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Nose to dome with a silky shark in Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina
 

Some epic dive destinations can be found in Southeast Asia, and underwater photographers from that part of the world often love to shoot macro in Lembeh, Anilao and other famous muck diving destinations. However, our Photographer of the Week, Singaporean Mok Wai Hoe, prefers wide angle, and his entire portfolio consists of a variety of different shark species and other marine megafauna.

Known simply as “Mok,” he has a background in business and marketing, and manages a company that deals with industrial electrical engineering across Southeast Asia and China. Whenever he is not busy with his day job, he travels far and wide to follow his two passions, scuba diving and underwater photography.

In 2018, he was named Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year, and his images have placed in numerous photography competitions as well as appearing online and in various dive magazines. Mok considers the ocean his sanctuary from the hectic life in Singapore—a place where he can find solace and recharge his batteries.

Mok’s images do an excellent job of showcasing the highlights of every destination he visits, and his wide-angle work includes great over-unders, surface reflections, and excellent use of natural light. He has nailed shots of the most iconic species travelers can expect to encounter in each location, including silky sharks, manta rays and dolphins in Socorro, humpback whales in Tonga, and crocodiles in Cuba—subjects that are at the top of many photographers’ wish lists. Mok hopes that by presenting these animals to the world, he can inspire others to contribute to their conservation and protect what we love for future generations.
 

Portrait of a scalloped hammerhead, Cocos Island, Costa Rica
 

At Cocos Island, Costa Rica, whitetip reef sharks come out to hunt at night
 

Silky sharks circle above a manta ray off Socorro Island, Mexico
 

Secret nursery: A juvenile shark at a remote lagoon in Rangiroa, French Polynesia
 

A family of bottlenose dolphins, Tiputa Pass, French Polynesia
 

The sun sets on a lone silky shark, Jardines de la Reina, Cuba
 

At Vava‘u, Tonga, a humpback slaps the surface of the water with explosive results
 

An American crocodile—affectionately called niño, or “little one” in Spanish, by the local fishermen—flashes a smile, Jardines de la Reina, Cuba
 

An underwater videographer gets lost in a school of jacks off Cocos Island, Costa Rica
 

At sunset, a silky shark comes out to hunt, Jardines de la Reina, Cuba
 

Mok Wai Hoe
 

For more of Mok’s beautiful big animal portraits, check out his website, www.mokwaihoe.com, or follow him on Facebook and Instagram.