Marcus De La Haye | Underwater Photographer | Jersey UK

“One of the biggest drives I have as a photographer is the hope that we can provide a voice for the oceans and its inhabitants, many of which are in dire need of conservation.” - Marcus De La Haye

Like many of us, Marcus can’t think of a better feeling than being submerged under the sea with a camera in his hands. Ever since he was a child he always had a passion for the ocean and was fortunate enough to explore it across various countries which led to his first dive aged 8 with his Dad in the Red Sea.

“Whilst diving Sipadan Island, Borneo. Shoals of thousands of jackfish danced amongst us. I had never seen the level of marine biodiversity we witnessed during these dives. It was amazing to see that biodiversity hotspots such as Sipadan still exist around the world.”

Despite always being fascinated by the ocean, Marcus only picked up photography more recently in the past couple of years beginning with a GoPro before upgrading to a Canon EOS 200D / Ikelite set-up last year. 

“I soon realised I wanted to start actually capturing the moments I was experiencing whilst underwater.  I think photographers have a vital role in changing public perceptions. Through stunning images of oceans, jungles and other remote corners of the globe, we can inspire people  to actually want to go out into the environment and build a connection with the natural world”

 What/who currently inspires you? 

The internet is saturated with the work of countless incredibly talented photographers and conservationists. A few individuals I find particularly inspirational at the moment include Professor Steve Simpson of The University of Exeter for his ground-breaking research and optimistic outlook on ocean change, along with Shawn Heinrichs, Jim Abernathy, Steve Woods, Alex Kydd and Thomas Peschak for their photography and conservation work.

Gentle Giant

I captured this image of a reef manta ray whilst free-diving with my family in North Male' Atoll, Maldives. We spent over an hour diving down and gliding alongside these gentle giants. I find photographing megafauna such as the manta ray particularly rewarding as I hope that in capturing their elegance I may give them a voice and inspire the public to help to protect these vulnerable species.

What path did you choose after leaving school?

 I studied Biological Sciences at The University of Exeter. I spent my last year focusing on marine biology, including a dissertation on some of the challenges the oceans are currently facing.

Tuna Graveyard

“These images were taken whilst free-diving off an artisanal tuna canning factory island in North Male' Atoll, Maldives. Diving down, I waited for the shoal to cruise along the reef in my direction, where I captured this image. Following the establishment of the factory, the surrounding waters now support a large population of stingrays due to the discarding of waste tuna parts. What I found moving about this scene is that it is exemplary of how quickly human activities on a small scale can completely change an entire ecosystem.”

What have been the biggest challenges you've had to overcome?

Remembering to bring all of my photography kit abroad with me (I’m yet to overcome this challenge, I seem to forget a different piece every time).

What would you most like to change in the world/environment today? 

The list is definitely too long for this form... It’s quite easy to become overwhelmed by the challenges the natural world currently faces. However, I think photographers have a vital role in changing public perceptions. Through stunning images of oceans, jungles and other remote corners of the globe, we can inspire people to actually want to go out into the environment and build a connection with the natural world. 

What do you value most in life? 

Creating experiences, along with friends and family. 

  Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking? 

I always found the David Attenborough documentaries incredible. I remember being mesmerised by the original Blue Planet series as a young child. The more recent productions are of such high quality you feel as if you’re almost in the moment with the camera crew. In terms of books, The Wildlife Photographer of the Year portfolio books are definitely worth a read for inspiration from top photographers in many different disciplines. 

  What brings you the most joy?

I’d consider myself the most content when floating about in the ocean with my camera – freediving down amongst a pristine coral reef is quite therapeutic. On the flip side, the adrenaline rush you get after an incredible wildlife encounter, shark diving for example, is quite hard to beat.

I captured this image whilst scuba diving off Sipadan Island, Borneo. The sheer abundance of marine life in the waters surrounding this protected island was overwhelming. During this particular dive, we were engulfed by a sea of jackfish along the reef edge. This image captures the moment a green turtle glides beneath what looks like a highway of jackfish. Diving off Sipadan was so rewarding – it was refreshing to find a coral reef in such pristine condition.

 What legacy do you hope to leave? 

I find it hard to answer this question being only 22 and quite fresh out of university. Right now though, I’m aspiring to develop my technical ability with the goal of eventually producing images that go a long way in changing people’s perceptions about the natural environment. In the future, I am hoping to have a platform where I am able to share my passion for the natural world and the stories behind my images. This year I was fortunate enough to have four of my images (three of them underwater) reach the final round of Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Having this recognition has provided a great sense of achievement and has fuelled my desire to continue improving as a photographer, with the overarching aim of sharing these images with the world

Instagram - @marcusdelahayephotography

Website - marcusdelahayephotography.co.uk