My Undersea World

I grew up watching “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau,” “Voyage to the Bottom of The Sea,” and generally reading about submarines and life underwater. In September 1975, while stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, I qualified as a recreational scuba diver. After leaving Hawaii in November 1975, I didn’t do any diving until I was again assigned to Pearl Harbor starting in September 1994. This time around, I combined my love of photography with my love of the undersea world. I left Hawaii, and the Navy, in 1996. Afterwards, I worked for a couple of years as a part-time scuba diver and photographer at a local Marinelife Park in Gulfport, Mississippi. I also had a chance to dive the Belize Barrier Reef in 1999. But, otherwise, I didn’t get back into the water for diving or snorkeling again until September 2022.

Photo Galleries

This photo collection is divided up into the two eras of my underwater photography work; digital, and my older 35mm work. I also include some bonus underwater video. I make no claims that any of this work will earn photo awards. Underwater photography is hard. A diver is fighting an unforgiving environment while trying to take pictures of fish that refuse to cooperate. But, seeing these images bring back wonderful memories. I hope my viewers enjoy seeing them as much as I do.

Note on Feature Image: The featured image at top of this page is an exhibit of hard-hat diving helmets, both antique and modern, from different parts of the world. They are a small part of the collection of the History of Diving Museum, inc., located in Islamorada, Florida. This museum is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Digital Photography

In September 2022 trip Winnie and I spent a week on Oahu, Hawaii, for vacation. During that week we snorkeled around several beaches with a borrowed GoPro 10 camera, and got both stills and video footage of our undersea world. Winnie loved this experience as much as I did, and we vowed to get back into the water snorkeling and taking pictures more often. We snorkeled several beaches on the south and west (leeward) shores during that week.

More recently, in October 2023, we made a trip to The Bahamas and had opportunities for snorkeling on two of the islands.

Ron Charest in snorkeling gear, Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, 2022

Stills

Baby Conches
A pair of young conches against a background of sparkling crystal-clear water, off Paradise Cove beach, Nassau Island, The Bahamas.

A Sand Dollar
I found this lovely Sand Dollar while snorkeling off Paradise Cove Beach, Grand Bahama Island. Winnie and I were snorkeling in about five feet of absolutely crystal clear waters.

Fan Coral in the Blue Lagoon, Bahamas
A sea fan, a type of soft coral that grows in the warm waters around Bahamian island beaches. This one was already broken off and floating in the protected beach area of Blue Lagoon Island, outside of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.

A Sea Turtle in Paradise Cove, Grand Bahamas
A sea turtle grazing on sea grasses in about six feet of crystal-clear water. Paradise Cove Beach Resort, Nassau Island, The Bahamas.

A Sea Turtle in Ko Olina Lagoon, Hawaii
A sea turtle grazing on a reef. In Ko Olina Lagoon, part of the Aulina Disney Resort, on the west (leeward) side of the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Image taken with a GoPro 10 camera while snorkeling in about twenty feet of water.

The Underwater World of Electric Beach, Hawaii
A pencil sea urchin sneaking out of a coral reef. In Ko Olina Lagoon, part of the Aulina Disney Resort, on the west (leeward) side of the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Image taken with a GoPro 10 camera while snorkeling in about twenty feet of water.

Return to My Photo and Video Collection Page

Underwater 35mm Photography

This page displays my older 35mm underwater photography. These images were all digitally scanned from negatives.

Underwater 35mm Photography Link

Ron Charest in scuba gear on an hawaiian beach, holding a Sea&Sea MMII underwater camera — Ron in Scuba Diving Gear with Underwater Camera

Underwater Video

Taking video with a GoPro is as easy as shooting stills. So, I’m slowly building a collection of underwater video to enhance my digital still images. These images are served from my YouTube page. If you like my work, please feel free to follow me on my page.

Underwater Video Link

A YouTube screenshot of a sea turtle swimming underwater with the title "Hawaiian Sea Turtle Ballet" superimposed. — One of My Favorite Video Productions