Featured Underwater Photographer – Charly Clérisse

One of the best ways to learn photography is to see other photographers’ work. We try to find some of the best underwater photographers in the world, and showcase their work, along with the gear they use, to help other aspiring photographers improve, learn new skills and get inspired. This week we will feature the talented Charly Clérisse!

About Charly

Hello Everyone!

My name is Charly Clérisse and I am a 27 years old PADI MSDT who is currently back home in Spain due to the Covid-19 situation. I have been an active dive professional for almost 4 years now, travelling a bit all around the world to follow my passion: my job brought me to Honduras, Greece, Thailand and I was working in Maldives, in the South Malé Atoll, when the pandemic started.

Since I was a kid, I have always felt attracted by the ocean, spending hours snorkelling and observing what was trapped and the tidal pools, but I was scared of diving because I thought sharks would come and eat me! It wasn’t until my friends insisted on taking me on a Discover Scuba Diving experience in 2015 that my fears changed into a passion, that still to this day grows.

None of my family members and not many of my friends at the time were divers, but I wanted to share my passion with them: I started with a little GoPro Hero to record what I was seeing to share with them, and it was at that moment that my love for underwater photography started! Later on, I upgraded to an Olympus TG4, and then an Olympus TG5, and some strobes, lights and lenses and here I am today! I have currently upgraded to a Sony a6500, but I have to wait until the end of the confinement to give it a try!

For me, Underwater Photography is my way of showing people my world and how I see it, and also help to educate people about the underwater world. While working in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, I used my photography to help ID the different species of nudibranchs of the area, and while working in Maldives, I would take my camera to help ID the Mantas passing in the area, helping the organisation Manta Trust with their studies. In July 2019, I managed to capture some belly shots of a very young Reef Manta, and I was even allowed to name it!

I think the best way of improving your photography is to get to know your camera very well: you can get a truly amazing footage with basic gear, a bit of luck, a bit of knowledge, a bit of patience and a LOT of practise. And always keep it fun! You won’t get perfect shots straight away, but heads up, it only gets better!