The votes are in for REEF's 2026 "Discover the Sea" Photography Contest! We are happy to announce the winners for each of the five categories, as well as the overall winner!
Thank you to everyone who submitted photos to the contest and participated in the voting. Congratulations to all of our winners!
REEF Staff Overall Pick
Overall Pick: "Soapfish" by Erica Camacho
Fish Portrait Winners
1st Place: "I only have eyes for you" by Hesma Fivaz
2nd Place: "Speedy Juvenile sweetlip fish" by Thitinon Jongtangpiti
3rd Place: "Rainbow Tripodfish" Gabriel Jensen
Invertebrate Winners
1st Place: "Wonderpus" by Erica Camacho
2nd Place: "Sad Shaun the Sheep Sea Slug" by Dianna Burkholder
3rd Place: "I am not afraid" by Rolf Clark
Macro Winners
1st Place: "Chromodoris" by Erica Camacho
2nd Place: "Honey I Shrunk the Frogfish" by Olivia Bidinot
3rd Place: "Featherstar Clingfish" by Cameron Shields
Habitat/Seascape/Environment Winners
1st Place: "Refraction" by Kurt Bollman
2nd Place: "Eye of The Storm" by Ray Anthony Iavasile
3rd Place: "In Bloom" by Meaghan Suhich
Comedy Winners
1st Place: "Jumpscare!" by Olivia Bidinot
2nd Place: "Eel-ectrifying Smile" by Kurt Bollman
3rd Place: "NOOOT NOOOOOT!!!" by Elena Egorov
REEF Staff Overall Pick
Overall Pick: "Soapfish" by Erica Camacho
Photographed in the Philippines
Fish Portrait Winners
1st Place: "I only have eyes for you" by Hesma Fivaz
Photographed in South Africa
2nd Place: "Speedy Juvenile sweetlip fish" by Thitinon Jongtangpiti
Photographed in Dumaguete, Philippines
3rd Place: "Rainbow Tripodfish" Gabriel Jensen
Photographed in the Gulfstream off Boynton Beach, FL
Invertebrate Winners
1st Place: "Wonderpus" by Erica Camacho
Photographed in the Philippines
2nd Place: "Sad Shaun the Sheep Sea Slug" by Dianna Burkholder
Photographed in Hawaii
3rd Place: "I am not afraid" by Rolf Clarke
Photographed on Cat Island, Bahamas
Macro Winners
1st Place: "Chromodoris" by Erica Camacho
Photographed in the Philippines
2nd Place: "Honey I Shrunk the Frogfish" by Olivia Bidinot
Photographed in Bonaire
3rd Place: "Featherstar Clingfish" by Cameron Shields
Photographed on the Great Barrier Reef
Habitat/Seascape/Environment Winners
1st Place: "Refraction" by Kurt Bollman
Photographed in Tulum, Mexico
2nd Place: "Eye of The Storm" by Ray Anthony Iavasile
Photographed in the Philippines
3rd Place: "In Bloom" by Meaghan Suhich
Photographed in California
Comedy Winners
1st Place: "Jumpscare!" by Olivia Bidinot
Photographed in Bonaire
2nd Place: "Eel-ectrifying Smile" by Kurt Bollman
Photographed in Roatan, Honduras
3rd Place: "NOOOT NOOOOOT!!!" by Elena Egorov
Photographed in Tulamben, Bali