My name is Charly Clérisse and I am an Underwater Photographer, Diving Instructor and Ocean lover. Born in France, I grew up in Spain close to the Mediterranean Sea: I always was attracted to the ocean but it wasn’t until 2015 I did my first dive, in the Canary Islands. I got hooked on the spot, and since then have been living for diving and exploring the seas.
As of right now, I am the Dive Manager on board Scubaspa Yang, located in the Maldives. My job allows me to work doing what I love, scuba diving on a daily basis! Most of the time, we run trips through the Central Atolls of Maldives, having amazing interactions with sharks and manta rays all year around. Sometimes I am also guiding underwater photographers, helping them to get the best shots they can while on board.
I started Underwater Photography in 2016, just using a GoPro and a light, to keep memories of the beauty hidden underwater, to mostly share what I saw with my friends and family who were not divers. Later on I purchased a little Olympus TG5 with an old second hand strobe, that I owned for over 2 years, allowing me to learn a lot about photography.
In late 2019, I purchased my current camera, a Sony a6500 in Fantasea Housing, with which I managed to gain some recognition over the years. I am now currently using a Sony a6500, in an EasyDive Leo Wii 3 Housing, with the Sony 10-18mm for Wide Angle and the Sony 90mm for Macro, adding occasionally a Nauticam SMC-1 for Super Macro. As per strobes, I am currently using dual Sea&Sea YS-D3 Mark ll.
One of my proudest moments as an Underwater Photographer was in April 2023, when my picture ‘Pretty in Pink’ was shortlisted at the Sony World Award Competition, and was displayed on a giant 2mx3m canvas! Also, in October 2022, my picture ‘It’s my turn to get the camera’ was featured on the front cover of Scubadiving Magazine, being my first ever publication in a magazine.
My favourite subjects to photograph are, of course, Nudibranchs: slow movers, elegant, crazy patterns and the most vivid colours. How not to? I do enjoy shooting Squids and Octopus, as they are smart, you can observe very unique behaviours and get very interesting pictures. Mantas and larger animals are also on my list, but I am a big Macro lover all the way!
In the near future, I hope to be able to give more time to my photography journey and invest in a bigger setup: as per right now, my eyes are set on the Sony a7RV, let’s see what the future will bring!
‘Cuttlefish Portrait’ – a curious Pharaoh Cuttlefish posing for my camera in Gili Air, Indonesia.
‘Paparazzi’ – a diver trying to take a picture of a fairly uncommon Olive Ridley Turtle in Tulamben, Bali.
‘Diamond in the Rough’ – a lovely little Berry’s Bobtail Squid ready to bury itself during a night dive in Amed, Bali.
‘Slug Portrait’ – Hypselodoris tryonii in Bunutan, Bali.
‘Standing Proud’ – Hypselodoris apolegma standing up in Tulamben, Bali.
‘Shaun the Sheep’ – close up of a little Sheep Nudi in Amed, Bali.
‘Macro Maldives’ – a close-up of a beautiful Goniobranchus gleineii in South Ari Atoll, Maldives.
‘It’s my turn to get the camera!’ – a very curious Common Octopus wrestling me to get my camera in Tenerife, Spain.
‘Where Mermaids Dream’ – a freediver laying near some very healthy coral reef in Tulamben, Bali.
‘Slugs & Stars’ – a beautiful Hypselodoris zephyra with low aperture in Tulamben, Bali,
‘Harlequin’ – a big Harlequin Shrimp hanging outside of its burrow in Tulamben, Bali.
‘Giant in the Night’ – a juvenile whale shark feeding on plankton near our boat in South Ari Atoll, Maldives.
‘Clown & Stars’ – a Clark’s anemonefish posing in front of a big school of silverfish in South Ari Atoll, Maldives.
‘Friendly Ray’ – a huge female Marbled Ray feeding at night at Maaya Thila, Maldives.
‘Shark in the Night’ – a juvenile Grey Reef Shark in hunting mode during a night in Maaya Thila, Maldives.
‘Octo-Stare’ – a juvenile Coconut Octopus staring during a night dive in Amed, Bali.
‘Pretty in Pink’ – a Bargibanti pygmy seahorse staring at my camera in Tulamben, Bali.
‘Tiny Gem’ – a small cowrie is standing on top of a coral it has been feeding on in Kubu, Bali.
‘ROOOOAR!’ – a juvenile painted frogfish trying to scare me away in Kubu, Bali.
‘Ikea Sheep Nudi‘ – Costasiella sp. resting on a leaf in Tulamben, Bali.
You can find more from Charly, including prints for sale, on his website at www.charlyclerisse.com, and Instagram @diving_charly
If you’d like to see your underwater photography published on these pages and shared across our social media feed and weekly newsletter, why not drop us a line at info@divemagazine.com.
