Adrian Colegate – Tela, Honduras – 2025 #1

This was taken in Tela Bay, Honduras in 2025. It shows our site manager and project lead (Rowan, on the right) with his three research assistants – all equipped with slates and pencils. They’re on a Reef Ecology dive, spotting, identifying and recording different marine species. The PVC pipes Rowan is carrying form a quadrat which is used while surveying an area of seabed.

This is probably my favourite photo of the trip. It shows the teamwork and communication that goes on during the dive. Every diver is busy doing something. I particularly like how the divers and their activities and attention form a circle in the middle of the shot and the focussed diligence of the diver at the bottom with her slate.

Background: Before the dive, I briefed Rowan and his RAs about underwater photography, the dive signals I would use and what I’d be doing. We also agreed I wouldn’t get in their way and for them not to be put off by me whizzing about trying to get the shot. I really wanted some candid pics of the team working together, so I deliberately didn’t try to position anyone. The dive went as planned and just as they were regrouping ready for the ascent, I took this shot.”

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