowing northern elephants at the bottom of a spring in Nidever Canyon on San Miguel Island, the most northwest isle in the Channel Islands National Park. Scenic Cuyler Harbor is in the background. Photo: Chuck Graham
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.
