Incredible dive adventure articles, dive stories and marine life encounters from oceans around the world.
A thrilling, adrenaline-packed experience swimming with and photographing wild crocodiles in Banco Chinchorro, Mexico
A thrilling, adrenaline-packed experience swimming with and photographing wild crocodiles in Banco Chinchorro, Mexico
Originally, the thought of getting in the water with a crocodile scared the daylights out of me. But now that I’ve done it, I can honestly say that discovering the Banco Chinchorro expedition, pushing myself to overcome my fear, and coming face-to-face with these modern-day dinosaurs has been the most enlightening experience of my life!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina Barringer was born and raised in South Florida. She has an educational background in marine biology and speech-language pathology. She has let her underwater passion take her around the world. During her college years, she studied abroad in Mexico, Australia, and Belize, and interned in South Africa where she researched Great White sharks.
Christina has been diving since 2007, and is a PADI Divemaster. She started off snorkeling as a child, using underwater disposable cameras. She got her first digital camera in 2007 and from there, her passion for underwater photography grew. Throughout the years, her camera systems have “grown” and so has her love for the ocean. She currently shoots the Canon 6D in a Nauticam housing.
Christina’s photos have been sold at Coast Boutique and featured in art galleries. She was recently awarded "Best of Photography 2018" by the Mayor at the Pembroke Pines art competition. Additionally, Christina placed 2nd in the portrait category of the prestigious Ocean Art 2018 competition. Currently, Christina is also pursuing a career as a speech therapist. She works as a pediatric Speech-Language Pathology Assistant while pursuing a clinical master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. While traveling and diving she puts her heart and soul into capturing the beauty of the underwater world with the goal of creating awareness and promoting conservation.
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Nusa Penida and Lembongan are world-class diving destinations with phenomenal encounters with mantas, turtles, and octopus, as well as beautiful drift dives along pristine reefs, and mola mola during mola season.
By Bryan Chu
Nusa Penida and Lembongan are world-class diving destinations with phenomenal encounters with mantas, turtles, and octopus, as well as beautiful drift dives along pristine reefs, and mola mola during mola season.
The islands of Nusa Penida and Lembongan, just off Bali, are one of those magical places where large waves pound the shores, and strong currents bring nutrients from the deep, creating a veritable explosion of underwater life. I spent 4 days scuba diving there with my partner Lisa, and even in this short period of time we had some of the most memorable underwater encounters we have ever experienced. So let’s jump in!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bryan is an editor and writer for the Underwater Photography Guide. He loves any activity that takes him out into nature, and is especially fond of multi-day hiking trips, road trips to National Parks, and diving. Any kind of diving. He discovered the joy of underwater photography on a Bluewater trip to the Sea of Cortez and has been hooked ever since. He recently finished a 1-year "radical sabbatical" with his partner Lisa (both of them quit their jobs), which included over 120 dives, mostly in Indonesia and the Philippines. His very favourite underwater experiences include swimming with humpbacks in Moorea, being smashed against the rocks next to marine iguanas in the Galapagos, marvelling at the riotously colourful reefs of Komodo, freezing his hands off under the ice in Greenland, and exploring the never-ending wonders of muck diving in Tulamben and Anilao (where he was a Bluewater photo workshop co-trip leader).
Fortunately, Bryan and Lisa managed to avoid killing each other during their year of traveling together (though at times it came close). Now they are back home in Canada, planning their wedding and doing their best to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Their main concern at this point is finding a way to not run out of money, while avoiding returning back to their old 9-5 jobs (oil & gas, government). Oh, and also continuing to support their diving and underwater photo/video habits...
You can find more of Bryan's underwater photos on Instagram at @bryan_chu_photography and on his website at www.bryanchu.ca.
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The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear
Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!
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The first stories and photos from the Socorro Vortex
By Ana Paula Álvarez
The first stories and photos from the Socorro Vortex
Aerial shot of the Socorro Vortex and a manta by Ana Paula Álvarez
Keep what has never happened before present in your memory.
— Paul Valéry
SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:
The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear
Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!
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Recounting an Epic Socorro Photo & Video trip in March of 2019
By Scott Gietler
Recounting an Epic Socorro Photo & Video trip in March of 2019
Our Socorro trip during March 2019 exceeded all of our expectations. Sharks were out in large numbers, and came closer than we ever thought possible. Manta Rays were in abundance, larger than life and some allowed repeated close encounters. We also had some exciting, yet quick, dolphin encounters.
