I went diving for the first time in 1985 and instantly discovered that being underwater was my happy place. I loved watching the light shimmer, observing marine life, and seeing natural behaviors such as turtles getting cleaned on the reef. Over the next three years, I did over 300 dives, became a Dive Master/instructor, and got a job on a charter boat in Maui, Hawaii. To maintain my passion for diving, I purchased a Nikonos V camera and began my journey into underwater photography.

In the beginning, I was quite consistent in creating bad images. I had passion and determination but lacked basic knowledge of photography, so I bought books, asked questions, and little by little gained an understanding of the exposure triangle, lighting, and the rule of thirds. There is a quote that says, “Where energy flows, results will show,” and that applied to me as my photography skills gradually developed.

In 1994, I went on a two-month trip to Indonesia to dive and take pictures. I had wide-angle and macro gear and was ready to do some world-class diving. I selected Murex Dive Resort in Manado and dived the Bunaken Island Group. During the trip, I met Michael Awe, an established underwater photographer, and he told me about an international underwater photography shootout the following week. I had never competed before, but it sounded fun, so I decided to join. We did four days of diving. Categories included wide angle, nudibranch, animal behavior, and macro. Each night, divers would turn in their slide film, and it would be processed and available by breakfast. On the morning of the fifth day, the divers turned in their best images for judging. As it happened, I received a second- and third-place award, and this event became one of the catalysts that steered my career.

Over the next few years, I participated in other shootouts and competitions and received more awards and recognition. Dive magazines in Asia, Japan, Hong Kong, England, and the United States started publishing my images and stories. I was living the dream, diving in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Japan, Fiji, Palau, and Yap. Eventually, the time came to start a family, so I returned to Hawaii, built a thriving photography and dive travel business, and earned a Master of Photography degree.

In 2005, while diving in Hawaii, a baby humpback whale swam up to me and looked me in the eye. The experience lasted only a few seconds, but it changed my life and was immediately etched upon my heart and soul. I wanted to have more whale encounters and researched where in the world it was legal to be in the water with whales. I learned that organized and regulated whale swimming was offered in the Silver Banks and Tonga.

I chose Tonga in 2006 and had an incredible experience. While in the water, I was able to observe heat runs, mothers with calves, and singers. Since then, I have returned with small groups almost every season.

In 2015, my appendix ruptured while swimming with a mother and calf. I had been in the water, floating only a few feet away from the female, when all of a sudden what I thought was an upset tummy became agonizing pain. The whale seemed to sense something was wrong with me, came very close, and stayed by my side until the boat came to get me. I will never forget that whale!

This happened on a Friday, and I didn’t see a doctor until Monday. Needing surgery and fearful I would develop sepsis, we called DAN, who immediately sent a jet from Australia to take me to New Zealand, where surgeons were standing by. I am so thankful that DAN covered my evacuation and expenses.

In 2016, I opened Kohola Gallery and sold photographs of whales, marine life, and Hawaii’s stunning landscapes. For years, business was good. Due to the pandemic, and later a horrific fire in 2024, I decided to retire and relocate to the Philippines so I could dive.

I chose Dauin, on the island of Negros Oriental, because the area is known as one of the best macro destinations in the world. The volcanic sand along the bottom attracts so many species of marine life that it is truly a diver’s paradise. On any given dive, one might see many different species of fish, nudibranchs, frogfish, octopus, and shrimp.

Being underwater feeds my soul and fills my heart. I am very fortunate to live a diver’s life and be able to create portraits of marine life ranging from large whales to tiny nudibranchs. My intention is to produce beautiful images that quietly speak for the need to protect our oceans and all the critters that live in them.