Explore the vast ocean in 25 spectacular photos
From groundbreaking research to the beauty of marine sanctuaries teeming with life, these images shine a spotlight on the ocean and the Explorers who champion it.
South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) congregate in Francisco Coloane Marine Park in the Chilean fjords. The park also provides refuge for humpback whales to rest and feed as they migrate annually between the Colombian coast and the waters of Patagonia.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
June 6, 2025
The exceptional work of National Geographic Explorers seeks to protect and ensure the health of the world’s ocean and marine life for future generations. These photos highlight the beauty and importance of safeguarding this critical habitat. Learn more at NationalGeographic.org.
A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchling swimming for the first time in the lagoon of Bikar Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
A group of starfish were found basking on the seafloor during a dive in Inhambane, Mozambique. The group's large size and the presence of huge schools of juvenile fish, seahorses and baby octopuses, were all clear signals that the estuaries on the Mozambique coast are vital to the health of the ocean.
Photograph by Manu San Félix, National Geographic Pristine Seas
Aerial view of National Geographic Explorer Anya Brown checking in on the coral nursery in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
National Geographic Explorer Anya Brown is leading the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expedition in the Cook Islands to investigate the role of genetic diversity in coral reef resilience to rising ocean temperatures and bleaching, and to replicate the natural mechanisms that promote heat tolerance among corals. The expedition partners with Kōrero O Te `Ōrau, a Rarotongan environmental NGO that seeks to raise a generation of environmental guardians who form deep and meaningful connections with their culture and environment, to restore the coral reefs in Rarotonga.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions integrate cutting-edge science and traditional ecological knowledge to examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change across the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Pacific, Southern, Atlantic and Indian – leverages several science disciplines, partnerships between National Geographic Explorers and coastal communities and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of these unique and vulnerable ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
National Geographic Explorer Anya Brown is leading the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expedition in the Cook Islands to investigate the role of genetic diversity in coral reef resilience to rising ocean temperatures and bleaching, and to replicate the natural mechanisms that promote heat tolerance among corals. The expedition partners with Kōrero O Te `Ōrau, a Rarotongan environmental NGO that seeks to raise a generation of environmental guardians who form deep and meaningful connections with their culture and environment, to restore the coral reefs in Rarotonga.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions integrate cutting-edge science and traditional ecological knowledge to examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change across the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Pacific, Southern, Atlantic and Indian – leverages several science disciplines, partnerships between National Geographic Explorers and coastal communities and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of these unique and vulnerable ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
Photograph by Giacomo d'Orlando
National Geographic Explorer Anya Brown recording measurements and data at the coral nursery in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
National Geographic Explorer Anya Brown is leading the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expedition in the Cook Islands to investigate the role of genetic diversity in coral reef resilience to rising ocean temperatures and bleaching, and to replicate the natural mechanisms that promote heat tolerance among corals. The expedition partners with Kōrero O Te `Ōrau, a Rarotongan environmental NGO that seeks to raise a generation of environmental guardians who form deep and meaningful connections with their culture and environment, to restore the coral reefs in Rarotonga.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions integrate cutting-edge science and traditional ecological knowledge to examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change across the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Pacific, Southern, Atlantic and Indian – leverages several science disciplines, partnerships between National Geographic Explorers and coastal communities and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of these unique and vulnerable ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
National Geographic Explorer Anya Brown is leading the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expedition in the Cook Islands to investigate the role of genetic diversity in coral reef resilience to rising ocean temperatures and bleaching, and to replicate the natural mechanisms that promote heat tolerance among corals. The expedition partners with Kōrero O Te `Ōrau, a Rarotongan environmental NGO that seeks to raise a generation of environmental guardians who form deep and meaningful connections with their culture and environment, to restore the coral reefs in Rarotonga.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions integrate cutting-edge science and traditional ecological knowledge to examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change across the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Pacific, Southern, Atlantic and Indian – leverages several science disciplines, partnerships between National Geographic Explorers and coastal communities and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of these unique and vulnerable ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
Photograph by Giacomo d'Orlando
