Jayne Jenkins was born and raised in Wales, and learned to dive in the chilly waters along the rugged Welsh coastline before moving to Australia in 1973. She has been actively involved in many facets of the diving industry for over four decades. Jayne is a regular editorial contributor to Scuba Diver Australia and New Zealand, and her underwater images have won her many awards. A proud Fellow International of the Explorers Club, Jayne is one of only three Australians to be inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame. Jayne has been a judge for numerous photo competitions, including the Photo Competition for World Oceans Day organised by the United Nations.

Matty Smith is based in Newcastle, Australia, having emigrated from the UK in 2007. He has over 25 years of photography experience, with 17 of those underwater. He is a speaker and writer on various photographic techniques, but his biggest passion is teaching photography workshops in person to emerging students. He has been published by the likes of the BBC’s Blue Planet II documentary, National Geographic, BBC Wildlife magazine, Ocean Geographic, and many others. Matty has over 30 international awards to his name. An ambassador for Nikon Australia, he is sponsored by Aquatica Digital and is an Ocean Geographic Master Photographer.

Philip Hamilton is a filmmaker, photographer and author, best known for his passion and dedication to ocean conservation. He has over 30 years of diving and sailing experience and has documented most marine animals on the planet, from the blue whales to the smallest critters. Philip has amassed an extensive collection of video footage and stills, which he regularly donates to conservation programs, scientists, and NGOs. He published his first marine conservation book, Call of the Blue, in 2018, with the second edition released in 2024. His multi-award-winning debut film, Ocean Souls (2020), an unprecedented collaboration of over 100 filmmakers and 25 scientists, is an emotive documentary showcasing the largest diversity of cetaceans ever seen on film and highlighting new scientific discoveries. He also produced the feature film Collision (2022), an impactful documentary about vessel collisions with whales. Philip’s latest film, Remote Places, tackling the conservation issues and environmental threats the world’s most far-flung places are facing, will be released in 2025.

Ross Long is a multi-award-winning ocean, travel and lifestyle photographer and writer based in Byron Bay, Australia. Ross is a tenacious visionary with big ideas and a passionate artist and conservationist who truly loves his work. He is always creating, forever a student, and brimming with wanderlust. His purpose is to evoke emotion and inspire people to set out on their own adventures. He has worked with various tourist boards and high-profile brands, including Tourism Australia and GoPro.

Scott Portelli is a multi-award-winning wildlife, nature, aerial and underwater photographer. Scott has spent thousands of hours in remote locations across the globe filming and photographing nature, wildlife, and the underwater environment. Among his many accolades, he has received multiple awards at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2016, 2022) and has twice been crowned overall winner of the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year (2021, 2024). His conservation and nature documentaries have been honored at various film awards and festivals, including Nature’s Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards (2018) and the Sienna International Photography Awards (2021). Scott is known for his wildlife and photography workshops, tours and lectures, showing enthusiasts and experts alike the best way to get the most out of their photography, especially in challenging locations.

Tanya Houppermans is an underwater photographer/videographer and shark naturalist who has won numerous international awards for her photography including the Grand Prize in the Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition, First Place in the Portrait Category in the Underwater Photographer of the Year Competition, and an unprecedented three First Place awards in the World Shootout “Sharks” category. Her images have appeared in publications around the world, including National Geographic. In 2023, Tanya was elected as a Fellow into the Explorers Club due to her discoveries in shark science. She is an ambassador for Isotta.

Tobias Friedrich first started taking pictures underwater with a DSLR in 2007. He is based in Wiesbaden, Germany, conveniently close to Frankfurt Airport, a major hub that facilitates his international travels for assignments around the globe. His images have been published in prestigious magazines and newspapers around the world, and numerous underwater photography competitions have honored his work, resulting in over 50 accolades, including 30 first-place awards. Notably, he was crowned “Underwater Photographer of the Year” in the prestigious UPY competition in 2018 and named “German Photographer of the Year” in the World Shootout contest in 2019.

William Tan has been fascinated with the creatures of the sea since childhood. While studying at the Johns Hopkins University (USA), much of his spare time was spent gazing at the extensive marine collection of the nearby National Aquarium in Baltimore. A violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, William earned his scuba diving certification in 1994. Thereafter, without his prized antique Italian violin, he travels extensively between concert seasons throughout the Pacific region photographing marine life for scientific institutions, camera and housing manufacturers, tourism organizations, dive magazines and resorts.