Diving into the mesmerizing world beneath the waves with a camera in hand is an exhilarating adventure like no other! Underwater photography brings a unique set of challenges and joys, and those photographers who dare to venture into this watery realm know it well. Capturing the ethereal beauty of marine life requires patience, skill and the right gear, and Sony cameras are the perfect companions for these underwater explorers. From vibrant coral reefs to graceful sea turtles to swimmers in the pool, the underwater photographic opportunities are endless. Check out these incredible underwater photographers, be inspired by their work, and give them a follow on Instagram. And follow @SonyAlpha on Instagram for even more epic images and inspiration.

Embrace discovery and see how these underwater explorers use patience, skill & the right gear to capture the otherworldly life beneath the surface of the sea.

Cristina Mittermeier - @Mitty

Sony Brand Ambassador and co-founder of the nonprofit SeaLegacy Cristina Mittermeier has dedicated her life's work to photographing and protecting our oceans. If you scroll through Cristina’s Instagram account, you’ll see the magical world of ocean life with accompanying captions educating you on the scene you’re seeing and how you can help protect it. We adore this image of fur seals swimming through kelp. In the caption, she explains that “Kelp forests like this grow all over the world in cold, nutrient-dense waters. They provide food and shelter for a vast array of marine species. The services they produce for our planet are invaluable, but not, as it turns out, incalculable.”

Stan Moniz - @stanmoniz

Meet Stan Moniz, a Sony Brand Ambassador and an embodiment of adventure and outdoor photography. With a deep-rooted passion for the surf, Stan's journey began as a professional bodyboarder, where he rode the thrilling waves of adrenaline. As time flowed, he found himself naturally transitioning into the creative side, using photography to capture the essence of outdoor exploration. Stan's unique vision paints a vivid portrait of the dynamic beauty found in moving water, skillfully immortalizing the exhilarating adventures of the great outdoors through his mesmerizing photography and captivating films. We love this split shot of a sea turtle made on the Sony Alpha 1 with the Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master.

Andy Mann – @andy_mann

Sony Brand Ambassador Andy Mann is a National Geographic photographer and storyteller for SeaLegacy. Mann is an expert at making storytelling images of adventure, wildlife, and environmental issues. We love the action and perspective in this image. Shot on the Sony Alpha 1, Andy captured the frenzy of the moment while still creating a storytelling scene about these pelicans.

Paul Nicklen - @​​paulnicklen

Along with Mittermeier, Paul Nicklen is a co-founder of SeaLegacy and a Sony Brand Ambassador. What we love about Nicklen’s work is the intimacy he gets with his subjects. Whenever we look at his images, we feel we are right there experiencing an epic moment with wildlife. In the caption of this image, he talks about his process a little bit stating, “I love searching for compositions that reveal new sides to our planet’s most misunderstood predators.” And this composition does just that, we love that he used the split shot technique to reveal more of the landscape, rather than just isolate the animal.

Stacy Howell – @stacyhowellinthewater

We all remember long days spent at the pool during the summer as kids. That is what is evoked when scrolling through Stacy Howell’s Instagram! Located in Charleston, South Carolina, Stacy has an Instagram account dedicated to time spent in the water. In addition to spending time in the water, Stacy is a commercial and editorial photographer who is well-known for her food imagery.

Ollie Clarke - @ollie_underwater

Ollie Clarke is an ocean photographer based on the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.  His main style of photography is wide angle underwater, but he also dabbles in some wildlife and landscape photography. Having studied and worked in conservation Ollie hopes to try and inspire people to learn more about our oceans and the challenges facing them in today's world. Ollie’s go-to setup underwater is the Sony Alpha 7 III paired with the Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6. Check out Ollie’s full kit HERE.

Stefan Haworth - @stefan_haworth

Stefan Haworth is a New Zealand-based photographer and Sony Ambassador whose work focuses on action sports and commercial projects. His Instagram feed is filled with stunning scenery and outdoor moments. We love the image below of a swimmer moving through the water while sun rays beam through. Stefan made this shot with the Sony Alpha 7R III, one of his main cameras, in addition to the Sony Alpha 1. For more stunning adventure imagery, be sure to check out his profile!

Santiago Meli Lernoud - @santireef

Santiago Meli Lernoud is an ocean and wildlife photographer and videographer. Originally from Argentina, Santiago now calls Australia home. It was in Queensland where he made the image below. We are drawn to the texture on the sand and the graphic elements of the shark from above. Santiago made this shot with his Sony Alpha 7S III. If you love ocean wildlife, this is an account you must add to your feed.