Acropora hyacinthus samples used for research at the coral nursery at Titikaveka Beach in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
National Geographic Explorer Anya Brown is leading the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expedition in the Cook Islands to investigate the role of genetic diversity in coral reef resilience to rising ocean temperatures and bleaching, and to replicate the natural mechanisms that promote heat tolerance among corals. The expedition partners with Kōrero O Te `Ōrau, a Rarotongan environmental NGO that seeks to raise a generation of environmental guardians who form deep and meaningful connections with their culture and environment, to restore the coral reefs in Rarotonga.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions integrate cutting-edge science and traditional ecological knowledge to examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change across the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Pacific, Southern, Atlantic and Indian – leverages several science disciplines, partnerships between National Geographic Explorers and coastal communities and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of these unique and vulnerable ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
National Geographic Explorer Anya Brown is leading the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expedition in the Cook Islands to investigate the role of genetic diversity in coral reef resilience to rising ocean temperatures and bleaching, and to replicate the natural mechanisms that promote heat tolerance among corals. The expedition partners with Kōrero O Te `Ōrau, a Rarotongan environmental NGO that seeks to raise a generation of environmental guardians who form deep and meaningful connections with their culture and environment, to restore the coral reefs in Rarotonga.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions integrate cutting-edge science and traditional ecological knowledge to examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change across the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Pacific, Southern, Atlantic and Indian – leverages several science disciplines, partnerships between National Geographic Explorers and coastal communities and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of these unique and vulnerable ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
Photograph by Giacomo d'Orlando
A school of whitespot soldierfish (Myripristis woodsi) flank a coral head in Southern Line Islands, Kiribati.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
Seen from above the ocean surface, the tiny island of Roca Partida appears as two small peaks jutting out from the water. Underwater, however, this remote island of the Revillagigedo Archipelago hosts a rich marine habitat. Here, whitetip reef sharks, Pacific creolefish, barberfish, and Moorish idols populate the reef.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
A Lessonia kelp forest in the waters of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
National Geographic Young Explorer Brigitta Gunawan takes images with a GoPro while SCUBA diving off the shore of Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia.
Photograph by Sirachai "Shin" Arunrugstichai
A school of bluestreak fusiliers swim in a tight school called a bait ball that exploded when giant trevallies dove in after them.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
In a saltwater lake known as Jellyfish Lake, millions of golden jellyfish spend their days following the sun’s movement across the sky.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
Dr. Sylvia Earle explores elkhorn coral near the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean.
Photograph by David Doubilet
Dr. Sylvia Earle inspects the exterior of Deep Rover submersible as it descends on test dive.
Photograph by David Doubilet
A large group of humpback whales breaks the surface while using bubble-nets to feed on herring. In 2018, National Geographic Explorer Andy Szabo and the Alaska Whale Foundation launched a collaborative study to address the impacts that the warming Gulf of Alaska is having on humpback whales.
Photograph courtesy AWF Field Team
School of blue-and-gold snappers near Cocos Island, Costa Rica.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
Sperm whales in the waters of Dominica.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
A jellyfish swims amidst the calm waters within a giant kelp forest.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
National Geographic Explorers, Kim Bernard (right), Jane Younger (middle) and Bernard's team member and PhD student, Rachel Kaplan (left), observe Antarctic krill collected by ROV Subastian in Weddell Sea, Southern Ocean, Antarctic.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change throughout the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean – while generating bold and innovative solutions in partnership with the coastal communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Southern, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian – anchored by 20+ National Geographic Explorers, leverages several science disciplines, local ecological knowledge and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of unique and vulnerable marine ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
National Geographic Explorers, storytellers and educators conducted a comprehensive scientific examination in the Southern Ocean’s Weddell Sea via a groundbreaking sea ice to seafloor transect over a 21-day field research expedition in December 2024. The multidisciplinary team of 18 scientists, with expertise in oceanography, marine ecology, climate science, geology, wildlife health and migration, and community-based conservation, documented vital marine processes in this critical yet understudied region. The scientist teams collected 750 samples of sediment cores, ice cores, algae, krill, sea floor organisms (e.g., tubeworms, sponges, etc.), wildlife swabs, and blood and tissue samples. Their observations will deepen our understanding of this ecosystem while informing conservation efforts essential to maintaining planetary health and ensuring a planet in balance.