We boarded the Rocio Del Mar liveaboard at 8AM, departed the dock at 10AM, and after 26 hours of a very smooth crossing we were getting ready for our first dive.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott Gietler is the owner of Bluewater Photo, Bluewater Travel, and the Underwater Photography Guide. Bluewater Photo, based in Culver City, CA is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious underwater camera stores, serving many thousands of customers each year, where nothing is more important than customer service. The Underwater Photography Guide is the world’s first website to feature free tutorials on underwater photography, and has become the most trafficked resource on underwater photography worldwide. Bluewater Travel is a full-service dive travel wholesaler sending groups and individuals on the world’s best dive vacations.
Scott is also an avid diver, underwater photographer, and budding marine biologist, having created the online guide to the underwater flora and fauna of Southern California. He is the past vice-president of the Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society, has volunteered extensively at the Santa Monica aquarium, and is the creator of the Ocean Art underwater photo competition, one of the largest underwater international photo competitions ever held in terms of value of prizes. He lives in California with his wife, newborn girl and scuba-diving, photo taking 4 year old son.
Follow Scott on Facebook or Instagram.
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The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear
Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!
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Often overlooked as a dive destination, the Dominican Republic is more than an all-inclusive resort getaway
By Nirupam Nigam
Often overlooked as a dive destination, the Dominican Republic is more than an all-inclusive resort getaway
Situated in the between the rugged Atlantic Ocean and the placid Caribbean Sea, the Dominican Republic is as diverse and history rich as it is famous for mainstream tourism. Normal tourist haunts such as Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and Boca Chica can make it seem like one big party on the beach with huge cruise ships passing by, and all-inclusive resorts as far the eye can see. But as with all mass tourism, there’s a lot more to be found behind the glitz and glamour.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!
SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:
The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear
Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!
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Diving Rapid Bay, South Australia, in search of the perfect leafy sea dragon shot.
By Bryan Chu
Diving Rapid Bay, South Australia, in search of the perfect leafy sea dragon shot.
Editor’s note: for those looking for the 5th book of the Game of Throne series, A Dance with Dragons… this is not related to that. Although this piece also involves dragons, they are of a rather more diminutive stature.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bryan is an editor and writer for the Underwater Photography Guide. He loves any activity that takes him out into nature, and is especially fond of multi-day hiking trips, road trips to National Parks, and diving. Any kind of diving. He discovered the joy of underwater photography on a Bluewater trip to the Sea of Cortez and has been hooked ever since. He recently finished a 1-year "radical sabbatical" with his partner Lisa (both of them quit their jobs), which included over 120 dives, mostly in Indonesia and the Philippines. His very favourite underwater experiences include swimming with humpbacks in Moorea, being smashed against the rocks next to marine iguanas in the Galapagos, marvelling at the riotously colourful reefs of Komodo, freezing his hands off under the ice in Greenland, and exploring the never-ending wonders of muck diving in Tulamben and Anilao (where he was a Bluewater photo workshop co-trip leader).
Fortunately, Bryan and Lisa managed to avoid killing each other during their year of traveling together (though at times it came close). Now they are back home in Canada, planning their wedding and doing their best to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Their main concern at this point is finding a way to not run out of money, while avoiding returning back to their old 9-5 jobs (oil & gas, government). Oh, and also continuing to support their diving and underwater photo/video habits...
You can find more of Bryan's underwater photos on Instagram at @bryan_chu_photography and on his website at www.bryanchu.ca.
SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:
The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear
Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!
The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips
Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.
Six fantastic days of diving with sharks in a world-renowned UNESCO biosphere reserve with a fisheye lens
By Bryan Chu
Six fantastic days of diving with sharks in a world-renowned UNESCO biosphere reserve with a fisheye lens
While in French Polynesia with my fiancée Lisa for a Moorea humpback trip, I knew that, no matter what else we did, we needed to do some diving in Fakarava. I had seen the photos and heard the stories of this UNESCO biosphere reserve - with massive walls of grey sharks, and its protected water teeming with fish.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bryan is an editor and writer for the Underwater Photography Guide. He loves any activity that takes him out into nature, and is especially fond of multi-day hiking trips, road trips to National Parks, and diving. Any kind of diving. He discovered the joy of underwater photography on a Bluewater trip to the Sea of Cortez and has been hooked ever since. He recently finished a 1-year "radical sabbatical" with his partner Lisa (both of them quit their jobs), which included over 120 dives, mostly in Indonesia and the Philippines. His very favourite underwater experiences include swimming with humpbacks in Moorea, being smashed against the rocks next to marine iguanas in the Galapagos, marvelling at the riotously colourful reefs of Komodo, freezing his hands off under the ice in Greenland, and exploring the never-ending wonders of muck diving in Tulamben and Anilao (where he was a Bluewater photo workshop co-trip leader).
