The Power of Underwater Photography for Ocean Conservation

By Denise Pietsch
Cover image © John Brigham

"You should’ve seen this reef ten years ago,” is a common phrase you'll hear on a dive boat in reference to coral degradation. In a sea full of shark poaching, coral bleaching, and floating garbage patches it’s easy to get sucked into the downward spiral of climate doom. But it’s not useful. Climate doom leaves us disempowered, paralyzed, and hopeless. So, what can we do? Well, there’s a lot of hope in underwater photography. Grab your gear and let’s dive into the ways your favorite hobby can help save the planet.

lorenzo terraneao image of a plastic bag

"We need to respect the oceans and take care of them as if our lives depended on it. Because they do." - Sylvia Earle.
Image © Lorenzo Terraneo

Share Your Photos

One of the easiest ways to take part in conservation work is something you’re probably already doing: sharing your photos. General estimates show that only 6 million people worldwide scuba dive. That means 99.9% of Earth’s population doesn’t see what divers do. But your photos change that. Your underwater footage is integral to helping the rest of the world see and understand the delicate beauty beneath the waves, and why it’s so important to save it.

“It’s when you love something first that you’ll even care to protect it.” - Luca Martinez

Ikelite Ambassador and environmentalist Luca Martinez has made waves with this understanding by leveraging his impressive social media following to raise awareness about the destruction of the Florida Everglades. Other famous underwater photographers, like Paul Nicklen and Christina Mittermeier, have created organizations based on the principle that photography is critical to helping save the ocean.

But you don’t need to be a famous photographer to make an impact. Whether it’s social media or the family table, sharing your underwater images can help others fall in love with the ocean and want to protect it too.

@lucamartinez.fl Nothing quite like the world under there ✨🌱 #fyp #everglades #florida #relaxingvideos ♬ original sound - Luca Martinez

Citizen Science Projects

Get involved in scientific research without the PhD. Citizen Science projects consist of crowd sourced data, like underwater photos, which are used in research by scientists around the globe working to protect critical marine life. Photo-ID projects are an important part of this work.

Protecting the oceans largest and smallest creatures starts by understanding them. Submitting your images to photo identification projects, like the Florida Manta Project or Spotting Giant Sea Bass, can help establish migratory patterns, population size, and nursery locations all of which aid researchers in studying and defending marine life.

carlos and allison estape citizen scientists photo taken with ikelite underwater housing

"We are underwater photographers that take diagnostic images of fish in their native habitat... and donate our images and data to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and other scientists and marine science non-profits." - Carlos and Allison Estape Image © Carlos Estape

Coral Restoration and Scientific Documentation

Underwater photography is also a key player in marine-based scientific documentation as well as coral restoration. The researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have been using their Ikelite gear for over a decade to document their research and share it with the public.

Community based organizations like The Coral Conservancy use underwater photography for documentation, teaching, and nonprofit marketing. Other underwater photographers, like Austin Greene, a postdoctoral investigator with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, uses his Ikelite gear to document how coral reefs are studied.

Documenting changes in coral overtime is integral in helping nonprofits and research facilities secure funding to continue their work. Underwater photography provides a visual component to this research which often has a greater impact than just statistics and figures alone.

coral conservancy by damien beri taken with ikelite housing

"You don't need a fancy degree, or hundreds of dollars to save a coral reef. You just need a love for our oceans and a pair of fins and a mask!" - The Coral Conservancy Image © Damien Beri

Remove Marine Debris

Leave only bubbles, take only photographs. Safely removing marine debris on your dives is another fantastic way to help support the environment. Ikelite Featured Customer and author, Jess Alexanderson, regularly takes part in dive cleanups with a local crew in the Pacific Northwest. This is a great way to keep your local dive spot clean and healthy while building a sense of community. If you’re a regular diver, dedicating one dive a month to removing marine debris will make a powerful impact, and studies show that it will make you feel better too!

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Underwater Photographers Making a Difference

Ikelite Ambassadors and shark enthusiasts Ken and Kimber Kiefer use their images to help educate people on why sharks are so important to protect. The PNW Protectors use underwater videography to raise awareness about the Salish Sea and its Southern Resident Orcas. Jill Heinerth uses underwater photography to document the importance of water systems hidden below the earth in caves. Ikelite Ambassadors Max Bello and Lorenzo Terraneo advocate for the ocean by holding speaking events and sharing their underwater photos. Their subjects may be different but one thing unites them all: conservation supported by underwater photography.

lorenzo terraneo octopus trapped behind fishing net

Photos like this octopus imprisoned by a discarded fishing net are a powerful tool in helping people understand the impact of careless actions. Image © Lorenzo Terraneo

Some of the most passionate conservationists I know are divers. It’s no wonder that a place you love to explore is a place you want to protect; and your camera gear can play a pivotal role in that protection. Environmentalism doesn’t always mean lobbying congress and marching at protests, sometimes it’s as simple as sharing your latest underwater photo with a friend or submitting an image of a manta ray to an online database.

Denise Pietsch (pronounced “Peach”) currently manages Ikelite’s Photo School and social media presence. Denise hails from New Jersey, where she obtained a degree in Dance Therapy. After years teaching dance she migrated into the corporate world and eventually came around to Ikelite via the natural career path of fruit distribution and early childhood development. In the end, her lifelong love of photography and octopuses combined into the work she does now. In addition to sharing her energy and enthusiasm with the underwater community she also manages social media for her dog, Joe, collects vinyl records, and enjoys creating memories with her friends and family.