The Southern Ocean Expedition was conducted in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute which provided National Geographic Explorers the opportunity to leverage the state-of-the art tools and capabilities of its 110m global ocean-class R/V Falkor (too) during its maiden voyage to the Southern Ocean.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change throughout the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean – while generating bold and innovative solutions in partnership with the coastal communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Southern, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian – anchored by 20+ National Geographic Explorers, leverages several science disciplines, local ecological knowledge and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of unique and vulnerable marine ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
National Geographic Explorers, storytellers and educators conducted a comprehensive scientific examination in the Southern Ocean’s Weddell Sea via a groundbreaking sea ice to seafloor transect over a 21-day field research expedition in December 2024. The multidisciplinary team of 18 scientists, with expertise in oceanography, marine ecology, climate science, geology, wildlife health and migration, and community-based conservation, documented vital marine processes in this critical yet understudied region. The scientist teams collected 750 samples of sediment cores, ice cores, algae, krill, sea floor organisms (e.g., tubeworms, sponges, etc.), wildlife swabs, and blood and tissue samples. Their observations will deepen our understanding of this ecosystem while informing conservation efforts essential to maintaining planetary health and ensuring a planet in balance.
The Southern Ocean Expedition was conducted in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute which provided National Geographic Explorers the opportunity to leverage the state-of-the art tools and capabilities of its 110m global ocean-class R/V Falkor (too) during its maiden voyage to the Southern Ocean.
Photograph by Luján Agusti
Specimens of Antarctic krill collected during one of the dives of ROV SuBastian in the Weddell Sea, Southern Ocean, Antarctica.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change throughout the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean – while generating bold and innovative solutions in partnership with the coastal communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Southern, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian – anchored by 20+ National Geographic Explorers, leverages several science disciplines, local ecological knowledge and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of unique and vulnerable marine ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
National Geographic Explorers, storytellers and educators conducted a comprehensive scientific examination in the Southern Ocean’s Weddell Sea via a groundbreaking sea ice to seafloor transect over a 21-day field research expedition in December 2024. The multidisciplinary team of 18 scientists, with expertise in oceanography, marine ecology, climate science, geology, wildlife health and migration, and community-based conservation, documented vital marine processes in this critical yet understudied region. The scientist teams collected 750 samples of sediment cores, ice cores, algae, krill, sea floor organisms (e.g., tubeworms, sponges, etc.), wildlife swabs, and blood and tissue samples. Their observations will deepen our understanding of this ecosystem while informing conservation efforts essential to maintaining planetary health and ensuring a planet in balance.
The Southern Ocean Expedition was conducted in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute which provided National Geographic Explorers the opportunity to leverage the state-of-the art tools and capabilities of its 110m global ocean-class R/V Falkor (too) during its maiden voyage to the Southern Ocean.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change throughout the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean – while generating bold and innovative solutions in partnership with the coastal communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Southern, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian – anchored by 20+ National Geographic Explorers, leverages several science disciplines, local ecological knowledge and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of unique and vulnerable marine ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
National Geographic Explorers, storytellers and educators conducted a comprehensive scientific examination in the Southern Ocean’s Weddell Sea via a groundbreaking sea ice to seafloor transect over a 21-day field research expedition in December 2024. The multidisciplinary team of 18 scientists, with expertise in oceanography, marine ecology, climate science, geology, wildlife health and migration, and community-based conservation, documented vital marine processes in this critical yet understudied region. The scientist teams collected 750 samples of sediment cores, ice cores, algae, krill, sea floor organisms (e.g., tubeworms, sponges, etc.), wildlife swabs, and blood and tissue samples. Their observations will deepen our understanding of this ecosystem while informing conservation efforts essential to maintaining planetary health and ensuring a planet in balance.
