After learning to scuba dive in 1996 her passion in life became the ocean and the captivating underwater marine world taking her to the Cayman Islands on a diving trip and it was only a matter of time before she had a camera in hand. A two week holiday in Grand Cayman became six years and during this time she became a Scuba Diving Instructor specialising in teaching underwater photography. Inspired by working with underwater photographer Cathy Church Maria gave lectures in underwater photography instruction gaining experience and expertise in this field.
With Maria’s background in forensic photography she has established an integrated approach to taking her own unique collection of award winning underwater photographs with attention to detail gaining recognition as a photo pro and founded and launched the first digital photo and video centre within a reputable dive resort.
Maria played an important role as the official photographer and videographer for the Shark Awareness Project in Grand Cayman in a two year study of Caribbean Reef Sharks. Maria established and developed a photo identification database of the resident population of sharks and her images became an integral part of a Shark Awareness lecture, developed by marine biologist Dr. Alex Brylske from the Coral Reef Alliance, for divers to attend prior to the shark dive. As well as documenting and producing an archive of all shark dives Maria worked alongside assistant professor Dr. Mahmood Shivji from the Nova Southeastern University and marine biologist Dr. Guy Harvey from the Guy Harvey Research Institute documenting on film the process of DNA samples taken and the identification tagging of sharks.
Maria’s most recent expedition took her to Yap in Micronesia for 15 months where she was commissioned as an underwater photo pro involved in the Manta Ray Awareness Specialty dives. This specialty involved the identification through individual markings of specific Manta Rays, identifying male or female, estimate wingspan and to document specific behaviors at cleaning stations and their mating rituals. Maria became an active member of the Manta Ray Research Affiliates Program with the Save The Manta Network and Conservation where her photographs will become part of the global identification database of manta rays providing a resource for scientific investigations and an informational source for public awareness activities.
Maria has a gallery collection of her photographs which are available for commercial use and prints can be purchased by contacting her by email: maria@mariamcglynn.com
