Sea Through Your Lens: Reef photography contest

In November, Andaman Nicobar Environment Team (ANET) and Dakshin Foundation organised the Reef Festival 2025 in the Andaman Islands. This event brought together over 300 island residents, divers, fisherfolk, children, researchers, and government officials across three days of celebration in Havelock, Wandoor, and Sri Vijaya Puram. It celebrated the extraordinary reefs and marine heritage of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while centring the communities that live alongside and sustain these ecosystems.

Alongside exhibitions, cultural performances, and conversations on marine conservation, the festival hosted Sea Through Your Lens, a photography competition inviting participants to capture their personal encounters with the islands’ reefs and coasts. The competition was judged by celebrated wildlife photographer, Dhritiman Mukherjee.

The winning images speak a language of their own. Together, they offer intimate, arresting perspectives on the marine ecosystems that surround and sustain the Andaman Islands, and remind us why they are worth celebrating.

1st Prize Winner

Diving off Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, with near-zero visibility, my buddy and I set out hoping to find a sea turtle. Instead, we stumbled upon something equally mesmerising—a Cowtail Stingray resting on the sandy seafloor. The moment it sensed our presence, a single gentle flap of its wings sent cascading plumes of sand billowing into the water column, transforming the murky blue into swirling, dreamlike clouds. What began as a chance encounter became a reminder that the ocean always has its own story to tell.

Anand Sekar is an underwater photographer and dive instructor based in the Andaman Islands, who chases light through coral, salt, and silence—camera in hand.

2nd Prize Winner

I was assisting Master Dickson (Shifu) on a fun dive. This was our second dive that morning at Juvie’s, Havelock Island. As we descended, about 10 minutes in, Shifu signals to me that he’s seen a green turtle. These were my initial days of underwater photography (during my dive master training) and I was thrilled to capture the turtle.

I observed the green turtle for two whole minutes, saw him go up to the surface to catch a breath and come down to spend another good 6–7 minutes. He was munching on corals, and I’d like to believe he came back to have breakfast while we gave him company.

Pallavi Shankar is an architect, designer, and Dive Master based in the Andaman Islands, who explores the intersections of art, design, and the human experience.

3rd Prize Winner

As a naturalist, I believe our role is to mediate the relationship between humans and the wild. This lionfish was not looking for a conflict; it was simply waiting for the tide to turn. Whether native or invasive, every fish carries the history of the ocean in its scales. When we walk the intertidal zones of Havelock, we are guests in their environment. By moving slowly and looking closely, we realise that this “dangerous” neighbour is a silent witness to our journey, deserving of its place in the sea.

Prathamesh Khedwan is a marine enthusiast, wildlife photographer, and Senior Naturalist in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, who explores the hidden worlds of the intertidal through macro photography.
Samar Ahmad Author
This article is from issue

20.2

2026 Jun
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