Late in May of this year, a curious e-mail from the Broadreach office appeared in my inbox. What could this be? The next thing I knew, I was at training in Raleigh and soon thereafter, on a flight to Bonaire. Where? At once, I was whisked away for an experience I will never forget. 

I was, with body bag full of unfamiliar “gear and apparatuses” and a small bag of my own, en route to a place I had never heard of two weeks prior. Perfect! I would spend the next six weeks of my summer as academic lead for Broadreach’s Underwater Photography Program alongside my co-lead, dive instructor and the thirteen adventurous teenagers. The protected marine park and reefs of Bonaire welcomed the group and allowed us to explore its mysterious wonders from behind the lens. Bonaire is a perfect place for underwater photography. The island’s colorful reefs and diverse marine life are unique to the Caribbean because Bonaire’s waters have been protected by a managed marine park for over 30 years. In fact, the waters have been ranked as one of the best places for scuba diving in the world.  Because of little rainfall, the waters are exceptionally clear of silt, calm and diveable year round. For a photographer, who has just slipped below the surface as a freshly certified scuba diver for the first time, this is visual heaven.

The images, taken with a simple point and shoot camera, are my story of a discovery of a new frontier. A microcosm of visual delights and mystery. This underwater universe brought something new to encounter and learn about with each kick of a fin. The odd and the rare. The beautiful and boring. The strange and comical. The loners and the posers that run in a click. So many different shapes, sizes, colors and personalities. Something captured me in these waters and has left me with wanting to go back for more. Perhaps, I am fascinated by the treasure of diversity of life that is waiting to be discovered under the surface of the waters of Bonaire. Although these creatures and living beings are each unique, their coexistence is essential to the health and livelihood of their future. These are the residents of my own underwater Utopia. Thank you Broadreach!