Michele Westmorland / Schooling fish around healthy reef system, Castle Rock, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Floris van Breugel / Staghorn corals (Acropora) on the coast of tropical island Ofu, one of the Manu'a islands, American Samoa. 2012.

Floris van Breugel / Turquoise waters of the lagoon along Ofu's National Park beach, American Samoa. January 2012.

Floris van Breugel / Sprouting Coconut palm on stony beach on the south shore of Tutuila, American Samoa. January 2012.

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) in flight low over ocean near Maquarie Island, Australia. November.

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) swimming underwater near Macquarie Island, Sub-Antarctic, Australia. November.

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Male Hooker's / New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) in water, Campbell Island, New Zealand, sub Antarctic Islands. November.

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) in flight, Auckland Islands, New Zealand. November.

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Snares island penguins (Eudyptes robustus) swimming underwater, Snares Island, New Zealand, vulnerable species. November.

Steven Kazlowski / Killer whale (Orcinus orca) large pod with one male approaching, in Kenai Fjords National Park, Chiswell Islands National Marine Sanctuary, South Central Alaska, USA

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) diving underwater near Macquarie Island, Sub-Antarctica, Australia. Highly commended, GDT competition 2012.

Kirkendall-Spring / Sunset over West and Middle Anacapa Islands, view from Inspiration Point on East Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California, USA, April 2011.

Inaki Relanzon / Whitsunday Islands, aerial view, Great Barrier Coral Reef, Queensland, Australia, October 2011.

Inaki Relanzon / Whitsunday Islands, aerial view, Great Barrier Coral Reef, Queensland, Australia, October 2011.

Inaki Relanzon / Whitsunday Islands, aerial view with hydroplane landing, Great Barrier Coral Reef, Queensland, Australia, October 2011.

Todd Mintz / Galapagos sealion underwater (Zalophus californianus wollebaeki) Galapagos Islands, Pacific Ocean, November

Doug Perrine / Hawaiian / Gray's / Long-Snouted Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris longirostris) with mother and young calf. Keauhou, Kona, Hawaii, Central Pacific Ocean.

Brent Stephenson / Flying Fish (possibly Cheilopogon suttoni) skimming across sea surface. Between the Tuamotus and Marquesas, French Polynesia, Pacific Ocean, October.

Juergen Freund / Rangers catching a Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) for tagging and release, Tetepare Island reserve, Solomon Islands, July 2010

Juergen Freund / Split level of coral reef and island showing bleaching of shallow corals caused by temperature rise, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea June 2010.

Juergen Freund / Manta rays (Manta birostris) at cleaning station being cleaned by wrasses, Moluccas Islands, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Coleman shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) on a Fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium) Moluccas Islands, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Fruit bats (Megachiroptera) flying out from the island where they roost during the day. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of coral reef and island with snorkeller swimming underwater. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010. Model released.

Juergen Freund / Karst limestone formations rising out of the sea. Sunmalelen area, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010

Juergen Freund / Bungalows of Misool Eco Resort as night falls. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010.

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of coral reef and island. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of Black tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) patrolling the shallows. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010.

Juergen Freund / Bungalows of Misool Eco Resort as night falls. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010

Juergen Freund / West Papuan fishermen in their outrigger houseboat over the shallow reef. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Local fishermen capturing a sea turtle for food, Kei islands, Moluccas, Indonesia, November 2009

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of Black tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) patrolling the shallows. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010

Juergen Freund / Small, tree-covered islet. This is a karst limestone formation with layers eaten away by water. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / West Papuan fishermen in their outrigger boat. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) just below surface in flat calm waters. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010.

Juergen Freund / Baby green turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchling in the shallows of the beach, swimming out to sea. Anano Island, Wakatobi, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, November

Juergen Freund / Baby green turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchling in the shallows of the beach, swimming out to sea. Anano Island, Wakatobi, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, November.

Juergen Freund / Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) at surface in flat calm waters. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) just below surface in flat calm water. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Pod of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) just below sea surface in flat calm waters. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) just below sea surface in flat calm water. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Hard brain coral (Platygyra sp) half covered with a pink algae, Moluccas Islands, Indo-pacific

Juergen Freund / Melanesian child, Marova Lagoon, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, Pacific Ocean, July 2010 . NOT AVAILABLE FOR MAGAZINE USE IN GERMAN-SPEAKING COUNTRIES UNTIL 1ST JULY 2013.

Juergen Freund / Melanesian children of Marovo Lagoon, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, Pacific Ocean, July 2010

Juergen Freund / Umbrella and other human waste thrown out into the coastal waters, settling on the ground becoming marine life habitat, Moluccas Islands, Indonesia, December 2009

Juergen Freund / Oceanic sunfish (Mola mola) with bannerfish and angelfish cleaning it. Taken at 42 meters. Nusa Penida, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia,

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of Fan coral (Gorgonacea) in the shallows with boat shilouetted against the sunset in the background. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of old coral reef destroyed by dynamite fishing. New corals are not able to colonise the rubble. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010

Juergen Freund / Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) underwater. Kei islands, Indonesia, November

Pete Oxford / Galapagos garden eels (Heteroconger / Taenioconger klausewitzi) on seabed, Galapagos Islands

Alex Mustard / Large female Giant Pacific Manta Ray (Manta birostris) swimming below surf crashing into Roca Partida, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico. East Pacific Ocean. February

