Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year 2022, KI

Finalist Adventure Photographer of the Year

Karim Iliya Tonga

18°40'56.6"S 174°02'50.3"W

A freediver swims amongst a school of fish in a cave in Tonga. "Many fish school in large groups to increase their chances of survival and confuse predators with their movements," says photographer Karim Iliya. "Here in this cave, they are also protected from many of the larger animals that might eat them in the open ocean. No matter how many times I come here, I always find a new way to look at it. It is one of my favourite places on Earth, a place where I can find peace in a world beneath the water."

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year 2022, KI

Karim Iliya United States (US)

ABOUT THE IMAGE

Sunny, calm day
Taken while freediving
Excellent visibility
Afternoon

Karim Iliya is a photographer, filmmaker, and whale swimming guide based in Iceland and Hawaii. He is the co-founder of Kogia, a non-profit media initiative dedicated to marine conservation. Raised in the Middle East and Asia, Karim’s passion for nature has taken him from volcanic eruptions to Arctic ice and underwater encounters with whales. His work focuses on threatened animals and fragile ecosystems, using visual storytelling to inspire protection of the natural world. Karim has worked in over 45 countries, won multiple awards, and been featured in National Geographic Magazine and BBC Earth for his humpback whale photography and films.