Marine Conservation

Javier Murcia was born in Cartagena. Living near the sea made his love for marine organisms even more. From a very young age he dived with goggles, a tube and fins, which led to a great interest in diving and very soon he began to feel the urge to capture marine species in the form of images.

His work, as a naturalist and photographer, focuses on marine and freshwater fauna. His photos have been published in various marine fauna books, posters, calendars, posters, notebooks, calendars and brochures of various ecological foundations, and have been and are exhibited in museums and exhibitions. He currently collaborates with various national and international magazines on nature and marine biology topics.

Author of 9 books, including the “Guide to the underwater flora and fauna of the Mar Menor”, “Life under the Mediterranean”, “An underwater journey through the port of Cartagena”, “The Mar Menor, A magical lagoon”, “The green forest, Posidonia oceanica”, “Break: between land and water”, “Posidonia oceanica: meadows of life”, etc. He has collaborated in the book “Marine Ichthyofauna of the Mediterranean”, in the “Atlas of phanerogams of Spain” or the Oceanografic Guide (Valencia).

He is a member of the group of photographers PortfolioNatural where they have published "the art of photographing nature"

He is an ambassador for big brands such as Aqualung, Marelux, Oceanografic de Valencia and collaborates with Kanau, Orcatorch, Balkysub and more.

He has received several photography awards in international competitions such as the prestigious GDT (European Wildlife Photographer of the Year), UPY (Underwater Photographer of the Yea), Montphoto, Asferico, Magical Nature, Fotocam, Nature photographer of the year, Navara , Fotonoja, Euronatur, Memorial Marialuisa, Siena International Photo Awards, AEFONA, Photo-montier, etc.

Check out Javier's Social Media Accounts:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/javier.murciarequena

Instagram: www.instagram.com/javiermurciarequena/

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!

Robert has worked professionally on commercial television sets doing production photography, shot modern dance for the art department at the University of Calgary, and has worked in a freelance capacity shooting a variety of subjects. Rob worked as a NAUI scuba instructor, and then instructor trainer for the University of Calgary from 1993-1999. He is still an avid diver, and never dives without a camera. 

He moved to Europe in the late 1990s and now resides in the UK. 

Robert has enjoyed success in both national and international underwater photography competitions over the years. As a result his images have been published in national magazines, books, scientific publications, and newspapers in the UK. He’s an active committee member for the British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP), and the website administrator for the Bristol Underwater Photography Group (BUPG). He’s written several articles for national dive magazines, and often gives presentations on his own underwater photography and photographic technique for photographic clubs in the UK. 

Robert worked as a technical specialist, and then technical account manager in the IT industry for many years, and now works part time as a photographer, and full time as editor for the Underwater Photography Guide. 

You can see more of Robert's work at www.robertbaileyphotography.com

Reef Check is a global non-profit organization working to protect tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs through education, conservation, and research. Reef Check trains volunteer divers to become citizen scientists to survey the status and health of tropical coral reefs, California rocky reefs, and Mediterranean habitats. With more than 10,000 surveys in more than 75 countries, Reef Check teams provide the data that helps us understand our reefs and manage and care for our ocean. Learn more at www.reefcheck.org. Contact: Dania Trespalacios, dtrespalacios@reefcheck.org, +1 305 793 8154