Tim Laman / Grouper holding pens, destined for the live fish trade to Hong Kong. Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia, May 2007

Tim Laman / Denise's Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) camouflaging itself in a Sea Fan. Yellow colour form. Pisang Islands, West of Fak Fak Peninsula. West Papua, Indonesia, April 2007

Tim Laman / View of beach, and man fishing from a dugout canoe, at Yenbeser Village. Alfred Russel Wallace based himself in this village for several months in the 1850's. Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia. May 2007

Alex Mustard / Giant Pacific Manta Ray (Manta birostris) portrait with Remora fish (Echeneididae) Roca Partida, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico. East Pacific Ocean. February

Jeff Rotman / Bat rays (Myliobatis californica) schooling, Redondo Rock, Galapagos Is

Pete Oxford / Waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) in flight with storm clouds, Punto Cevallos, Española (Hood) Island, Galapagos islands, Equador, South America

Tim Laman / Aerial view of tourist lodges on Bora Bora Island, Society Islands, French Polynesia. July 2006

Tim Laman / Aerial view of Bora Bora Island, Society Islands, French Polynesia. July 2006

Tim Laman / Aerial view of Bora Bora Island, Society Islands, French Polynesia. July 2006

Oriol Alamany / Four giant Moai statues in Ahu Nau Nau, Anakena beach, Easter Island Pacific ocean, November 2004

Oriol Alamany / Rano Kau Volcano crater with lagoon and Motu islets in the sea, Easter Island, Pacific ocean, November 2004

Oriol Alamany / Silhouette of Moai statue at dawn in Ahu Ko Te Riku, restored archaeological site of Ahu Tahai, Hanga Roa, Easter Island, Pacific ocean, November 2004

Oriol Alamany / Moai stone statue at dusk on the slopes of the quarry at Rano Raraku volcano, Easter Island Pacific ocean, November 2004

Georgette Douwma / Blue-girdled angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus) on the wreck "Kasi Maru", a Japanese merchant ship sunk in fifty feet of water off Munda in Ironbottom Sound during a World War II bombing raid July 1943...

Ingo Arndt / Blue Crab (Discoplax hirtipes) in defensive posture, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, Territory of Australia

Georgette Douwma / Squat lobster (Allogalathea elegans) on featherstar, Solomon Islands. Did you know? There are over 900 species of Squat lobster in the world - most of which live around hydrothermal vents.

Tim Laman / Orange sponges grow under the overhanging roots of Red Mangrove trees {Rhizophora mangle} Kostrae Island, Federated States of Micronesia.

Pete Oxford / Creolefish / Gringo (Paranthias colonus) Central Isles, Galapagos Islands

Pete Oxford / Rainbow runner (Elegatis bipinnulata) off Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands

Pete Oxford / Yellow-tailed mullet (Mugil rammelsbergii) feeding on plankton just below the surface, off Wolf Island Galapagos Islands

Pete Oxford / Finescale triggerfish (Balistes polylepis) off Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands

Pete Oxford / Diver follows shoal of Steel pompano (Trachinotus stilbe) off Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands, Model released

Pete Oxford / Yellow-tailed sawfish / surgeonfish (Prionurus laticlavius) shoal off Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands

Pete Oxford / Steel pompano fish (Trachinotus stilbe) cleaning Galapagos green turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizi) off Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands

Pete Oxford / Yellowtail sawtail / surgeonfish (Prionurus laticlavius) shoal off Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands

Pete Oxford / Geothermal activity as evidenced by bubbles eminating from the seabed, Roca Redonda and eroded volcano in mid ocean north of Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, South America

Tim Laman / Spines along the back of a marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), Puerto Egas, Santiago Island, Galapagos Islands.

Tim Laman / Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus californianus wollebaeki) bull in the water. Champion Islet off Floreana (Charles) Island, Galapagos Islands.

Tim Laman / Aerial view of the Rock Islands, Palau, Micronesia, December 2001.

Tim Laman / Two false clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) amongst tentacles of sea anemone, Wakatobi Islands, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Tim Laman / False clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) amongst tentacles of sea anemone, Wakatobi Islands, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Michael Pitts / Mast light of Japanese WWII ship, which has formed an artificial reef in the Marovo lagoon, Solomon Islands

Juergen Freund / Woman Snorkler with tropical island in background, split level, Indo-Pacific

Michael Pitts / Mastigias jellyfish {Mastigias sp.} massed at surface, Palau, Western Pacific Islands

Michael Pitts / Diver amongst Mastigias jellyfish {Mastigias sp.} Palau, Western Pacific Islands

Jeff Rotman / Black Blotched Porcupinefish (Diodon liturosus) inflated swimming in open ocean. Sipadan Islands, South China Sea.

Michael Pitts / Aerial view of Outer Rock Islands, Palau, Melanesia, pacific ocean islands

Chris Newbert / Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini) school at 60 feet, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Michael Pitts / Aerial view of runways on Sand Island, Midway Islands, Pacific

Doug Perrine / Hot molten pillow lava erupts from an underwater lava tube at ocean entry of Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii Island, Hawaii

Chris Newbert / Reef scenic, 80 feet deep, Solomon Islands

Chris Newbert / Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) school, 40 feet deep, Solomon Islands

Chris Newbert / Blackfinned Clownfish (Amphiprion percula) in a Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica) 40 feet deep, Solomon Islands

Chris Newbert / Papuan Jellyfish (Mastigias papua) 20 feet deep, Solomon Islands