The Southern Ocean Expedition was conducted in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute which provided National Geographic Explorers the opportunity to leverage the state-of-the art tools and capabilities of its 110m global ocean-class R/V Falkor (too) during its maiden voyage to the Southern Ocean.
Photograph by Luján Agusti
Specimens of Antarctic krill that were collected during one of the dives of the ROV Subastian in the Weddell Sea, Southern Ocean, Antarctic.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change throughout the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean – while generating bold and innovative solutions in partnership with the coastal communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Southern, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian – anchored by 20+ National Geographic Explorers, leverages several science disciplines, local ecological knowledge and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of unique and vulnerable marine ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
National Geographic Explorers, storytellers and educators conducted a comprehensive scientific examination in the Southern Ocean’s Weddell Sea via a groundbreaking sea ice to seafloor transect over a 21-day field research expedition in December 2024. The multidisciplinary team of 18 scientists, with expertise in oceanography, marine ecology, climate science, geology, wildlife health and migration, and community-based conservation, documented vital marine processes in this critical yet understudied region. The scientist teams collected 750 samples of sediment cores, ice cores, algae, krill, sea floor organisms (e.g., tubeworms, sponges, etc.), wildlife swabs, and blood and tissue samples. Their observations will deepen our understanding of this ecosystem while informing conservation efforts essential to maintaining planetary health and ensuring a planet in balance.
The Southern Ocean Expedition was conducted in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute which provided National Geographic Explorers the opportunity to leverage the state-of-the art tools and capabilities of its 110m global ocean-class R/V Falkor (too) during its maiden voyage to the Southern Ocean.
From seashore to seafloor and from pole to pole, Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions examine the causes and impacts of marine systems change throughout the largest and most vital ecosystem on Earth – the Ocean – while generating bold and innovative solutions in partnership with the coastal communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. The multi-year exploration of all five basins of the world’s ocean – Arctic, Southern, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian – anchored by 20+ National Geographic Explorers, leverages several science disciplines, local ecological knowledge and world-class storytelling to reveal the diversity and connectivity of unique and vulnerable marine ecosystems while scaling bold and innovative solutions to help protect, restore and rebalance our planet’s largest biome.
National Geographic Explorers, storytellers and educators conducted a comprehensive scientific examination in the Southern Ocean’s Weddell Sea via a groundbreaking sea ice to seafloor transect over a 21-day field research expedition in December 2024. The multidisciplinary team of 18 scientists, with expertise in oceanography, marine ecology, climate science, geology, wildlife health and migration, and community-based conservation, documented vital marine processes in this critical yet understudied region. The scientist teams collected 750 samples of sediment cores, ice cores, algae, krill, sea floor organisms (e.g., tubeworms, sponges, etc.), wildlife swabs, and blood and tissue samples. Their observations will deepen our understanding of this ecosystem while informing conservation efforts essential to maintaining planetary health and ensuring a planet in balance.
The Southern Ocean Expedition was conducted in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute which provided National Geographic Explorers the opportunity to leverage the state-of-the art tools and capabilities of its 110m global ocean-class R/V Falkor (too) during its maiden voyage to the Southern Ocean.
Photograph by Luján Agusti
National Geographic Young Explorer Brigitta Gunawan collects data on a diving slate while visiting a coral rehabilitation site off the shore of Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia.
Photograph by Sirachai Shin Arunrugstichai
Marine Biologist and National Geographic Explorer David Gruber is the founder and president of Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), a nonprofit, interdisciplinary initiative on a mission to listen to and translate the communication of sperm whales.
Photograph by Michael Lees
Marine Biologist and National Geographic Explorer David Gruber is the founder and president of Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), a nonprofit, interdisciplinary initiative on a mission to listen to and translate the communication of sperm whales.
Photograph by Michael Lees
In September 2014, the Pristine Seas expedition team traveled to Palau to estimate the diversity and abundance of marine life that would be protected by the offshore sanctuary and to test how well existing inshore protected areas had performed up to that time.
Photograph by Enric Sala, National Geographic Pristine Seas
This work is funded by the National Geographic Society.
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