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A blue world hangs in the balance

The photography exhibition of undersea beauty that’s also an urgent warning about protecting our oceans

Sadie Harper

A diver surrounded by a pod of sperm whales in the waters off the coast of Dominica in the Caribbean. By Romain Barats (Ocean Adventure category). Photo: Romain Barats

While the Iran war threatens to unleash epic fury on marine life across the Persian Gulf and beyond, a sea of calm is coming to the Naval Dockyard in Chatham. The Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition makes its British debut, with 116 award-winning photographs from across the world.

a partly decomposed green turtle killed in a boat strike. Photo: Henley Spiers (Impact category). 

At a time when a 20km-long oil slick has scarred waters close to the Sri Lankan coast after the torpedoing of Iranian frigate Dena, and when much worse might befall the Persian Gulf’s coral reefs and seagrass beds if tankers are sunk in the Straits of Hormuz, this extraordinary collection of photographs is not just a chance to take a breather from relentlessly grim news.

A female yellow pygmy goby releases newly hatched larvae into the water from its mouth. Photo: Takumi Oyama (Winner, Wildlife category).

It’s an urgent warning about the need to protect our oceans, their marine biodiversity and the communities they sustain before rage, revenge and ruthless exploitation inflict damage beyond repair.

Ocean Photographer of the Year is at Chatham Dockyard from March 28 to August 31.

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