I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been awarded 1st Place in the British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP) 2018 Annual Theme Competition for my portfolio of cenote images! Receiving this recognition from such a respected community of underwater photographers is both humbling and motivating, and it reinforces my passion for telling stories through images captured beneath the surface.
The Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico is home to more than 6,000 cenotes—hidden, naturally formed sinkholes that open gateways into a breathtakingly surreal underwater world. Each cenote is unique, offering its own play of light, shape, and color. With crystal-clear waters, intricate limestone formations, and dramatic shafts of sunlight piercing through the surface, these environments feel almost otherworldly. They create a perfect harmony of mystery and beauty that is as magical to photograph as it is to explore. For anyone drawn to the interplay of light, texture, and underwater adventure, cenotes provide endless inspiration.
Exploring and photographing these secret caverns was as challenging as it was rewarding. Beyond the technical aspects of lighting and composition, diving in cenotes requires immense focus, care, and collaboration. I am deeply grateful to Javier Salas at Yucatan Dive Trek for his invaluable logistical support, and to Natalie L. Gibb, Vincent Rouquette-Cathala, Martin Gaspar Ramirez, and Christine Loew for their meticulous safety planning, expert guiding, and incredible modeling assistance. Your dedication, professionalism, and enthusiasm made this body of work possible and transformed the project into a memorable shared journey.
For me, diving into cenotes isn’t just about photography—it’s about connection. It’s an opportunity to engage with one of nature’s most extraordinary and tranquil realms, to pause and witness a world sculpted over millennia. I feel overjoyed and honored to have captured even a glimpse of that magic.