Dario Nessi | Ocean Storyteller | Underwater Photographer | Switzerland
Swiss-based photographer Dario is a teacher most of the year, but when he has time off work, he is hopping continents to capture the mesmerising underwater world, that is our ocean.
Dario hopes with his knowledge and imagery, he can inspire others, in particular, his students and future generations, to care more about nature and the oceans as a whole.
When did you first start your storytelling journey?
I first started my journey about eight years ago, when I first gained limited financial independence. I always dreamed of seeing more of our oceans, especially the diverse creatures living in them, so I decided to start with the biggest fish of all, the mighty Whale Shark.
Since then, I wasn’t able to stop exploring and chasing wildlife became somewhat the most important part of my life.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
Since I can remember I have been obsessed with wildlife and the ocean, with weekly visits to the Zoo and the Natural History Museum in Zurich.
I think what sparked my passion, in particular, was when my parents took me at a very young age to Australia, where we travelled for 6 months all over the continent with only a van and a tent. This was also the first time I was able to experience the beauty of the ocean.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
I was desperate to find a field where I could work with animals in some way. Yet the possibilities didn’t seem to lead me to achieve my personal dreams in the way I intended to. So, I chose my path in education and became an elementary school teacher, which is something I love doing and at the same time gives me the freedom and flexibility to spend around a third of the year, following my dreams, while diving and searching for wildlife.
I always take my experiences and adventures from the ocean to my classroom, to try and spark an interest in my students around wildlife and the natural world, through my storytelling and my photography.
Who/what currently inspires you?
As a person who loves photography and filmmaking, I follow all the big names in the nature photography space and devour every nature documentary that’s coming out. So I could say, in a way, I take inspiration from all of them.
But the people that actually inspire me the most, are the ones I got to know on a personal level over the years on this journey. Some amateurs, some nature guides and some professional photographers, I have learnt a lot from each and every one I have met along the way.
What current projects/stories are you working on?
Since I am on my own personal journey, there is always the next project in planning, Even though there is also the possibility of something unexpected coming up. My next big underwater project will be to travel to Antarctica - the seventh and last continent for me. I plan on travelling to Antarctica to photograph Leopard Seals underwater.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
Like many, I would wish for a positive change in our coexistence with animals and the natural world. I hope that we find ways, to reduce our impact on these natural environments and give nature the space it needs, not only to survive but to thrive again. I wish that the coming generations will be able to enjoy nature in its glory, as I am right now.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking, and that you'd like to recommend to other ocean lovers?
As mentioned before, I have read and watched quite a lot of literature and documentaries about wildlife and the ocean.
Three that stand out for me personally are:
Deep Sea by James Nestor
Sperm whales- social evolution in the ocean by Hal Whitehead
My expeditions to the last of their kind by Andreas Kieling
What legacy do you hope to leave?
I am following my own passion, my own love for the ocean, and for animals, I do all of this primarily to realise my personal dream of documenting the beauty of our planet, through my own eyes and journeys. But as said before, I do try to always share my experiences with the people around me, in my professional and personal life.
Seeing the excited reactions of my students to my stories, I like to believe that I do have somewhat of an impact on how they might think of animals and nature in the future. It might be on a small scale, but if I can spark an interest in some of these kids, it was already worth it.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an Ocean Storyteller?
In my opinion, you just need to get out there and start doing it. The stories and experiences in nature will take the lead soon enough and start to guide you towards new goals. You might need to start on a small scale, start locally in whichever environment is closest to you, or which sparks your interest most and then slowly start expanding from there.
INSTAGRAM: @sevengillshark