Fortunately, Bryan and Lisa managed to avoid killing each other during their year of traveling together (though at times it came close). Now they are back home in Canada, planning their wedding and doing their best to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Their main concern at this point is finding a way to not run out of money, while avoiding returning back to their old 9-5 jobs (oil & gas, government). Oh, and also continuing to support their diving and underwater photo/video habits...
You can find more of Bryan's underwater photos on Instagram at @bryan_chu_photography and on his website at www.bryanchu.ca.
SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:
The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear
Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!
The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips
Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.
Five amazing days snorkeling with humpback whales with the whole family - truly the trip of a lifetime!
By Bryan Chu
Five amazing days snorkeling with humpback whales with the whole family - truly the trip of a lifetime!
“Get ready” our guide William said excitedly, in his characteristic French accent. “It’s a juvenile, playing on the surface.” We could see fins and a fluke splashing about not too far away. Adrenaline pumping, I prepped my mask, pulled on my fins, grabbed my camera.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bryan is an editor and writer for the Underwater Photography Guide. He loves any activity that takes him out into nature, and is especially fond of multi-day hiking trips, road trips to National Parks, and diving. Any kind of diving. He discovered the joy of underwater photography on a Bluewater trip to the Sea of Cortez and has been hooked ever since. He recently finished a 1-year "radical sabbatical" with his partner Lisa (both of them quit their jobs), which included over 120 dives, mostly in Indonesia and the Philippines. His very favourite underwater experiences include swimming with humpbacks in Moorea, being smashed against the rocks next to marine iguanas in the Galapagos, marvelling at the riotously colourful reefs of Komodo, freezing his hands off under the ice in Greenland, and exploring the never-ending wonders of muck diving in Tulamben and Anilao (where he was a Bluewater photo workshop co-trip leader).
Fortunately, Bryan and Lisa managed to avoid killing each other during their year of traveling together (though at times it came close). Now they are back home in Canada, planning their wedding and doing their best to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Their main concern at this point is finding a way to not run out of money, while avoiding returning back to their old 9-5 jobs (oil & gas, government). Oh, and also continuing to support their diving and underwater photo/video habits...
You can find more of Bryan's underwater photos on Instagram at @bryan_chu_photography and on his website at www.bryanchu.ca.
SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:
The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear
Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!
The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips
Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.
A unique combination of technical cave diving and beautiful underwater photography, way off the tourist track.
By Guillermo Viveros
A unique combination of technical cave diving and beautiful underwater photography, way off the tourist track.
For me, photography is a way to show others what I’ve seen underwater; how beautiful underwater scenes are, as well as underwater creatures. After 12 years of shooting images underwater, I decided that cave photography was my next step to take. To become a cave diver, you must pass the certification course by mastering several skills - including perfect buoyancy, finding your way out of a cave in zero visibility, following a strict navigation code and being able to dive with 2, 3 or 4 tanks. So, it takes some time, a lot of effort, and many, many practice dives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Guillermo was born and raised in Mexico City. As an electrical engineer, he’s always been interested in gadgets and photography. He has been diving for 35 years, and during this time he has fallen in love with the ocean and its inhabitants. Through his pictures, he wants to show to others the magnificence of the underwater world, to promote love of the ocean, and to reduce pollution and destruction of ocean habitats.
One of his most recent certifications, as a full cave diver, has led him to pursue cave photography, and he is now an enthusiastic photographer in this challenging environment.
Check out his photos on Facebook: G Viveros UW Photography and on his website: www.gviverosuwphotography.com
SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:
The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear
Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!
The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips
Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.
Natalie Gibb chronicles her experiences exploring vast unknown cave systems in Mexico
By Natalie Gibb
Natalie Gibb chronicles her experiences exploring vast unknown cave systems in Mexico
Above Image: @Fan Ping, https://www.pingfanimaging.com/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Natalie L Gibb is a cave explorer, TDI Cave Diver instructor, author, public speaker, and amateur photographer. She co-owns Under the Jungle dive center near Tulum, Mexico.
www.underthejungle.com
SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:
The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear
Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!
The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips
Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.
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