Gallery Special

Mexican photographer Alejandro Prieto captures underwater images characterised by high drama and sublime technique. Here DIVE showcases some of his extraordinary work

Photographs by Alejandro Prieto

FEATHER WEIGHT

This sea lion pup at La Paz, Mexico, brought me a feather, it seems it wanted me to take it and play

HIGH NOON

I took this photo of a silky shark in the deep waters of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at noon as the sun rays penetrated the clear water

HEAD FIRST

This murrelet bird was feeding on crustaceans, in the Pacific south of the Baja peninsula during the 'Mexican sardine run'

NIGHT FEEDER

A needlefish hunting near the surface, Espiritu Santo Island, Mexico

SNAP HAPPY

An American crocodile at Jardines de la Reina, Cuba

LOW FLYING

The sea gulls at Playa del Carmen, Mexico, fly low over a crowded beach looking for food

MANTA MOMENTS

El Boiler at San Benedicto one of the biggest islands in Revillagigedo, Mexico, is one of the best places in the world to see big manta rays. There was a moment when I was surrounded by more than 20 individuals

PLAYFUL PUP

The sardines above this sea lion in the Sea of Cortez are too small to attract his attention, so it's play time with divers instead

EYE CONTACT

Hundreds of whale sharks gather near Isla Mujeres in the south of Mexico to feast on plankton. They hang vertically in the water in a near trance, allowing me to get close enough to take this macro shot

STREAMLINED SHARKS

A slow shutter speed, gives this image of whitetip reef sharks in the Revillagigedo Archipelago a sense of the super strong currents

SOLAR POWER

A green turtle near Kona, Hawaii, illuminated by the early morning sun