‘Young Ocean Photographer of the Year’ from Brixham
Showcasing beauty of the British seas with winning shot at National Exhibition in Kent
Aaron Sanders image of two bobtail squid captured by the photographer in Devon is moved into place at The Historic Dockyard Chatham ahead of the UK debut of Ocean Photographer of The Year Exhibition: Photo credit Oliver Dixon.
Brixham underwater photographer and filmmaker Aaron Sanders is set to join the very best photographers from around the world as his winning shot is unveiled at a brand new exhibition this March.
Aaron’s breathtaking imagery will be exhibited at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, marking the highly anticipated UK debut of the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition (from 28th March 2026). At just 25 years old, Sanders captured the judging panel’s imagination, and the prestigious title of ‘Young Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025’, with a stunningly intimate photograph of two bobtail squid reproducing at his local dive site right off the Devon coast.
A Lifelong Connection to the Sea
Born into a family of divers, Arron’s father was a former commercial diver and his mother a former marine biologist. Aaron’s connection to the water started early. Growing up rock pooling, kayaking, and watching David Attenborough documentaries, his path eventually led him to study Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University. While his career as an underwater cameraman frequently takes him to the tropical coral reefs of Indonesia, it is the kelp forests, seagrass beds, and hidden wonders of the UK that constantly call him back.
Revealing the Unseen Beauty of British Waters
For Sanders, the upcoming exhibition in Chatham in Kent is a vital opportunity to change the public’s perception of the seas surrounding the UK and combat a growing disconnect with the marine environment. He aims to reach outside, what he describes as “the diving bubble”, to show locals, paddle boarders, and rowers the vibrant ecosystems right beneath them.
Sanders says: “I want to show people that we don’t always need to focus on the negatives in this conversation. I want to show people the absolute beauty that we have that is going under-appreciated beneath the seas around us. For instance, so many people don’t know that we have seahorses in the UK. You tell people, there are seahorses literally just out there, and they are shocked. They hear the doom and the problems that we are facing. But they’re not seeing it for themselves – so they’re blind to it.” By highlighting the rich biodiversity on Britain’s doorstep, Sanders hopes to replace doom with wonder, inspiring a new wave of local ocean conservation.
Visitors can view Aaron Sanders’ award-winning Devon bobtail squid photograph, alongside award-winning work from around the world at the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition, making its UK debut at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. The exhibition opens to the public on the 28 March and runs until Monday 31 August 2026.
Paul Barnard, COO at The Historic Dockyard Chatham welcomes the beauty and conservation aspect of the exhibition: “We are very excited to be hosting Ocean Photographer of the Year for the very first time in the UK here at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. This prestigious competition has been delighting audiences across the world with its stunning photography and we are pleased to be able to bring this to audiences in the UK, and specifically the south east. The exhibition provides a unique glimpse into our mysterious and magical underwater world but also importantly highlights the challenges we face surrounding ocean health and climate change. We hope that our visitors not only enjoy the stunning photography but also consider the impact we all have on ocean health and the steps we can all take to make our marine environment thrive.“