Articles

A common octopus makes itself big and bold as it moves across the bottom, Porthkerris, UK
 

Owen Sanders was born in South West England, and has always grown up by the sea. Coming from a family of divers, he first learned to dive in 2018 with his brother, Aaron, a previous DPG Photographer of the Week! At first, diving was simply a hobby, but his passion for photography began when his brother introduced him to the world of underwater photography, allowing him to borrow his camera for a few minutes at a time during dives.

He vividly remembers the dive that sparked his love for underwater photography. Owen and Aaron drove three hours to Cornwall late one evening to dive at a small cove called Durgan, known for its abundant marine life. The cove is home to a lush meadow of seagrass and remains relatively shallow, making it an ideal dive site. This was one of his first serious dives with a camera, and he spent just under two hours underwater photographing bobtail squids and a variety of other marine species. After the dive, the pair drove home and arrived in the early hours of the morning. Although exhausted after being awake all night, Owen realized this was the moment he truly fell in love with underwater photography.

In 2024, Owen began studying Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University. Since then, he has spent much of his time exploring the Cornish coastline and developing his skills in the water. From diving with gray seals to encountering alien-like octopuses, he is passionate about discovering and documenting the incredible marine life found around the UK.

Underwater photography has now become far more than a hobby. Every time Owen leaves the water, his appreciation for it grows even stronger. Spending 10–15 minutes observing an octopus as it searches for food is, to him, an unforgettable experience. He also values the challenges that come with underwater photography, particularly in UK waters, where storms and plankton blooms can often make conditions unpredictable. Despite these difficulties, being able to enter the water and create images he is proud of gives him an immense sense of satisfaction.
 

A large common octopus moves through the kelp, Porthkerris, UK
 

A spider climbing through kelp on an old wreck, Falmouth, UK
 

A curious gray seal eyes its reflection in the dome, Brixham, UK
 

An aptly-named spiny starfish wrapped around a kelp front, Porthkerris, UK
 

Eye spy an octopus, peering through the kelp, Porthkerris, UK
 

A green turtle glides over the reef beneath the desert sun, Red Sea, Egypt
 

A common octopus rests at the entrance to its den, Porthkerris, UK
 

A slow-shutter image of a green turtle as it leaves the reef to get a breath, Red Sea, Egypt
 

A beautiful mauve stinger glides through the sun rays, Falmouth, UK
 

A slow-shutter image of a parrotfish on the reef, Red Sea, Egypt
 

A spotted catshark emerges from a thick bed of seagrass, Durgan, UK
 

A green turtle tries to shake a pesky remora off its shell, Red Sea, Egypt
 

A bobtail squid raises its arms in a defensive display, Durgan, UK
 

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