Strong submissions poured in for the March Sport Diver Snapshots photo contest, featuring divers around the world. The contest theme for March was people. Congratulations to Jason Sintek, whose photo of two divers going face to face with a tiger shark took the top prize. Jason won a U160 Urban Elite Pelican Camera Pack with his stunning shot. Take a look at the winning photo and some of the shots that also blew us away this month.

JOIN THE FUN: Submit your best macro photo to our April contest

FIRST PLACE WINNING PHOTO

Photo-Op by Jason Sintek

Judge's Comment: This image immediately evokes a "wish I was here" (or on second thought, maybe not) feeling. The high-contrast black and white helps the viewer focus on the beauty of the shark — a compelling reminder of the reverence divers have for sharks.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Provided description: We were very fortunate to have had the opportunity to shoot the southern humpback whale migration in the Kingdom of Tonga this past year. On our down time we explored the underwater cave formations that scattered the island chain. As we approached the cave entrance, which stood as tall as a church steeple, we gathered our gear, camera equipment and prepared for our dive. Entering the water was somewhat of an out-of-body experience, in which our senses were overloaded with flourishing marine ecosystems and crystal-clear visibility. It felt mandatory to simply pause and truly take in what was beneath us. It was breathtaking! As we kicked over the massive shelf leading into the cave we were greeted by a fleet of swallows that have made this iconic sanctuary home. Their song echoed through its walls creating acoustics that are irreplicable. Rays of light from the caves entrance guided us to its depths. Being freedivers we gave the okay and submerged ourselves into unforgettable happiness. Before we knew it we were engulfed by thousands of schooling fish seeking refuge throughout the water column. There were countless photo opportunities throughout our dive but the caves light is what remains engrained in my mind. It was as if we entered another world.

Provided description: Here is a shot of one of my diving buddies photo-bombing a weedy seadragon in Flinders Pier, Victoria, Australia.

Provided description: This photo was taken in southern Cenderawasih Bay, near the town of Nabire, Papua. The whale sharks in the area are known to frequent the offshore fishing platforms known locally as bagans. The sharks (mostly sub-adult males) show up at the bagans in the mornings looking for handouts of small baitfish from the fishermen.

Provided description: Moment captured on a dive in Hawaii, exploring arches and shallow caves.

Provided description: Exploring the Navy Tug off the southwest shores of O'ahu, Hawaii. The Navy uses it to train their divers and is nice enough to let dive shops dive it too. The site is often frequented by whitetip reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, schools of fish and honu (the Hawaiian word for green sea turtles ). Since the max depth is around 70 feet, it allows for great multilevel dive times without to use of nitrox.

Provided description: A diver gazes at the majestic natural wonders of the world's oceans — coral reefs. This underwater coral garden landscape is home to a plethora of Komodo tropical fish and abundance of natural reef formations that hold the secrets of the underwater realm. Location: Komodo Island, Flores, Indonesia.

Provided description: Only divers know the feeling of looking up and understand that those nondivers are missing a lot.

Provided description: Excellent visibility all year-round, a very healthy coral reef and abundance of marine life ... Bonaire truly is a diver's paradise!

Provided description: Facing a big school of jacks in Cabo Pulmo.

Provided description: A diver checks out a Douglass Dauntless plane discarded in the lagoon of Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, after the end of WWII.

Provided description: Schooling snapper, Koh Bida Nok, Phuket, Thailand. Camera: Nikon D-800 Lens: Sigma 16mm fisheye Strobes: 2 Sea & Sea Y110a strobes

Provided description: Ana Cecilia shipwreck covered in divers. The wreck is off West Palm Beach, Fla.

Provided description: I took this photo in the Galapagos where rays in the thermocline often hover over you for minutes. The photo, in black and white, reminded me of the original black-and-white version of the movie War of the Worlds and its manta-shaped alien craft.