MY STORY
My affinity for the water began early in life, considering both my parents managed swimming schools, I’m not sure there was ever much choice, I learned to swim before I learned to walk. One of my core memories as a child was swimming alongside barrel-rolling manta rays with my family. I remember this experience fondly as one of awe and wonder, a moment that was filed away as I grew older, almost like a distant dream.
Paired with my wild spirit and deep love for nature, some might have thought the ocean becoming my office was inevitable, but it wasn’t realised until later in life . I spent my initial years out of school working as a social worker. However, after getting married, my husband Derek and I decided to embark on our own lap around Australia with an open mind to finding purpose and fulfilment elsewhere.
We snorkelled the Ningaloo Reef and it was then that we both, simultaneously discovered the ocean and its complexity, beauty and mystery. On a single breath you could enter another realm, with vast blue expanses that never end, vibrant coral reefs that garden the seafloor, ocean inhabitants wilder than ones imagination – it was as alien as I would ever encounter. When learning to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, I remember being entranced by the smaller details of the ocean, breath hold no longer a barrier, I watched as the more discreet layers of the ocean revealed themselves. The partnerships, the connections, the balance. To say the ocean has changed our lives is an under statement, both finding a deep sense of purpose and overwhelming joy.
”We have no fear of depths, but a great fear of shallow living” – Anais Non
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We couldn’t go back, we couldn’t unsee, and this passion ultimately led us to take a leap of faith— we quit our conventional careers and left our hometown to pursue a new path. We trained and worked Dive Master and Dive Instructor in Cairns, where we had the privilege of introducing both beginner and experienced divers to the living, breathing underwater world. Interpreting the beat of the ocean, communicating not only its value and beauty but also its fragility and vulnerability.
“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” – David Attenborough
All this time, I was using an action camera avidly, whilst the sensors were small, the quality low and the editing possibilities limited, photography was the way to blend my creative side with my passion for the underwater world and my desire to share it. Piece by piece, I gathered a professional-level camera and housing, dedicating countless hours underwater learning the complexities of imagery underwater. Eventually, I decided to focus primarily on ocean photography and began working as a Professional Underwater Photographer for various tour operators along the East Coast.
Since then, I let my pursuit for photography guide us to the Coral Coast, Western Australia. The World Heritage Area is a haven for a diverse array of marine life year round, and a stronghold for many threatened species. Known for hosting an annual aggregation of Whale Sharks, a Humpback Whale migration, resident and transient Manta Rays & Sea Turtle nesting, the Ningaloo seemed like the perfect place to further my photography. Boasting deep oceanic waters along a narrow continental shelf, nutrient rich currents, a lagoon with thriving coral reefs and an unspoilt coastline where desert meets the sea, the Ningaloo is a rare pocket of wilderness amongst our developed world. The vastness of the ocean will never not humble me, after all only the big blue can make a whale shark look tiny. I am lucky enough to call the Ningaloo Reef my backyard and my office, and am privileged to bear witness to the grace, beauty and mystery of the ocean on a daily basis.
‘The ocean is this beautiful, unexplored place. Why on earth isn’t everyone down here, I don’t know’ – Graham Hawkes.
Through my Instagram, @underwateralive, I aim to connect to likeminded people, share the stories, intricacy’s and vastness of the ocean and its inhabitants. A place where reality is wilder and infinitely more beautiful than your imagination, a place I care about so deeply. I hope my work inspires others to connect with the living, breathing underwater world, and provokes contemplation about our responsibility in preserving it for future generations.
”Take nothing but photos, Leave nothing but bubbles, kill nothing but time” – Aaliyah Eniath
LIVING SUSTAINABLY
Surrounded by the stunning landscapes of the Ningaloo region, where desert meets the sea, living sustainably here means embracing the rhythms of nature. The proximity to one of the world’s most vibrant marine ecosystems is not only a great privilege but also a great responsibility. Whether it’s snorkelling with whale sharks, hiking through Cape Range National Park, or simply stargazing under the clear outback skies, the tiny home lifestyle aligns with our values, fostering deep respect for the natural world.
We made the choice to ‘live tiny’, and own a second hand 8.4m home on wheels. The tiny offers us unique opportunity to embrace a simpler, eco-conscious lifestyle while meeting all our needs. Designed to minimise our environmental footprint by incorporating sustainable practices such as solar power, waterless waste systems, mindful consumption and learning to live and thrive with less.
”Less house, more home” – Jay Schaffer
CONTACT ME
Whether you’re a retailer looking to stock my ocean-inspired products, a traveller or ocean lover interested in photography and expeditions, or a tourism operator seeking creative collaborations — I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch today and let’s create something extraordinary together.