Featured Photographer | James Matthews

James is a 22-year-old divemaster currently based in the UK. Some of his earliest underwater memories are with his dad as they would snorkel and explore the seas together. r. After qualifying as a diver when he was 12, he went on to study molecular biology at university and realised diving was his passion. Since then James has volunteered as a marine research assistant and divemaster with Operation Wallacea in Cuba, twice in Indonesia, and has worked at its site on Hoga Island in Wakatobi. Having spent time in Indonesia it quickly became his favourite place to dive, with the reefs in Wakatobi and Komodo being his favourite dive sites. 

Using a relatively simple set up, James started shooting with an IPhone X in a housing, but quickly wanted more creative freedom. He has since upgraded to a Canon G7XII in a Fantasea Housing, using various lenses.  Nudibranchs remain one of his favourite things to shoot. 

Norse god Nudibranch Aegires villosus. Lembeh, Indonesia

False clownfish Wakatobi, Indonesia

Bigfin reef squid Lembeh, Indonesia

Broadclub cuttlefish Komodo, Indonesia 

Crocodilefish Wakatobi, Indonesia 

Doto nudibranch Lembeh, Indonesia 

Spotfin lionfish Bali, Indonesia

Dorid nudibranch hypselodoris iacula. Komodo, Indonesia

Nembrotha nudibranch Lembeh, Indonesia  

Aeolid nudibranch Lembeh, Indonesia 

Sarcoglossan sea slug  Lembeh, Indonesia 

Phyllodesmium nudibranch Lembeh, Indonesia

Broadclub cuttlefish Komodo, Indonesia 

Pygmy seahorse Lembeh, Indonesia

Juvenile porcelain crab Lembeh, Indonesia 

Pteraeolidia ianthina Lembeh, Indonesia 

Find James on Instagram@matthews_uw

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