Mohea | Underwater Photographer | Scuba Diver | France | Mo’orea | Australia
Mohea is an underwater photographer and scuba diver from France, but now she lives in the South Pacific, between Mo’orea and Australia. She started diving with her parents when she was 6 years old in the Mediterranean and her love for the ocean hasn’t stopped since. Mohea said that she enjoyed growing up with a family of ocean adventures. Her mum and dad used to take underwater photos back in the 1970’s and she has always been mesmerised by the process of capturing a moment that will never happen ever again. This drove Mohea to start capturing her incredible sightings underwater and sharing them with the world.
When did you first start your storytelling journey?
I started posting on social media about my passions for the ocean in 2013.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
Having the chance to grow up with the sea as my backyard and discovering the life underwater from an early age by reading books or diving definitely impacted my life, and that’s why I’m now working full time with ocean related projects and doing my best to protect the remaining beauty of this realm that taught me so much.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
I chose to work in a NGO in French Polynesia doing reef restoration to help them with my skills as a designer and vision as a photographer. I travelled all the way to the other side of the world to help the ocean and do my part as a human.
What/who currently inspires you?
My parents are my biggest inspiration because they followed their dreams and made them happen. And they believe in me fearlessly like no one does not even myself, so that pushes me to do my best!
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
Mentality. Everyone thinks that doing a small thing for the planet is equal to doing nothing, when in reality it’s already doing so much! Giving tips on small steps to include to everyone’s daily routine to minimise our impact on the planet and sharing news about what’s happening in the oceans is something I try to do everyday. My goal at the end of the year is to have convinced 1 person to change.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking, and that you'd like to recommend to other ocean lovers?
The Deep Med Documentary by Gombessa V
What legacy do you hope to leave?
I Hope to leave motivation and eagerness to discover and protect what’s down there, because I grew up with my eyes full of stars when I was looking at the sea, and I want anyone on this planet to be able to look at it with the same stars than my 6 year-old self did - my first memory to date in my head!
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an Ocean Storyteller?
It’s not about who has done it, because often people’s social media are good but they fake the goals of storytelling and they create money driven people. Do it for your passions, do it for the voiceless, do it for the people who won’t be able to see what you’re able to see, do it with passion and with your heart. It doesn’t matter who did it before because you do it your way ! The ocean will thank you.
Current Projects
I’ve created 2 big projects in 2022 “Eyes of the Seas” & “Ocean Calendar”, so I’m trying to plan some interaction with new species this year (2023) to capture their eyes and create an advent calendar for Christmas 2023!
