23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Immersion
A trio of Northern Gannets diving into the ocean on a sunny day in Shetland. The species is Scotland’s largest seabird, and they are remarkably adept in the water, with the ability to dive to depths as far as 22 metres. I took this photo while scuba diving from a boat near Noss, which is home to the UK’s seventh largest colony of Northern Gannets. In the past the population has been estimated at around 25,000 birds, though their numbers were unfortunately severely reduced by the avian flu outbreak. It is unclear when, or if, their population will be able to recover.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 05.2023 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | United Kingdom |
| Camera: | NIKON D850 |
| Copyright: | © Kat Zhou |