Underwater photography
stories from our blue planet
Underwater storytelling at the wild edge
I’m a cold-water snorkeller, ocean advocate and radically authentic visual storyteller.
With camera in hand and heart underwater, I document the beauty, fragility and shifting rhythms of our blue planet. From jellyfish sightings shaped by climate change to seabird hunts beneath the surface, my underwater photography practice centres on amplifying messages from the deep to rewild our connection to nature.
The ocean is something that fascinates people and for many it isn’t a space that is easily accessible and I am on a mission to translate stories many don’t get to see. Making the invisible visible through visual storytelling.
Each image is captured in devotion to the sea – an invitation to reconnect, to reimagine, and to protect.
Stories shared and collaborations beneath the surface
My underwater storytelling practice has begun to ripple outward, catching the attention of conservation bodies, global brands and major media.
From exhibitions and editorials to speaking and interviews, these collaborations extend the reach of the ocean’s voice – and the stories it’s asking us to hear.
Confirmed features & collaborations include:
Whales of Iceland Museum – SJÓRINN TALAR – The Sea Speaks (July–Sept 2025) – An immersive exhibition of underwater storytelling, sharing urgent ocean truths through image and narrative.
National Trust, Scotney Castle – ISLANDNESS (April–October 2025) – A solo exhibition exploring liminal moments where earth, sea and sky meet, including ocean-focused photography.
Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 – Second place, Conservation & Impact Shortlisted image of an entangled gannet spotlighting ghost gear in seabird colonies.
Dive Magazine – Wild Edges (Sept 2024) – Interview exploring underwater storytelling, snorkelling in cold seas and capturing change beneath the surface.
Fujifilm – Wales & West Photography Show (June 2025) – Presentation titled Into the Blue exploring underwater photography as an act of ocean advocacy.
Kent Wildlife Trust – (August 2023) – YouTube interview on cold-water underwater photography across the UK coastline.
BBC Radio Kent – In Conversation with Dominic King (July 2023) – Sharing the story behind jellyfish sightings and underwater images at Walpole Bay.
‘Cene Magazine – Nature & Impact Through Imagery (March 2025) – Feature on the power of photography to inspire awe, action and rewilded connection.
wild news
Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
2nd place – Conservation / Impact Category
It is with immense gratitude and a sense of deepening purpose to have be shortlisted as a finalist and go on to gain second place in the ‘Conservation/Impact’ category this year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards, hosted by Oceanographic Magazine.
from landlocked to taking to the sea
Unlocking new horizons…
I have suffered from severe motion sickness all my life, and as much as I love the sea, I couldn’t travel on the water without feeling terrible.
A life changing moment happened in more than one way, when I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2021. This diagnosis not only explained my whole life to me, then my ADHD meds cured my lifelong motion sickness! Levelling out how my brain processes what the vestibular system is feeling and visual system is seeing and thus the nauseating sensation doesn’t exist because now it is synced up.
It has been utterly remarkable to get on boats, at all! Challenging heinous seas, no anti-sickness meds, just my ADHD meds and I’m totally fine.
Unlocking horizons I never thought I’d be able to experience. Meeting my wild edge, allows me to spend more time in the liminal spaces that I love so much.
I am exploring my absolute fascination, the ocean, in a way that I never thought would be possible for me. Now one of the most physically disabling parts of ADHD is managed by the meds.
I know it is a privilege as a woman to not only be diagnosed, but also receive medication. However this absolutely emboldens me to embrace this access I now have to get into nature. To capture beauty, fragility and when confronted by them, share stories like the devastating one of the hanging gannet.
I never thought I’d be able to be on and in the sea. My diagnosis has inadvertently rewilded my connection to nature. Allowing me to harness the power of storytelling in a space I am so deeply passionate about.
Underwater Photography gallery
Ways we can work together
Underwater photography for storytelling, science and impact
I work with researchers, publications, museums, purpose-led brands and conservation projects to create underwater visual stories with depth and resonance. I am available for:
- Photo and Short-form video for editorial & storytelling assets
- Field documentation of research projects and science communication storytelling
- Photography for museums, exhibitions and permanent/temporary installations (explore exhibitions)
- Public speaking, writing and education on underwater photography and storytelling
- Print licensing and commissioned underwater works for campaigns, editorials or interiors (explore print shop)
If you’re curious to understand my approach, you can explore more about how we work together and see how I work across land, sea and sky. For full details on commissioning visual storytelling or working together, get in touch.
If you already have a project in mind and you’re ready to dive in, click the button below to book underwater storytelling for your campaign, publication or research.
