In the exciting world of underwater photography, Scuba Diving magazine recently concluded its 16th annual Through Your Lens Underwater Photo Contest.

With an unprecedented number of entries this year—over 2,600 captivating images—the judges faced the daunting task of selecting the winners.

Amongst the remarkable submissions, one photo stood out and claimed the top prize. Taken by Evans Baudin, a French marine wildlife expert, the winning image captured a breathtaking moment in Baja California, Mexico.

The photograph showcases a colossal 39-foot female whale shark calmly carrying an astonishing 50 fish within its cavernous mouth. The gentle giant seemed unperturbed by its unusual passengers, graciously offering them a ride to their destination.

Notably, Baudin was conducting research on the impact of COVID-19 on marine life during his dive in Mexico, making this capture even more extraordinary.

Evans Baudin’s remarkable photograph shares the spotlight with the winners of four other categories: Behavior, Macro, Wide Angle, and Compact Camera. The level of competition was exceedingly high, as evidenced by the impressive entries that received honorable mentions.

As a reward for their exceptional talents, all the winners were granted exciting diving adventures aboard various vessels.

Additionally, the second and third place winners in each category were awarded state-of-the-art camera equipment from renowned brands Cressi and SeaLife.

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of underwater photography by exploring more breathtaking images from the 16th annual Scuba Diving magazine photo contest.