Award-Winning Shots From The 2012 Underwater Photo Contest

Intrepid photographers submitted over 700 underwater images for the 2012 Underwater Photography Contest and an adorable red sea slug grinning for the camera was awarded the contest’s star. The annual contest, put on by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, showcases the colorful creatures typically beneath reach and awards prizes in three categories: macro, fish or marine animal portrait, and wide angle.

Fan Favorite: Todd Aki Sea nettle Chrysaora quinquecirrh taken on an early morning shore dive off the Breakwater — Monterey, California, USA

1st Place Fish or Marine Life Portrait: Douglas A. Kahle Juvenile sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus — Dominica

2nd Place Fish or Marine Life Portrait: Rockford Draper Paddle flap Rhinopias, Rhinopias eschmeyeri — Bali, Indonesia

3rd Place Fish or Marine Life Portrait: Nicholas Samaras Nudibranch, Cratena peregrina – Chalkidiki, Greece

1st Place Macro: Todd Mintz Yellownose gobies, Elacatinus randalli, in bolder brain coral – Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

2nd Place Macro: Davide Lopresti Porcelain crab, Porcellanella sp. on feathery sea pen – Komodo National Park, Indonesia

3rd Place Macro: Marcello Di Francesco Emperor shrimp, Periclimenes imperator — Ambon, Indonesia

1st Place Wide Angle: Mark Fuller Lionfish, Pterois sp — Eilat, Israel, Red Sea

2nd Place Wide Angle: Matthew Potenski Red mangroves, Rhizophora mangle — South Bimini, Bahamas

3rd Place Wide Angle: Bill Lamp’l Soft corals and scalefin anthias, Pseudanthias squamipinnis — Bligh Water, Fiji

1st Place Student: Kyra Hartog Whale shark, Rhincodon typus — Isla Mujeres, Mexico

2nd Place Student: Phillip Gillette Harlequin shrimp, Hymenocera picta — Similan Islands, Thailand

3rd Place Student: Austin Gallagher Juvenile tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, and lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris — Bahamas

Best Overall: Ximena Olds Headshield slug Chelidonura hirundinina — St. Thomas, USVI