Roger Koenig | Neuroscientist | Photographer, Contact Freediver | East coast Australia

Roger’s love for nature leads him to follow the sciences as a way to understand it on an intellectual level. He studied biochemistry for his undergrad in Chile and completed a PhD in France. As he grew older he sought to understand nature by experiencing it and that’s where his freediving and underwater photography started. Now, he’s fortunate to develop his two passions: science and discovering the ocean.

We caught up with Rog, learning about his love for the ocean and how through his work he hopes to change the relationship that people have with nature…

 “I sought to understand nature by experiencing it”

Where are you from?

I’m from Chile but lived in France for a few years before coming to Australia.

What’s your profession?

I’m a neuroscientist. I work doing research in human cognitive neuroscience at UNSW and Monash University as a Post-doctoral Fellow. I’m fortunate to do most of my work remotely.

What is a typical day like for you?

After waking up, I check the ocean wherever I am (I live in my van, so that can be anywhere). After breakfast, I work on my research. Then I go for a freedive in the afternoon, conditions permitting, often swimming from the shore or from my kayak. Work and dives can change order depending on the conditions and work commitments. Evenings are often for edition of pictures and videos or creating music for my videos.

What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?

I remember exploring my backyard as a child and realising how amazing nature is, from the smallest insect to the biggest tree, everything looked to me connected and working in harmony. I was sensitised to the wonders of Nature by my parents whenever we went for trips in the forest, lake, etc. 

What/who currently inspires you? 

Many people really. But the person who has inspired me the most in my approach to connect with the Ocean is Mike Cole. He has a lot of experience in the ocean as a kayaker and freediver. We both understand freediving as a way to connect with marine life in the purest form, which I call “contact freediving”. Mike and I seek adventures to connect with the ocean and the elements. We have gone in countless kayak diving adventures along the coast, where he has taught me a lot about the ocean and seamanship. Photography-wise I’ve been inspired by Scott Wilson and Stu Barry imagery, who I believe have the skill to create a stunning image from the smallest fish to the biggest whale. Talented photographers and friends Michaela Skovranova and Jono Allen have had a great influence in my style and keep inspiring me.

Ultimately, my inspiration comes from the ocean and nature and I hope my imagery could serve as a way to show the wonders of Nature while inspiring people to protect it.

What path did you choose after leaving school? 

My love for nature lead me to follow the sciences as a way to understand it in an intellectual level. I did biochemistry for my undergrad in Chile and completed a PhD in France. As I grew older I sought to understand Nature by experiencing it, that where freediving and underwater photography started when I arrived in Australia. Now, I’m fortunate to develop my two passions: doing science and the discovering the ocean.

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

Moving countries and leaving my family and friends behind can be tough but it’s also an awesome experience and opportunity for growth. The fear of the ocean was also a big challenge that I had to overcome. I grew up in Santiago, which is landlocked, so the ocean wasn’t a familiar thing. Being relaxed in the ocean took me a while. I feared sharks as media has conditioned us to do. Everything changed little by little along the many encounters I had with marine life and especially sharks, which made me understanding they’re not blood thirst creatures trying to kill you. More recently, reconciling my love with the ocean and my day job was challenging. Fortunately my supervisors have been very supportive and have been open to the idea of me working remotely. 

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

I’d like to change the relationship that people have with nature, which I think is the root of many of our problems. We see ourselves as entitled to take anything from nature in the name of our short term profit. We do not however seem to understand that we ultimately depend on the health of ecosystems and weather patterns to get our food, have prosperous economies and survive. From the industrial revolution, we have thought that we could inflict whichever damage to nature and that technology would always be there to save the day. Science and technology are unarguably powerful tools but they’re nothing compared to the might of nature to which we are deeply dependent. I think the covid-19 pandemic has been a reality check to show who has the upper hand on this planet. Hope we’ll learn something from this lesson. 

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

Growing up, I remember watching extracts of Jacques Cousteau on TV shows for children, I was mesmerized. Another documentary that really marked me is the French movie “Oceans” from Jacques Perrin. The opening of the movie goes with a voice over saying: “One day, a child looking at the ocean for the first time asked me: the ocean, what’s the ocean? And I didn’t know what to answer… What’s the sea? What’s the ocean? How to explain?” I think that wraps the mystery of the ocean, which is only fathomable by experiencing it firsthand, without preconceptions as a child would do.

What brings you the most joy? 

Nature. There’s nothing better than an ocean adventure that finishes with a beautiful organic encounter. 

 Website - www.rogfreedive.com

Instagram - @rog_freedive