Medusology – people call me ‘The Jellyfish Lady’
I’m utterly enchanted by jellyfish
I spend hours faced down in the sea capturing the mesmerising movements of these beauties in the blue
Common UK jellyfish
THERE ARE FIVE MAIN SPECIES OF JELLYFISH REGULARLY SEEN IN THE UK. THE COMPASS, MOON, LION’S MANE, BARREL & BLUE. I’M HERE WITH A BLUE JELLYFISH.
read more here
Rare crystal jellyfish seen in Walpole Bay Tidal Pool
read more here
Print Shop – Add some wonder to your walls
Fine art prints that spark awe and fuel change.
Underwater photography
FAQs
What kit do you use?
Dedicated underwater housing with a mirrorless camera for underwater photography. Beginning with the FujiFilm X-T2, in bespoke underwater housing by SeaFrogs. Then upgrading to FujiFilm X-T5 in SeaFrogs housing.
do you dive?
No, I prefer snorkelling as I have sleep apena, so can’t dive. But I love the creative challenge this brings, shooting what is within arms length and sharing these stories from the underwater world around 1m below the surface. I love to take my camera out on my paddle board, so in very clear waters, I can shoot much larger sea creatures that are lower down than this.
do you shoot all year round?
Yes, I am kitted up with 5mm neoprene for summer and a 7mm freedive suit for colder seas. I am an all year round sea swimmer and love the cold water! Although, in Thanet where I live, we only really get clear waters on a few days of summer, so I often travel to shoot underwater photography across the UK and beyond.
how do you avoid being stung by jellyfish?
I always cover my skin that is going to be entering the water, as their stingers are too short to get through fabric. In summer, I wear boots, gloves and a rash vest and leggings (from Fourth Element and Mor Swimmy which is made from recycled ocean plastic!). All other times of the year I wear either a 7mm or 5mm wetsuit, plus a hood in winter.
how respectful are you to marine life?
Very respectful. Part of the joy of shooting underwater is carefully watching and observing what the sea creatures are up to. I’m always capturing in a way that does not bring any harm to them. Nature always leads the interactions which makes it all the more enchanting. It is like meditation, I can spend hours in the sea watching the beauty of a world we don’t often get to see like this.
where is the best place you’ve shot?
Oooh. Experiencing many opportunities to capture underwater photography across the UK, snorkelling in Scotland is really special place because the waters are so clear. There is also a trail you can follow on the west coast with lots of great spots. Silfra in Iceland is also amazing, between two tectonic places and fresh glacial waters giving visibility of up to 120m. Snorkelling with diving gannets in the Shetland Islands is my most memorable experience. But I think most of all, the excitement of having some clearer water days in my local area of Thanet is something that is really magical. To connect with the nature on our doorstep and be able to share a window into that unseen world is something that is very special.
how do you stay underwater?
Using a snorkel and in summer a weighted belt, adding up to 10kg added. When wearing a wetsuit, I add 1kg weights to each ankle.
do you have insurance?
Yes, I have commercial insurance for the kit and £10million public liability.
other questions?
Drop me an email hello@rebeccadouglas.co.uk if your question isn’t answered here.
Stories and field notes from beneath the surface
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Drone photo & video | Iceland | Ocean Conservation | Ocean Storyteller | Underwater Photography | Whale Wise
Drone ethics: the importance of responsible flying when capturing conservation stories in fragile ecosystems
Drones have transformed the way we tell conservation stories. From revealing inaccessible landscapes to offering new perspectives on wildlife behaviour, they open up opportunities for conservation photography that were unimaginable a decade ago. But with this power comes responsibility. Responsible drone flying in sensitive habitats requires more than technical skill — it demands an ethical…
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ARCTIC CANVAS | Exhibitions | Iceland | Impact | Ocean Conservation | Ocean Storyteller | Underwater Photography
Ghost Fluke: a story of coastline and creation at Arctic Canvas
Ghost Fluke began on the wild edges of Snæfellsnes. Walking along the black sand beaches and scouring the volcanic coves, I collected fragments of ghost gear tangled in the tide line. Ropes frayed by salt and storms. Nets caught in basalt cliffs. Plastic debris stranded in moss and driftwood. Each piece carried its own story,…
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5 most common jellyfish in UK and North Atlantic
Jellyfish are some of the most mesmerising creatures in our waters. These abundant, ghostlike and quietly powerful beings, they are ancient drifters moving with a rhythm that seems both timeless and urgent. While some days at sea pass without sight of one, other days bring pulses of jellies dancing in the light, their presence revealing…
