Articles

A classic shark portrait of a Caribbean reef shark, California, USA
 

While lots of California’s coastline is well-known for diving, San Diego has to be very near the top in terms of quality and diversity of marine life. Shane Wiese grew up in San Diego, unsure of what he wanted to do with his life—until a trip to Maui at age 18 changed everything. While exploring the island, he randomly walked into a photography gallery and was so inspired by the images that he immediately knew he wanted to pursue photography. Upon returning home, he bought his first camera, a Pentax, and began teaching himself the craft.

Shane’s initial focus was on landscape photography, but in 2011, he took up scuba diving—an experience that yet again transformed his creative direction. He purchased his first underwater camera setup, a Nikon D800E in a Nauticam housing, and quickly became captivated by the world of underwater photography. In the years since, Shane has traveled extensively, photographing marine life wherever and whenever possible. While living in California, he concentrated on macro photography due to limited visibility for wide-angle shots. He often dove at Point Loma and La Jolla Shores, favorite dive spots for locals, especially those interested in nudibranchs and sea slugs.

Despite his love for macro, Shane’s dream was always to live somewhere tropical with warm waters, where he could focus more on wide-angle photography and larger marine animals like sharks. During the COVID pandemic, he left his job and began working on a dive boat to gain more in-water experience. After that endeavor, he moved to Oahu and worked on several boats, eventually training as a safety diver for a shark snorkel operation. Ultimately, Shane relocated to Florida, where he currently lives and dives.

Today, Shane works on a local shark diving boat, allowing him to specialize in shark photography. Still, he occasionally misses the macro subjects he once photographed in California—and who knows, maybe one day he’ll return!
 

The sun reflects brilliantly off a freediver’s mask in the cenotes, Mexico
 

A tiger shark portrait in black and white, Florida, USA
 

A Mola mola, or ocean sunfish, cruises just below the sunlit surface far offshore California, USA
 

Green sea turtles reach the northernmost extent of their Pacific range in southern California, USA
 

A freediver explores a kelp forest off San Diego, California, USA
 

California’s most iconic nudibranch species, the Spanish shawl, California, USA
 

A prehistoric looking sevengill shark passes overhead in the kelp, California, USA
 

A small pod of spinner dolphins blasts past the camera, Hawaii, USA
 

A surprise visit from a great white shark in the shallows! California, USA
 

A spectacular cockscomb nudibranch feasting on eggs, California, USA
 

A green sea turtle chowing down on tasty seaweed at sunset, California, USA
 

A spearfisher explores a spectacular coral reef, Indonesia
 

A gorgeous little Polycera species, a common sight in southern California, California, USA
 

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