A turtle diving back to the reef in a shallow lagoon on Lady Elliot Island.

50 incredible photos of our oceans

Written by:
June 4, 2019
Michael Smith ITWP // Shutterstock

50 incredible photos of our oceans

As eloquently stated by the United States Geological Survey, "the Earth is a watery place." This is something easy to lose sight of for those who do not live near a major river, lake, or ocean, but humans and the land we live on take up only a small percentage of the planet's primarily aquatic surface. More than 70% of the Earth's surface is covered in water. The vast majority is saltwater found in the five major oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern (in Antartica). You might not have heard of the last one. It was proposed to the International Hydrographic Organization at the turn of the millennium and has yet to be agreed upon by all countries, though it is officially recognized by the United States.

While they are one of the planet's most valuable natural resources, the oceans remain 80% unexplored. However, they have been treated with a disappointing lack of care in recent years and could be irrevocably changed before anyone gets the chance. As the ocean warms, corals die or move to other places to beat the heat. Other species move in the take their place, sometimes permanently changing the ecosystem. Pollution—everything from plastic to oil spills to fertilizer running off from our yards—can affect the seafood we eat and kill wildlife. For example, in March 2019 a beached whale in the Philippines was found with 88 pounds of plastic in its stomach. It is up to each individual to do their part in preserving the natural beauty the oceans have to offer.

Stacker has collected 50 stunning photographs of the world's oceans in an effort to not only encourage more to visit these beautiful locations, but also to raise awareness of the pivotal role each human plays in ensuring the preservation of these incredible bodies of water. Read on to enjoy these otherworldly views to be reminded of the preciousness of Earth's biggest water sources.

You may also like: Majestic photos from the world's 50 tallest mountains

Maelstrom of Saltstraumen, the world's strongest tidal current

 

 

 

The desert shore

 

 

 

 

Surging ocean current cascades over reef

 

 

 

 

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean

 

 

 

 

Views of the Arctic Ocean from Jökulsárlón, Iceland

 

 

 

 

Surfer in the north Pacific Ocean

 

 

 

 

Dancing deep-sea jellyfish

 

 

 

 

Perfectly clear waters, French Polynesia

 

 

 

 

Penguin in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica

 

 

 

 

School of fish in the Pacific Ocean

 

 

 

 

Humpack whale breaches in the Indian Ocean

 

 

 

 

A thriving coral reef attracts a marine community

 

 

 

 

Iceberg in the Southern Ocean

 

 

 

 

School of Mobula rays in Hanifaru Bay, Maldives

 

 

 

 

Northern Atlantic black-sand beach in Iceland

 

 

 

 

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean

 

 

 

 

Bioluminescent algae along the coast of the Ruins, Australia

 

 

 

 

Off the Mauritius coast, dolphins swim by a boat in the Indian Ocean

 

 

 

 

Inside the turquoise barrel

 

 

 

 

Running into the surf zone in Southern California

 

 

 

 

Surfers paddle past the break

 

 

 

 

Victor Harbor, Australia

 

 

 

 

Stingray in the Maldives

 

 

 

 

Dusk in the United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

The beauty and power of a single wave

 

 

 

 

Whale shark swimming just below the ocean surface

 

 

 

 

Icebergs floating in the Southern Ocean

 

 

 

 

A translucent jellyfish in the deep blue

 

 

 

 

A sea turtle rides the current

 

 

 

 

Near the defunct Sutro Baths, San Francisco

 

 

 

 

A famous 'swimming pig' of Staniel Cay, Bahamas

 

 

 

 

Great white shark at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico

 

 

 

 

Flying fish in the ocean

 

 

 

 

Jellyfish in the Indian Ocean near Phuket, Thailand

 

 

 

 

A pod of dolphins swim near the surface

 

 

 

 

A bird's-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

 

 

 

 

An underwater view of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

 

 

 

 

A fine white-sand beach surrounded by turquoise water

 

 

 

 

A large colony of sea salps in the Red Sea

 

 

 

 

Blue whale off the coast of California

 

 

 

 

Ocean eddies off the coast of Tasmania

 

 

 

 

Waves in the Arctic Ocean

 

 

 

 

A windsurfer in Hawaii carves a wave

 

 

 

 

Giant kelp forest grows near the Channel Islands, California

 

 

 

 

Loggerhead sea turtle floats in the Atlantic Ocean

 

 

 

 

Wave crashing over an iceberg

 

 

 

 

Lighthouse overlooking the ocean

 

 

 

 

Silfra, a fissure between two tectonic plates in Thingvellir, Iceland

 

 

 

 

Jellyfish in the Atlantic Ocean near Cuba

 

 

 

 

Surfer rides a face in Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal

 

 

 

 

Trending Now