The Spanish photographer shot this breathtaking photograph in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The image captures perhaps the most specialand craziestmoment of my life.

It fills me with joy having lived this momentand to have captured the image, Caballero admits.

Bryde’s whale about to devour a heart-shaped baitball

Rafael Fernández Caballero, Overall Winner, Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024A Bryde’s whale about to devour a heart-shaped baitball.Baja California Sur, Mexico

Meanwhile, the winner of the Female Fifty Fathoms Award was Malaysian photographer Ipah Uid Lynn.

It feels surreal and deeply gratifying.

Scroll down to see the winning images of the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 competition.

A northern gannet, one of the largest seabirds in British waters, dives into the water to catch its prey.

Jade Hoksbergen, 2nd Place Overall, Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024A northern gannet, one of the largest seabirds in British waters, dives into the water to catch its prey.Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands

These are the breathtaking winners of the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 competition.

A fishing boat off Hon Yen as its long trail of smoke perfectly aligns with the shape of the green nets under the surface.

Thien Nguyen Ngoc, 3rd Place Overall, Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024A fishing boat off Hon Yen as its long trail of smoke perfectly aligns with the shape of the green nets under the surface.Vietnam

A triumphant mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish proudly displays its catch amidst a feeding frenzy

Manuel Castellanos Raboso, Winner, Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the YearA triumphant mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish proudly displays its catch amidst a feeding frenzy.Baja California Sur, Mexico

Juvenile Munk’s devil rays are attracted by a green light, seemingly flying through the water.

Henley Spiers, Winner, Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the YearJuvenile Munk’s devil rays are attracted by a green light, seemingly flying through the water.Baja California Sur, Mexico

An elusive algae octopus shows off its fluorescence under ultraviolet light

Jacob Guy, Winner, Young Ocean Photographer of the YearAn elusive algae octopus shows off its fluorescence under ultraviolet light.North Sulawesi, Indonesia

The second biggest whale, the fin whale, lies waiting for its turn to be butchered at a whaling plant in Iceland before getting sent to Japan.

Frederik Brogaard, Winner, Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact)The second biggest whale, the fin whale, lies waiting for its turn to be butchered at a whaling plant in Iceland before getting sent to Japan.Iceland

A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is released after being tagged and worked up by the SOSF DRC researchers. St. Joseph Atoll, Seychelles.

Shane Gross, Winner, Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Hope)A green sea turtle is released by a researcher after being caught while trying to catch sharks. Acting quickly, the researchers untangled the turtle, took measurements, and tagged it before releasing her back where she was caught.Seychelles

Wreck of the Sea Trader near Nassau with a diver holding a dive light and swimming towards the wreck, near Nassau, Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean. Bahamas Master Liveaboard.

Tobias Friedrich, Winner, Ocean Adventure Photographer of the YearA scuba diver is dwarfed by a shipwreck.The Bahamas

A beach reflects the golden haze of the sunset, while a traditional fisherman wades through the water.

Zhang Xiang, Winner, The Human Connection Award: People and Planet OceanA beach reflects the golden haze of the sunset, while a traditional fisherman wades through the water.China

Baby plainfin midshipman (Porichthys notatus) fish still attached to their yolk sacs hidden under a rock in the intertidal zone, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Shane Gross, Winner, PortfolioBaby plainfin midshipman fish, still attached to their yolk sacs.British Columbia, Canada

Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) migrate up river on Vancouver Island, Canada.

Shane Gross, Winner, PortfolioA male and female pink salmon spawn as their last act before perishing and feeding the forest in Campbell River.British Columbia, Canada

A marine iguana sits on a rock. Unlike other iguanas around the world, these are the only ones that have evolved to swim and feed underwater, holding their breath for up to 60 minutes. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Rafael Fernández Caballero, 2nd Place, Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the YearA marine iguana sits on a rock. Unlike other iguanas around the world, these are the only ones that have evolved to swim and feed underwater, holding their breath for up to 60 minutes.Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

A perfectly camouflaged lizardfish with prey in its mouth. Hawaii

João Pontes, 2nd Place, Young Ocean Photographer of the YearA perfectly camouflaged lizardfish with prey in its mouth.Hawaii

A close-up shot of a nurse shark’s eye. Tahiti, French Polynesia

Julien Anton, 2nd place, Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the YearA close-up shot of a nurse shark’s eye.Tahiti, French Polynesia