TITLE: "Into the light"

A playful sea lion pup heads towards the surface for air after playing in the shadows of a deep cave, collecting starfish and pebbles. A thriving sea lion population can be found at Los Islotes, near La Paz , Mexico, a Unesco protected marine biosphere zone, where fishing is restricted, as is access for tourists, so that the fish, sea lions and abundant seabirds have proliferated. A rich haven of life.

AUTHOR: Catherine Holmes (United Kingdom)

*

Catherine Holmes is an underwater photographer, dentist and watercolour artist who through her imagery hopes to inspire people to nurture and protect our fragile underwater world for future generations to enjoy. Catherine spent her early life in Australia close to the sea. She now lives in England, working as a Dental Surgeon, and travelling widely across the globe, venturing underwater to capture images wherever she goes. Her work features images from Indonesia, Red Sea, Galapagos, Maldives and the Caribbean. In her work with watercolours she would describe herself as a colourist, which shines through in her photographic work. She strives to portray images that capture the vibrant colours and light underwater in overall painterly compositions. As a member of the British Society of Underwater Photographers, Catherine has won awards in many international competitions, most recently the Underwater winner of GDT European Wildlife photographer of the year 2023, as well as recognition in the Siena International photo awards the Underwater Photographer of the Year, Ocean Art, Ocean Geographic and the World Shootout. Catherine’s imagery and articles have been widely published in Underwater magazines. She states: “I am always at my happiest underwater, a place of beauty, calm and silence – perhaps I was always meant to be a mermaid.”