Articles

A shrimp hogging the spotlight on the kelp, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Megan Pitcavage is a San Francisco-based underwater photographer drawn to the small, often-overlooked details of the ocean, and you’ll see proof of that in her feature here. She has been diving for over 20 years, but only began bringing a camera underwater in 2019, quickly discovering a passion for macro photography and a new way of experiencing the underwater world. Most weekends she heads to Monterey Bay to dive and shoot, while also working as a divemaster on a local dive boat, an instructor, and a volunteer with Reef Check.

In the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Northern California, Megan has developed a deep appreciation for the intricate beauty of the smallest fishes, kelp-dwelling invertebrates, and the textures of life hidden in plain sight. By returning to the same sites again and again, she has come to know them intimately, often revisiting familiar critters like old friends, allowing her to observe subtle behaviors and capture each subject’s unique character.

Through her lens, Megan highlights the diversity and resilience of temperate marine ecosystems, which can be just as compelling as their tropical counterparts. Despite limited visibility, surge, and cold temperatures, these waters reward those willing to slow down and look closely.

Her photography is rooted in curiosity and patience, inspired by the meditative process of macro shooting, hovering still, observing, and waiting for the right moment. Her goal is to inspire others to look closer and appreciate the incredible life beneath the surface—no matter the conditions.
 

A beautiful purple sea nettle cruises near the surface, California, USA
 

A perturbed-looking yellowhead fringehead, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

The aptly-named shaggy mouse nudibranch, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A small goby perched on a matching bat star, Monterey Bay, California, USA

An adorable prickleback eyeballs the camera, California, USA
 

A skeleton shrimp does its best to remain inconspicuous, California, USA
 

A kelp canopy, illuminated by gorgeous sun rays, California, USA
 

A beautiful sculpin, photographed at a wide aperture, seeming to make it melt into the sponge, California, USA
 

Air bubbles cling to a kelp leaf, California, USA
 

A beautiful and very symmetrical shrimp on a kelp frond, California, USA
 

Playful California sea lion pups come down to inspect the camera, Coronado Islands, Mexico
 

A portrait of a stunning Cockerell’s Dorid, California, USA
 

Greenling eggs have almost fully developed and are near to hatching, California, USA
 

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