The 2026 Winner's Experience
Meet the winners of the 2026 WhyCoexist Competition. Their work shares powerful perspectives on marine life and why protecting the ocean matters.
Antonino Saccone, 2026 winner
Days on the reef, a beach clean as the light went, tortoise tagging with the research team, and the drone up over the lagoon.
Antonino chose his lifelong friend Emil Dodangeh to join him on the trip, so the second face in most of these photographs is Emil.
You can watch his winning entry and the announcement on the 2026 Winner page.
In Antonino's words
One night, after a day of diving and exploring, I started to look around me. Thanks to the moonlight I could faintly see in the trees the figures of the frigate birds resting on the branches, then I walked along the seashore (trying not to step on a hermit crab). Finally, I looked at the sea, reminiscing about the reefs I saw in the morning, and at the sky, witnessing the stars and the milky way shining in their best light. I realised in that moment that I was living something very, very special. It's important you do your very, very best to win this competition.
Antonino Saccone2026 winner
From the trip
Tortoise tagging
On the reef
The beach at dusk
The island from the air
Heading out to dive
Filming frigate birds
Register your interest in the 2027 Competition of a Lifetime
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