These underwater photos will change the way you see the ocean

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Photographer Christian Gloor lit this tiny mantis shrimp from below to give it a spooky look in the waters of Air Bajo III, Indonesia.

Photographer Christian Gloor lit this tiny mantis shrimp from below to give it a spooky look in the waters of Air Bajo III, Indonesia.
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A school of Starry Toado Pufferfish make their way to shelter in the Maroro Bay waters off the coast of Northland New Zealand.

A school of Starry Toado Pufferfish make their way to shelter in the Maroro Bay waters off the coast of Northland New Zealand.
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A frisky young California sea lion flirts with the camera in Landing Cove near Santa Barbara Island in California.

A frisky young California sea lion flirts with the camera in Landing Cove near Santa Barbara Island in California.

This shot of the jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo in the waters of Forte dei Marmi, Italy snagged first place in the "Wide-angle" category.

This shot of the jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo in the waters of Forte dei Marmi, Italy snagged first place in the "Wide-angle" category.
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A fluorescent Tube Anemone, Cerianthus, in Noli, Italy.

A fluorescent Tube Anemone, Cerianthus, in Noli, Italy.

Photographer Brian Christiansen shot this back lit profile of a dolphin while swimming with a giant pod of them in Deshaies, Guadeloupe.

Photographer Brian Christiansen shot this back lit profile of a dolphin while swimming with a giant pod of them in Deshaies, Guadeloupe.
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Dolphins and sea birds feast on a school of sardines as the fish migrate along the coast of South Africa.

Dolphins and sea birds feast on a school of sardines as the fish migrate along the coast of South Africa.

A male seahorse recovers lost eggs from his pouch, which he will carry for up to 45 days before the babies develop and emerge.

A male seahorse recovers lost eggs from his pouch, which he will carry for up to 45 days before the babies develop and emerge.

Source: Seahorseworlds.com

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A male jawfish broods a throng of eggs in its mouth in the waters of Anilao in the Philippines.

A male jawfish broods a throng of eggs in its mouth in the waters of Anilao in the Philippines.

A female striated frogfish releases a raft of eggs for the male to fertilize in Blue Heron Bridge in Lake Worth Lagoon in Florida.

A female striated frogfish releases a raft of eggs for the male to fertilize in Blue Heron Bridge in Lake Worth Lagoon in Florida.
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A small filefish pokes out of the soft coral in the waters of Mactan, Cebu in the Philippines.

A small filefish pokes out of the soft coral in the waters of Mactan, Cebu in the Philippines.

A diver examines the grooves that pock an underwater iceberg in Disco Bay, Greenland.

A diver examines the grooves that pock an underwater iceberg in Disco Bay, Greenland.
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A young Wood Turtle poses on a rock in a creek in Pennsylvania.

A young Wood Turtle poses on a rock in a creek in Pennsylvania.

A brilliantly colored sea slug — Felimare picta — rests on the north coast of the Balearic island Minorca in Punta den Siulet.

A brilliantly colored sea slug — Felimare picta — rests on the north coast of the Balearic island Minorca in Punta den Siulet.
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A pod of Pilot whales swim with photographer Greg LeCoeur in Nice, France.

A pod of Pilot whales swim with photographer Greg LeCoeur in Nice, France.

Two young sea lions get into a playful tiff near Hornby Island in British Columbia, Canada.

Two young sea lions get into a playful tiff near Hornby Island in British Columbia, Canada.
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Francesco Pacienza won first place in the "Conceptual" category for this image of him "painting" an Axinella sponge under the waters of Santa Maria al Bagno in Apulia, Italy.

Francesco Pacienza won first place in the "Conceptual" category for this image of him "painting" an Axinella sponge under the waters of Santa Maria al Bagno in Apulia, Italy.

A skeleton shrimp poses for a super close-up photoshoot with photographer So Yat Wai in Tulamben, Indonesia.

A skeleton shrimp poses for a super close-up photoshoot with photographer So Yat Wai in Tulamben, Indonesia.
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A collection of baby clownfish "look like tiny shards of glass with big eyes," photographer Lynn Wu says. This image was taken in Anilao, Philippines.

A collection of baby clownfish "look like tiny shards of glass with big eyes," photographer Lynn Wu says. This image was taken in Anilao, Philippines.

This fish got trapped in a fishing net.

This fish got trapped in a fishing net.
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Photographer Jack Berthomier snapped this Tylosorus crocodulis fish chomping on a smaller fish while freediving in Ouemo Bay in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Photographer Jack Berthomier snapped this Tylosorus crocodulis fish chomping on a smaller fish while freediving in Ouemo Bay in Noumea, New Caledonia.

