Articles

Whale shark, South Ari Atoll, Maldives
 

A freediving underwater photographer based in Sydney, Australia, David Edgar enjoys photographing all kinds of marine life, but his passion is shooting big animals such as whales, sharks and other pelagic fish. He learnt to freedive when he purchased his first underwater camera housing, because he believes this is the best way to get close to wildlife and interact with animals on their own terms. Nearly all of his photos have been taken on one breath.

He has as traveled to well-known destinations such as Tonga, Indonesia and Iceland to seek out encounters with specific subjects, and has been able to capture some awesome images of humpback whales, sea lions, manta rays, and orcas, many of which feature his partner freediving alongside these magnificent creatures. He also regularly dives closer to home, where he continues to improve his breath-holds and wide-angle skills while photographing the amazing local marine life around Manly, particularly within Cabbage Tree Bay.

As you can see below, David’s portfolio consists exclusively of wide-angle images shot with natural light close to the surface, and features some highly prized subjects that all underwater photographers hope to encounter. He often includes other divers in the scene, too, which gives the viewer a good sense of scale and provides an insight into how it really feels to dive alongside these gentle giants. Clearly focusing on these types of dive trips and encounters has paid off, while also proving that you don’t necessarily need to be a certified scuba diver to capture great underwater images.
 

Humpback whale with dive boat in the background, Tonga
 

Orcas carousel feeding, Norwegian Arctic
 

Swimming with manta rays, South Ari Atoll, Maldives
 

Giant cuttlefish, Sydney, Australia
 

Humpback whales and divers, Tonga
 

Australian sea lions, Baird Bay, South Australia
 

Whale shark, Palawan, Philippines
 

Humpback whale, Tonga
 

Orca, Norwegian Arctic
 

Humpback whale pectoral pose, Tonga
 

Humpback whale selfie, Tonga
 

To see more of David’s freediving underwater images, check out his regularly updated Instagram page or visit his website, www.edgarpacific.com.