Photographing nature: Photogenic dive sites

Manta night dive, Kona, Hawaii

During the hours of darkness, manta rays come to feed on plankton illuminated by the waterside lights of the nearby Sheraton Hotel of Keauhou Bay. They approached to within inches of me, their gaping mouths wide open swallowing plankton, but until I became accustomed to their behaviour, it seemed as though they would swallow me whole. We enjoyed the display for what it actually was, a feeding frenzy on millions of tiny plankton particles, but to me it played out as one continuous dance: two, three, then four manta rays, all in harmony and perfect balance, making graceful twists and twirls before an elated audience.

Sipadan Island, Malaysia

Without doubt my spiritual diving home is Barracuda Point off Sipadan Island, Sabah, Malaysia. The point is a rock strewn sandy channel, flanked by hard and soft corals on either side, with huge numbers of white tip reef sharks, turtles, schooling jacks and barracuda. The turtles and schooling fish allow divers within close proximity. I use a wide-angle, fish-eye lens and fast shutter speeds to freeze action, and a small amount of flash fill to illuminate the shadows on the fish.

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St John's Caves, Marsa Alam, South Red Sea

Red Sea diving has a world-class reputation and fortunately for UK divers it is the most convenient with regular flights into Sharm, Hurghada and Marsa Alam. My favourite photo site is St John's caves, which can only be accessed via a liveaboard dive boat and consist of a honeycomb of shallow (8m) cave systems in the reef. A couple of the caves are enclosed overhead, but you are never far from a visible blue water exit. The best is Dangerous Reef: you feel as though you're in a cathedral because of how the sunbeams and shadows constantly dance across the white sandy floor.

USS Liberty wreck, Tulamben, Bali

The wreck houses an abundance of soft corals, sponges and sea fans. All manner of fish and other marine life are in permanent residence including a large school of jacks. The views of the Pillar House are a great photo opportunity and you can easily find yourself face to face with a fearsome looking, 1.7m king barracuda. I have dived many wrecks, but I rate the Liberty as the ultimate in marine life/wreck diversity. All this begins in 7m of water and no more than a 75-yard swim from the shoreline.

Jelly Fish Lake, Palau

Millions of years ago, jellyfish were trapped after a sunken reef rose from the sea, creating a landlocked saltwater lake. These jellyfish have adapted to the new conditions by losing their sting. When the sun is high over the lake the jellyfish head towards the surface to harness the energy of the sun. In the evening they return back to the depths. I found it an extraordinary experience. I was stung in the Mediterranean many years ago and I had to fight off my natural instinct to avoid them.

Martin Edge uses a Nikon D200 with a Subal housing and an ultra-wide Nikon 10.5mm fisheye lens, plus twin Inon flashguns

Martin Edge is the author of 'The Underwater Photographer' (Focal Press). For more information, visit: www.edgeunderwaterphotography.com