Articles

'Julie's Wreck', illuminated during by a handheld torch during a long exposure, Florida, USA
 

While he's now based in sunny South Florida, new DPG photographer of the week, Lawrence Watkins V kickstarted his passion for the outdoors way up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Decidedly not the best dive destination on earth, Lawrence's love of photography and underwater photography specifically, began with a move to Hawaii in 2018. First, he had to concur a fear of the water, but once that was accomplished, he was off to the races and a scuba certification followed shortly thereafter.

With every dive, Lawrence's fascination with and love for the ocean grew stronger and he has traveled all over the globe from Indonesia, to Australia, to Bonaire, to the Cayman Islands, in pursuit of underwater adventures and experiences. The more he dived, the more he desired to make underwater pictures. Being a South Florida resident, Lawrence has some world class diving in his backyard now and uses that to his advantage to hone is underwater photography skills. You'll see many images in his feature here from his home waters.

Lawrence says his favorite underwater playground is the world famous Blue Heron Bridge. It is the perfect dive site to hone photography skills on some incredibly sought after subjects. His passion for underwater photography, marine life, and camera gear has led Lawrence to a career in the underwater photography genre and is a product tester and gear professional at Reef Photo and Video.
 

Goliath groupers stacked up on a deep wreck during breeding season, Florida, USA
 

A lively little coral bommie amongst the sand, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands
 

A spectacularly adorned larval flounder on a blackwater dive, Florida, USA
 

A well hidden sargassumfish waits in ambush for prey, Florida, USA
 

A green sea turtle rests for a moment in some gorgonians, Bonaire
 

No bottle goes to waste underwater, they are often occupied by octopi, Florida, USA
 

Noticeable only due to snooted lighting, a spotted scorpionfish lies in ambush beneath the Blue Heron Bridge, Florida, USA
 

A pair of beautiful Flabellina marcusorum hunt for hydroids to feed on, Florida, USA
 

A larval anemone drifts through the deep at night, Florida, USA
 

A bumblebee shrimp climbing over the bumpy terrain on the back of a cushion star, Florida, USA
 

The beautifully symmetrical details of a Christmas tree worm, Bonaire
 

To see more of Lawrence’s work, please give him a follow on Instagram and visit his website, www.lgwvphoto.com.