12 incredible pictures show life below Sussex coast

Nearly 50 entries were made to first ever marine photography competition between Sussex Wildlife Trust and Sussex Underwater.

But the public had the final say with 500 people choosing their favourite of 12 pictures - from dolphins to anemones.

Chasing the dive boat (Image: Teresa Jones)

Diver Teresa Jones's iPhone picture of bottlenose dolphins jumping in front of the Seven Sisters won first prize, with judges commenting on the energy of the photograph.

Teresa said: "I was on my way out in May 2024 from Brighton Marina to scuba dive the wreck Lass O'Doune, when a small pod of bottlenose dolphins decided to escort us.

"They were mesmerising, especially as we were up early for ropes off at 7am.

"Strangely, the visibility underwater at the time was terrible due to the algae bloom, so I didn’t get any pictures with my underwater camera which I had hoped for.

"I am very much an amateur photographer but try to take good pictures both above and below water because I have a great love of marine life."

The cuttlefish (Image: Clair Read)

Runner up Clair Read snapped a cute picture of a baby cuttlefish hiding in a shingle bed.

Clair said: "The photo was taken near the Selsey Lifeboat Station, where there are the remains of two previous lifeboat stations which act as an artificial reef, attracting lots of wildlife.

"It’s one of my favourite dive sites and for our first dive of the day, the sun was shining and the sea was calm. During the dive we saw several different species of crabs, squat lobsters, common lobsters, prawns, pipefish, bream, pollack and several juvenile cuttlefish.

"The juvenile cuttlefish are usually quite difficult to spot as they change colour to blend in and are understandably wary of divers. However, just as we were about to exit the water, this tiny one inch cuttlefish took a liking to my camera.

"It was very curious and either swimming right up to the lens or resting on the bottom. It's possible it could see its reflection in the lens. No flash was necessary as we were so shallow and the little cuttlefish seemed happy for me to take lots of photos."

Each of the 12 final images will be featured over the course of the next year by the Sussex Wildlife Trust.