About Us

Hawaii, with its stunning natural beauty, is an unparalleled destination for outdoor and underwater exploration. Its volcanic landscapes, lush rainforests, and gorgeous beaches provide a variety of opportunities for adventure.

The underwater world is where Hawaii truly shines. with some of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs and marine life. Swim with sea turtles, dolphins, manta rays, and even sharks. Hawaii’s underwater terrain is just as diverse as its land features, with crystal clear waters, underwater caves, and shipwrecks making for a one-of-a-kind adventure.

Hawaii is more than just a paradise destination; it’s a place where you can connect with nature and experience something new every day.  It’s a great place to call home.

From the Amazon jungles of Ecuador to the pristine coral reefs and diverse marine life of Indonesia, my travels have been filled with adventure, intrigue, and unforgettable experiences.  A partial list of places I’ve explored:

• Australia – Lord Howe island, Lady Eliot island, Sydney
• Canada – Vancouver island, British Columbia
• Caribbean Islands – Aruba, Bonaire, Turks & Caicos, Guanaja
• Ecuador – Galapagos islands, Amazon jungle (Providencia)
• Indonesia – Raja Ampat, Lembeh island, Bali
• Japan – Hakone, Kyoto, Takasaki
• Mexico – Socorro (Revillagigedo) islands, Cozumel island, Tulum, Yucatan
• Pacific Islands – Hawaii, Fiji, Palau, Kiritimati island
• Philippines – Anilao, Dumaguete, Malapascua, Puerto Galera, Palawan, Subic Bay, Tubbataha
• Singapore – Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
• Thailand – Similan islands, Railay

Destinations of interest:

• Alaska
• Australian outback
• Botswana
• Canadian Rocky Mountains
• Sea of Cortez
• Costa Rica
• Faroe Islands
• Islas Marías (Las Tres Marías)
• New Zealand & Tasmania
• Papua New Guinea
• Patagonia
• Solomon Islands
• Tahiti & French Polynesia

meet me

David

Welcome to my wild corner of the internet! I am a passionate naturalist and photographer driven by a deep curiosity for the natural world. Whether I am hiking through the mountain forests or scuba diving in tropical island reefs, my camera is always by my side.  Beyond capturing captivating images, I take pride in accurately identifying my wildlife subjects and fostering a deeper understanding of the incredible biodiversity that surrounds us.  In between adventures, my time is devoted to curating and reflecting on the imagery captured during each expedition, as well as meticulously planning for the next big adventure.

Photos in Publications, Exhibits, Websites:

Uropterygius polyspilus appears in publication: Bensted-Smith, William & Keith, Inti & Grove, Jack & Banks, Stuart. (2023). New record of Azurina intercrusma (Evermann & Radcliffe, 1917) (Ovalentaria incertae sedis, Pomacentridae) and confirmation of Scuticaria tigrina (Lesson, 1828) (Anguilliformes, Muraenidae) in the Galápagos Islands. Check List. 19. 611-620. 10.15560/19.5.611.

Cirripectes matatakaro sp. appears in publication: Hoban ML, Williams JT. 2020. Cirripectes matatakaro, a new species of combtooth blenny from the Central Pacific, illuminates the origins of the Hawaiian fish fauna. PeerJ 8:e8852 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8852

Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus), Goldline squirrelfish (Neoniphon aurolineatus), Dusky Butterflyfish (Chaetodon flavirostris), Orange Goatfish (Mulloidichthys pfluegeri), appears in Fiji Reef Fish by Mark Rosenstein (2019) ISBN-10‏: ‎1732499217

Various species (36 photos) appear in Indo Pacific Corals by Joe Rowlett (2020) ISBN: 9798686565975

Alcyonacea soft coral displayed in Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – Portraits of Planet Ocean exhibit (2015)

Appears in Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute online information system:

Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean: Acanthurus pyroferus, Chilomycterus reticulatus, Decapterus macarellus, Diodon holocanthus, Diodon hystrix, Heniochus diphreutes, Naso lituratus, Pomacanthus semicirculatus, Pomacanthus xanthometopon, Sarotherodon melanotheron, Zanclus cornutus, Zebrasoma flavescens

Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific: Acanthurus pyroferus, Dascyllus aruanus, Diodon holocanthus, Heniochus diphreutes, Naso lituratus, Pomacanthus semicirculatus, Pomacanthus xanthometopon, Zebrasoma flavescens

Appears in Sous les Mers (Under the Sea):  Cerianthus filiformis, Ophiolepis superba, Pseudobiceros gloriosus, Ecsenius namiyei, Sargocentron tiere, Chaetodon flavirostris, Cantherhines fronticinctus, Seriola lalandi, Plectorhinchus picus, Epinephelus fasciatus, Scuticaria tigrina, Triaenodon obesus, Parupeneus multifasciatus