The first time I went underwater I vomited on my instructor. After that first dive, on the boat, I vomited on the captain. It was 2013, I was in Mexico and probably one of the worst Open Water Diver students an instructor can hope for. It was the rainy season, visibility was bad, the sea was wavy, I got seasick and panicked when I had to clear my mask, because I got water in my nose.
If you had asked me or my instructor back then, none of us would have imagined that I would become so passionate about the sea (call me a sea fan if you like) or even continue to dive. All odds were against me. And yet here I am.
This is the magic of the oceans.
Since that first dive, many things have changed. I would even go as far and say that my whole life has changed, because of the sea.
First of all, I am finally able to take of my mask underwater without rushing for the surface (considering that I have become a dive instructor in the mean time, I’m kind of glad I acquired that skill). I also don’t vomit on other divers or boat crew any longer. I continued my dive education and with every dive I got more and more addicted to the underwater world. A few years ago, I gave up my life in Germany to move to the sea. I have since had the opportunity to dive some of the most spectacular places in the world. I have become a dive instructor, an underwater photographer and I have managed a dive resort on a tiny remote island in Indonesia. I have met the most incredible people along my way and had the most exciting encounters underwater.
All this time, underwater photography has become a way for me to explore the infinte wonders of our oceans, to learn more about the creatures inhabiting them and to share my passion with family and friends.
The oceans have taught me so much, about myself, but also about the world. But I have also experienced some of the threats they are facing first hand. Plastic polution, over-fishing, ghost nets, shark finning, coral bleaching, ocean acidification…there are endless threats. I have seen “carpets” of plastic float by on so many of our dives. Marine life getting entangled in trash. Turtles feeding on trash, because they couldn’t tell the difference from a jelly fish.
Seeing all that does not only make me sad. It leaves me devastated. I want my kids to be able to experience colorful seas with abundant marine life. I want them to be able to dive with sharks. See them ALIVE, and not just learn about them from a book.
And the scariest part to me, is that most of those threats are men-made. But this also means, that it is on us to do something about it. And there is SO MUCH we can do. Every single one of us matters. You can make a difference.
Now, if you’re already in love with the oceans and you want to work on your underwater photography skills, you can head over to my blog where you will find lots of tips and techniques on how to improve your underwater photo skills.
And if you want to get in touch with me to exchange some ideas or just to say hello you can contact me here and I promise I will get back to you. 🙂
Romina
“I hope underwater photography is going to become a way for you to explore the beauty of our oceans, fall in love with it and help protect this fragile ecosystem.”