Articles

A head-on look at an adorable squat lobster, Scotland, UK
 

As much as we love our Monterey shooters here at DPG, this week we break from the temperate Pacific and head to the temperate Atlantic! Manu Kerro's passion for the underwater world began at the age of 16. However, it wasn’t until moving to the UK and re-certifying as a diver—this time in preparation for a sailing holiday in Greece—that diving truly became a significant part of his life. From then on, most of his weekends and vacations were spent exploring the underwater world.

While he always had a love for photography, it was in 2016 that Manu discovered the magic of making pictures underwater. For him, the turning point came when he was given Alex Mustard’s Underwater Photography Masterclass, a book that became a source of endless inspiration. Although he didn’t yet own an underwater camera setup, he immersed himself in Alex’s techniques on lighting and composition—dreaming of the day he’d have his own gear and be able to emulate those images.

That dream became a reality in 2018 when Manu purchased a second-hand Canon EOS 60D with an Ikelite housing. He was over the moon. A couple of years later, Manu made the big jump to a Canon EOS-1DX Mark II. Coupled with a one-to-one workshop with Alex Mustard himself, this new setup opened up a world of creative possibilities and helped elevate his photography to the next level. While balancing a busy career as a piano technician and diving instructor, Manu still manages around 40 photo dives each year but remains committed to carving out more time to pursue his passion.

While much of his diving and photography is done locally around the UK, a recent trip to Indonesia was a dream come true, offering an incredibly rich underwater world filled with endless photographic opportunities. Manu especially enjoys experimenting with lighting techniques and super-macro compositions to showcase the beauty of hidden underwater environments—particularly in UK waters, which often surprise divers with their unexpected vibrancy and biodiversity.
 

A sea fan grows on a healthy wall, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
 

Straight down the barrel of a well-camouflaged crocodilefish, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
 

The enigmatic and popular Nembrotha kubaryana, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
 

A three-line goby that has picked a wonderfully aesthetic perch, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
 

A ghost goby, unfortunately sporting a pair of parasites on its gills, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
 

An upside down perspective on a colorful squat lobster, Scotland, UK
 

The intricately patterned Polycera quadrilineata, munching on seagrass, Scotland, UK
 

A diver explores a flooded quarry tunnel, UK
 

The adorable face of a spotted catshark, a small, cold-water species, Mull of Kintyre, UK
 

A beautiful, and aptly named firework anemone, Scotland, UK
 

A squat lobster stretches its arms up into the water column while backlit on a kelp leaf, Scotland, UK
 

A close-up portrait of a beautifully colored long-spined sea scorpion, Scotland, UK
 

A diver explores a sunken plane, lit from within by a torch, Stoney Cove, UK

A conger eel peering out of a section of the Baygitano wreck, Dorset, UK
 

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