Page 107 - AlertDiver_Spring2013
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MEMBER TO MEMBER
W
hen I tell people my biggest passion is
underwater photography, they often
respond with astonishment. I’m 19 years
old and a sophomore in college, and it
surprises people to learn that I have logged around 400
dives and fervently pursue photography of the marine
world. School and other extracurricular interests take up
the majority of my time, but during my breaks I am in the
water, diving. The more I study environmental science and
oceanography in school, the keener I am to get back into
the water.
I started photographing marine life when I was certified as
an open-water diver at age 12, and it has come to be what I
love doing most. I have since become a rescue diver and now
use a closed-circuit rebreather. To me, the most rewarding
aspects of underwater photography are the life-changing
experiences that occur in the ocean and the fascination and
awe elicited by the photographs themselves. The sea is such
an unfamiliar environment to many people, and by sharing
photos I hope to encourage a sense of familiarity with and
respect for the oceans — making marine conservation a
more personal issue for people. As the health of our oceans
deteriorates, underwater photography has become a way for
me to take action and encourage awareness among friends,
family and the general public.
Shark conservation in particular has become a very
personal issue for me. I find sharks to be the most fascinating
marine animals, and most of the dive trips I’ve taken
have focused on diving with sharks. It saddens me to see
widespread employment of fishing methods that lead to the
large-scale and inhumane slaughter of sharks for their fins.
As a result, I have committed myself to advocate for the
conservation of shark populations worldwide and to expose
unsustainable and destructive methods of fishing.
Diving has provided me with close, personal encounters
with tiger sharks, bull sharks, oceanic whitetips and other
species. Through these experiences I have come to understand
much about the behavior and true nature of these animals.
These interactions have driven my advocacy for these graceful
creatures, and underwater photography has enabled me to use
images of sharks to support their conservation by conveying
that nature to my audience. Diving with sharks has made
me living proof that they are not the ruthless, human-killing
machines they have been portrayed to be.
In addition to driving my conservation efforts, the
magnificence of the underwater world and its innumerable
biological interactions and symbioses has made diving
a significant and meaningful part of my life. Sensing the
power, agility and playfulness of the wildlife that inhabit
the oceanic environment is truly a singular experience.
My hope is that more young people get involved in
diving and come to really know the wondrous underwater
environment, as this will undoubtedly help create a
brighter future for our marine ecosystems.
AD
Advocacy and
Passion
Tips, advice and updates from your fellow divers
T E X T A N D P H O T O S B y J o s h F r i e d m a n
Do you have tips, advice, travel strategies, dive techniques, lessons
learned or other words of wisdom to share with your fellow divers? Alert
Diver wants your story! Email it to
or mail it to “Member
to Member,” c/o Alert Diver, 6 W. Colony Place, Durham, NC 27705.
SHARE YOUR STORY
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