Oceanographic: When did you first connect with the ocean?

Manuel Castellanos Raboso: “It all began in my childhood, even though there was no ocean where we lived. My grandfather and I watched documentaries together, his favourites were Jacques Cousteau and Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente. Those weekends spent rewatching old VHS tapes are some of my fondest memories. Seeing underwater life on a screen sparked something in me, a dream to one day experience it for myself. Years later, when we moved to Cabo de Palos in Spain, I found myself drawn to the local port, watching divers preparing for their adventures. To a 10-year-old, they looked so cool – like explorers from another world. Fast-forward to April 2018 and my girlfriend surprised me with a Open Water diving course for my birthday. I couldn’t wait to finally become one of those divers I admired as a kid. We certified in Monterey, California, and despite having only 1-metre visibility, it was incredible. Since that day, being underwater has felt like home. The ocean gives me peace, clarity, and a deep sense of calm.” 

Oceanographic: How did you get into underwater photography?

Manuel Castellanos Raboso: “At first, I was just like any tourist, with camera in hand, snapping memories without much thought. That changed in 2018 when I bought my first good lens before a safari trip. I became obsessed with capturing wildlife, and in April 2019, a whale-watching trip gave me my first real breakthrough. I captured a breaching whale, and the power of that moment hooked me. Photography stopped being a hobby and started feeling like something more.

Then came 2020. Stuck indoors during the pandemic, I rediscovered my love for documentaries, especially about underwater life. It sparked an idea: Could I capture these incredible underwater scenes myself? I was still a beginner scuba diver, but I invested in an underwater housing for my camera and, in September, escaped to French Polynesia. The first time I submerged my camera, I was mesmerised. Just capturing the smallest fish swimming around the reef felt surreal.

The moment that changed everything was when I took my son to Mo’orea to swim with humpback whales. I captured this image of him with a whale, and seeing the wonder in his eyes made me realise the impact these experiences can have. When I showed the photo to other kids, their curiosity was contagious. That’s when I knew I wanted to focus on underwater photography. I wanted to share these stories with the next generation.”