Articles

The toothy end of a colorful sand diver, Bonaire
 

Isabella Zandona is a Brazilian underwater photographer, cold water diver and marine biologist based in the Pacific Northwest. Bella’s fascination with marine life began in first grade while completing a school project on squid. This early curiosity led her to pursue a degree in marine biology from the University of Oregon, and her scientific journey includes research at the Neill Lab, where she contributes to studies on neural and sensory systems of octopuses, gaining hands-on experience in husbandry, microscopy and experimental design. She also spent time at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB), investigating coastal ecosystems and diverse invertebrate communities.

Certified as a scuba diver in 2018, Bella quickly immersed herself in underwater photography. Her work focuses on the often overlooked aspects of marine life, capturing the details of creatures from both warm and cold water environments. In 2019, she launched her Instagram account, a platform to share her underwater photography and connect with a global audience. She combines photography and videography to educate thousands of followers about the underwater world, from the cold waters of Seattle to tropical reefs across the world.

Bella’s work has been recognized internationally, with features from National Geographic, Canon, Divers Alert Network and Flickr Explore. Her passion for the ocean and photography has led to ambassadorship roles with Marelux and Suunto, as well as a sponsorship from Mares. Bella also works with God’s Pocket Resort, traveling to the site often to combine diving and photography, showcasing both the resort itself and the spectacular marine ecosystem surrounding it.
 

A small green turtle heads towards the surface for a breath, Bonaire
 

The cute and cuddly mug of a wolf eel! Washington, USA
 

White-lined dirona are beautiful and impressive nudibranchs of the Pacific Northwest, Washington, USA
 

The fantastic colors and patterns on the face of a bluestriped grunt, Bonaire
 

A staring contest between the camera and a Pacific red octopus, Washington, USA
 

A spotted cleaner shrimp hidden in the stinging tentacles of an anemone, Bonaire
 

One of the world’s cutest cephalopods, the stubby squid! Washington, USA
 

The moment an opalescent squid emerges from its egg case, Washington, USA
 

A close up look at the details of plumose anemone tentacles, Washington, USA
 

A portrait of a Caribbean reef squid against the classic Caribbean blue, Roatán, Honduras
 

Greenling eggs adorn some aquatic plants, Washington, USA
 

A lady wolf eel poses for the camera outside her den, Washington, USA
 

To see more of Bella’s work, please give her a follow on Instagram.