Articles

A true meeting of the minds among a group of bluespotted stingrays, Bali, Indonesia
 

It may not come as a surprise that we have another Monterey Bay-based shooter as our latest DPG Photographer of the Week! Fantastic dive destinations breed fantastic underwater photographers. Keith Kirkpatrick was first certified as a diver in grade school during a family vacation but rediscovered his passion for diving in 2021 while in Mexico for a wedding. At the time, he was living in San Francisco, but during the pandemic, he took advantage of remote work and moved to Panama with his cousin—also a diver—for easier access to warm-water scuba and freediving.

Before relocating, Keith bought a SeaLife SportDiver housing. Despite limited diving and photography experience, he felt that diving without a camera seemed unthinkable given how accessible underwater photography had become. While in Panama, it became clear that this new interest was more than a passing phase, and he soon upgraded his gear. Seeking more consistent diving opportunities, Keith moved to Monterey to hone his skills. With a background in classical music performance, he was familiar with the discipline required to master a craft, but he quickly learned how challenging underwater photography can be in Monterey’s cold and dynamic conditions. Fortunately, the local dive community that Monterey is so well-known for provided both inspiration and support.

In Monterey, Keith also became involved in programs like Reef Check California, allowing him to contribute to marine conservation while exploring new dive sites and sharpening his eye for wildlife. Although he still plans to travel for photography, he’s focused on discovering more along the California coast, where simply moving up or down the state’s dramatic coastline often reveals something new.
 

Bottlenose dolphins curiously inspect the photographer, Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico
 

Huge strands of bull kelp tower above the seafloor, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A cabezon, a classic California fish, shelters in a grove of plumose anemones, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

California’s most famous fish, the garibaldi, hangs out in a kelp forest, Catalina Island, California, USA
 

A green sea turtle performs a perfect eclipse against the tropical sun, Indonesia
 

A stunning kelp canopy, backlit by the sun, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Light beams slice through small gaps in the kelp, making for an ethereal scene, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A stunning, and classic, kelp forest scene from a well-known dive site in Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

An oceanic manta strikes a perfectly photogenic pose, Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico
 

A riot of color as a clown dorid cruises through a field of brittle stars and sea cucumbers, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

One of the world’s most beautiful sharks, the silvertip, cuts through the darkness, Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico
 

A silvertip cuts through a school of jacks, Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico
 

A pile-up of whitetip reef sharks, a classic scene in the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico
 

A characterful close-up of a yellowfin fringehead, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

To see more of Keith’s fantastic underwater work, please give him a follow on Instagram.