Photos - Escapades Freediving

Juxtaposition

This picture was taken off a small Puerto Rican island. I was living on a small sailboat, cruising throughout the Caribbean, and hadn't seem much reef as vibrant as this. There was a small protected area where the reef was teeming with life, and among it... this turtle. I didn't even notice it until I was already hovering above the reef, but it came in from above the sand, curiosity getting the best of it. As soon as I looked up and noticed this small turtle checking me out, it suddenly decided it was shy, and quickly turned to head back towards the sand where it had appeared from. I was able to snap this shot of the turtle just before it hid itself behind the reef, and disappeared into the blue abyss.

$25.00 - $255.00

Simplicity

Spinner dolphins are known to be playful, and even acrobatic. They are also known to jump out of the water just to spin and flip in midair! Their playful nature also comes with a certain amount of curiosity. This dolphin broke away from the rest of the pod and calmly swam up to me to get a closer look. Its slow movements were mesmerizing, especially since I'm used to seeing these dolphins move at a quicker pace. This change of pace made an already special encounter into a memory that I will not soon forget.

$25.00 - $255.00

Manta Ray Mugshot

How do you tell individual mantas apart? I am so glad you asked! Manta ID is done by looking at the spot patterns on their bellies. As I dove down to get a closer look at a different manta ray, this one named Manta Ria decided to swim right at me, veering up and away at the last moment, as if to show off her spots and let me know who she was. Manta Ria greeted me on the first manta dive of two different trips, separated by nearly a year in time. She either likes me, or is just extra curious... but I think I'm going to stick with the first one.

$25.00 - $255.00

Between Two Worlds

This is one of my favorite places to go when I want to spend time in the water with the people I love. It may not be as exciting to some people when compared to the other springs Florida has to offer, but its pristine nature and crystal clear water makes for some special memories, and beautiful photographs. Freediver Kim is shown here, enjoying a beautiful day with some of our close friends, getting lost in the moment under a perfectly placed palm tree.

$25.00 - $255.00

Curiousity

This bottlenose dolphin is hands down the longest single marine wildlife encounter I have ever had. This curious little guy IMMEDIATELY showed interest as we pulled our sailboat into a protected cut for an overnight stop. As soon as I jumped in the water he showed signs of excitement, twirling around and swimming off quickly, just to circle back around again and again. <br><br>About 30 minutes in to this encounter, which lasted over an hour and a half, his behavior suddenly changed. He stopped, looked right at me, and posed. Over and over again he seemingly posed for the camera, sitting perfectly still in the water calm just staring at me. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have had with an animal in the wild, in or out of the water. Like all good things, it had to come to an end eventually, and it did all too soon. After just a couple short minutes he was back to his playful self, pulling up bits of seaweed and passing them from nose, to fin, to tail. Before long he left again, and didn't circle back... but I couldn't get out of the water, I had to wait, just to see if he would come back one more time.

$25.00 - $255.00

The Musician

$25.00 - $255.00

The Loner

The Oceanic White Tip may not be the largest shark out there, but holy cow does it make up for it in energy level. This shark wasted absolutely no time and came charging straight at us to get a closer look. A good friend of mine in Hawaii, a true professional, joined us in the water and was able to safely handle the interaction. I always say that sharks are not man eating machines, but they are not harmless puppies either. It is important to understand how to read their behavior and to know specific information about the species you are interacting with.

$30.00 - $295.00

Bahamian Sunrise

As the title implies, this picture was taken as the sun rose over Long Island in the Bahamas. I was with clients on a freediving trip to Dean's Blue Hole, and this spot was definitely not on the agenda. However, Brandy and Gavin said they wanted to get up extra early one morning and go to the best spot on the island to watch the sun rise. We made it happen one morning on one of the last days and this was the result. Sometimes the best moments in life, the most beautiful ones, are the ones we don't plan for. This was definitely one of those times.

$30.00 - $295.00

Sunset Sailboat Silhouette

Carriacou is a small island that belongs to the Eastern Caribbean Nation of Grenada. I spent nearly 3 full months living in Carriacou, in a boat yard, working every single day on the sailboat that I lived on for nearly a year. When we finally finished the work that needed to be done and launched, it was a very rewarding feeling. Carriacou is stunningly beautiful, and the sunsets were one of the very best parts. These were by far the most beautful sunsets I have ever seen, in all of my travels. Working on the boat in the yard and seeing those sunsets every night felt bittersweet. This was the first vibrant sunset that we were able to enjoy after we got the boat back in the water and it just made it feel that much more beautiful.

$30.00 - $295.00