I recently shared this short film at our monthly NYUPS gathering in New York City. The meeting is a chance to show personal projects, discuss creative choices, and learn from one another’s approaches. This film came out of that same mindset – keeping things simple and letting small moments speak for themselves.

“Life on the Ocean Floor” focuses on the incredible biodiversity found in the sand and rubble. These are the heart of Dauin’s world-famous diving sites. These areas might look like a barren “desert” to the untrained eye. However, they hold an amazing concentration of life if you know where to look.

Featured Marine Life:

• The Partnership: Watch the tireless work of a blind shrimp and its Goby protector [00:10].
• The Nursery: An Anemonefish fanning its eggs with constant devotion [00:45].
• The Miniature Titan: The vivid, flashing rings of a Blue-ringed Octopus as it glides across the sand [01:45].

Gear Behind the Shots:

To capture these tiny subjects, I relied on a high-magnification setup:

• Camera: Panasonic GH5
• Lens: OM 90mm (excellent for that 2:1 macro reach)
• Housing: Nauticam
• Location: Dauin, Philippines (Silver Reef Dive Resort and Atmosphere Resort & Spa)

Dauin rewards the patient diver. Even a patch of sand that looks empty at first glance can hold a surprising amount of life if you take the time to look closely.