ARKive is calling on the global diving community to help in the ongoing search for films and photographs of the world’s most endangered ocean species, raising the profile of marine species.
What do you know about life underwater?
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really have hands?
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this seadragon? | Who has leopard-print
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Images are a powerful force for conservation
 Award-winning Save our Seas photographer and ARKive media donor Tom Peschak has experienced first hand the power of imagery as an effective conservation tool.
Tom’s images helped to make Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives, home to one of the world’s largest manta ray feeding grounds, a marine protected area. Tom explains, “Hanifaru Bay is arguably home to the world's largest and most important manta ray feeding aggregations.
My photographs provided the first visual showcase of Hanifaru and introduced this unique manta ray feeding site as a living, breathing, yet fragile marine realm.”
Tom contributes to ARKive and is passionate about using his photography to raise awareness and promote conservation of the world’s threatened species and their habitats. “More often than not, the purpose of every picture that I take is to introduce an endangered marine species to a wider audience.
For me ARKive provides the perfect home for high quality marine wildlife imagery that would rarely be seen by the public. It is a great feeling to be a part of one of the 21st century’s most important conservation education tools. It is wonderful to think my photographs on ARKive could be inspiring or educating someone half way across the world.”
 Tom encourages divers to get involved, “Divers have the unique ability to venture beneath the sea’s surface and experience first hand the true biodiversity and fragility of the marine realm. ARKive is an opportunity for underwater photographers to take the marine conservation mission one step further. By donating copies of their images to ARKive they will not only be able to share their encounters with hundreds of thousands of people around the world but they will play a key role in inspiring non-divers to appreciate and protect our fragile underwater world.”
The ARKive team is searching for a huge variety of marine imagery, from the mightiest great white shark down to the tiniest pygmy seahorse. If you are a diver and have images from your underwater adventures, then ARKive would like to hear from you.
Email us at arkive@wildscreen.org.uk or upload to www.flickr.com/groups/arkive using the tag ‘marine’.
 Code of conduct for underwater divers from Project AWARE
There are a number of points to consider before attempting any photography in a fragile environment. Be sure to protect underwater environments before, during and after every dive. Download and share Project AWARE's ten tips for underwater photographers.
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