In my younger years I wore prescription glasses. The first dive that I wore a prescription mask was in a new and unique dive location in Nassau that I’d never dived before. Opening my eyes behind the new mask I was finally able to see the ocean in all its glory, perfectly clear and sharp. To this day, that was the most exciting moment I’ve experienced in the ocean and one I consider to be a particularly eye-opening experience.

The underwater world for me provides a break from the negativity and distractions that can come from being on land in the modern world. Every time I dive beneath the waves I can experience something new – it’s an adventure, but one that has no storyline and can’t be predicted. I guess I can say I’ve always been freediving, as I was six years old the first time I remember going out spearfishing with my father. Being underwater is simply a part of my life and one of my favourite things to do.

Visual connection

I strive to use my imagery to share lesser-known truths about the underwater world and it’s inhabitants. In The Bahamas many locals do not know how to swim and have an extreme fear of sharks due to lack of exposure and misinformation. As a Bahamian I try to create imagery with or about sharks so to grasp the attention of my own people and to show them that they’ve been taught is not true. I hope that seeing one of their own interacting with sharks in their natural environment, without being attacked, will encourage others seek further education on shark behaviour and their importance. The story I try to tell through my work is that there can be sustainable coexistence between humans and the marine environment. Humans can enjoy what’s underwater while still keeping ourselves and the animals safe. I hope that showing people interacting with wild animals underwater in their natural habitats, others can learn not to fear the unfamiliar.

Photography can bring people closer to the ocean by stimulating their visual senses to feel a connection. I believe that people can create more of an appreciation to something if they understand it, see its beauty and understand how it needs our help. Showing images of how our day-to-day activities on land can negatively impact the ocean can encourage people to be more conscious of their actions. Photography can also help dispel myths and fears that some people may have of animals like sharks, so that they can see them for how they actually are instead of what over exaggerated media and fictional films present them to be.