Our ocean is home to some of the most magnificent animals on Earth. From the largest sea turtle in the world to sharks that use teamwork to hunt, there’s no shortage of wonder when it comes to our ocean. If these photos of spectacular marine wildlife don’t leave you speechless, we don’t know what will.

Leatherback Sea Turtle

(Dermochelys coriacea)

Photographer: Ben Hicks

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Seahorse

(Genus Hippocampus)

Photographer: Jules Casey

Location: Port Phillip Bay, Australia

Puffin

(Genus Fratercula)

Photographer: Harry Read

Location: Wales

Harbor Seal

(Phoca vitulina)

Photographer: George Karbus

Location: Southern California

Polar Bear

(Ursus maritimus)

Photographer: Daisy Gilardini

Location:  Wapusk National Park

Manatee

(Trichechus manatus)

Photographer: James R.D. Scott

Location: Crystal River, Florida

Least Tern

(Charadrius melodus)

Photographer: Melissa Groo

Location: New Jersey

Pteropod

(Class Gastropoda)

Photographer: David Cothran

Location: Hornsund

Sea Sheep

(Costasiella kuroshimae)

Photographer: Jim Chen

Location: Bali, Indonesia

Sandpiper

(Family Scolopacidae)

Photographer: Pat Ulrich

Location: Point Reyes National Seashore, California

Spotted Eagle Ray

(Aetobatus narinari)

Photographer: Jordan Robins

Location: Heron Island, Australia

Blacktip Reef Shark

(Carcharhinus melanopterus)

Photographer: Thomas Peschak

Location: Seychelles

Humpback Whale

(Megaptera novaeangliae)

Photographer: Grant Thomas

Location: Indonesia

Spinner Shark

(Carcharhinus brevipinna)

Photographer: Lewis Burnett

Location: Ningaloo Reef, Australia

Bobtail Squid

(Order Sepiolida)

Photographer: Matt Smith

Location: New South Wales

Whale Shark

(Rhincodon typus)

Photographer: Suju Gasim

Location: South Ari Atoll, Maldives

Galapagos Sea Lion

(Zalophus wollebaeki)

Photographer: Paul Nicklen

Location: Galapagos Islands

Mobula Ray

(Genus Mobula)

Photographer: Nick Polanszky (Coral Reef Image Bank)

Location: Mexico

African Penguin

(Spheniscus demersus)

Photographer: Emmett Sparling

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Human Beings

(AKA, you!)

Photographer: Merr Watson

Location: Trigg Beach, Western Australia

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You may be wondering, why on Earth would we include humans on a list of marine wildlife? Well, the answer is simple: we are tied to the ocean, and our actions affect marine ecosystems every day. The wildlife on this list—as well as countless other marine animals that call the ocean home—need our help. Problems from marine debris to ocean acidification to unsustainable fishing practices and more threaten our planet’s wildlife. Without action, we risk losing iconic ocean animals to extinction.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We all have the ability to protect, rebuild and conserve our ocean.

Join Ocean Conservancy’s email list today to stay updated on how you can help protect marine wildlife like these, both now and in the days to come!