A curious young sea lion gives photographer Stephen Holinski a playful hug before swimming away near Hornby Island in Canada.

A curious young sea lion gives photographer Stephen Holinski a playful hug before swimming away near Hornby Island in Canada.
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Photographer Sarah Teveldal shot this conceptual photograph of an underwater mermaid tea party in a pool 12 feet deep. All props and scenery were anchored down with fishing line and fishing weights.

Photographer Sarah Teveldal shot this conceptual photograph of an underwater mermaid tea party in a pool 12 feet deep. All props and scenery were anchored down with fishing line and fishing weights.

A large, cold water "deeplet sea anemone" sits in the The Oslo Fjord in Norway.

A large, cold water "deeplet sea anemone" sits in the The Oslo Fjord in Norway.
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A playful grey seal smiles at a diver off Farnes Island in the UK.

A playful grey seal smiles at a diver off Farnes Island in the UK.

A pink-eared mantis shrimp carries, protects, and keeps a mass of eggs on her front appendages clean in the waters of Lembeh Strait in Indonesia.

A pink-eared mantis shrimp carries, protects, and keeps a mass of eggs on her front appendages clean in the waters of Lembeh Strait in Indonesia.
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A female humpback whale nears diver Gustavo Verzoni just 24 hours after her calf was hunted and killed by a pair of orcas.

A female humpback whale nears diver Gustavo Verzoni just 24 hours after her calf was hunted and killed by a pair of orcas.

An American crocodile nears the surface to breathe, but not without a smile, in Jardines de la Reina, Cuba.

An American crocodile nears the surface to breathe, but not without a smile, in Jardines de la Reina, Cuba.
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A squid on a night swim in Anilao Pier, Philippines.

A squid on a night swim in Anilao Pier, Philippines.

Photographer Uri Magnus Dotan snapped this conceptual image of a diver finding sunken treasure about 20 feet under the surface of the Red Sea in Eilat, Israel.

Photographer Uri Magnus Dotan snapped this conceptual image of a diver finding sunken treasure about 20 feet under the surface of the Red Sea in Eilat, Israel.
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A massive sunfish in Crystal Bay, Indonesia floats up from the deep to rid itself of parasites. They do this by inviting fish and birds to snap them off their skin, or by splashing around on the surface to shake them off.

A massive sunfish in Crystal Bay, Indonesia floats up from the deep to rid itself of parasites. They do this by inviting fish and birds to snap them off their skin, or by splashing around on the surface to shake them off.

A stingless golden jellyfish floats around The Jellyfish Lake in Palau. They have evolved there for thousands of years.

A stingless golden jellyfish floats around The Jellyfish Lake in Palau. They have evolved there for thousands of years.
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A pregnant black tip shark swims over photographer Lauric Thiault in La Vallée Blanche, French Polynesia.

A pregnant black tip shark swims over photographer Lauric Thiault in La Vallée Blanche, French Polynesia.

A hungry California sea lion is forced to eat a sunfish because warmer waters from El Niño are causing their normal prey to move north.

A hungry California sea lion is forced to eat a sunfish because warmer waters from El Niño are causing their normal prey to move north.
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An alien-like colorful pelagic squid in the pitch-black waters of Palau.

An alien-like colorful pelagic squid in the pitch-black waters of Palau.

This jawfish broods a mouthful of eggs in Tulamben, Indonesia.

This jawfish broods a mouthful of eggs in Tulamben, Indonesia.
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It took photographer Daniel Copeland an hour to get this calm split shot of the coral-dotted Ras Mohammed National Park in the Egyptian Red Sea.

It took photographer Daniel Copeland an hour to get this calm split shot of the coral-dotted Ras Mohammed National Park in the Egyptian Red Sea.

Black tip sharks and stingrays swarm the waters of Moorea, French Polynesia.

Black tip sharks and stingrays swarm the waters of Moorea, French Polynesia.
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Giant Australian Cuttlefish aggregate in the shallow waters and rocky outcrops of Whyalla in South Australia to breed and deposit the next generation of cuttlefish.

Giant Australian Cuttlefish aggregate in the shallow waters and rocky outcrops of Whyalla in South Australia to breed and deposit the next generation of cuttlefish.

This image of a larval cusk eel — which, according to the contest has maybe never been photographed before — won photographer Jeff Milisen the best in show award.

This image of a larval cusk eel — which, according to the contest has maybe never been photographed before — won photographer Jeff Milisen the best in show award.
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