The Tribune

SCOTT Aranha, the artist behind Thursday’s “Bahamas, The Beauty Beneath the Blue” photographic art show, has been diving since he was a child.

“Growing up in the Bahamas, the ocean has always been the focal point of my life. At an early age I became fascinated with what was hidden beneath the ever-changing blue window,” he said.

“I started diving in a swimming pool and despite the fact that all I could see was concrete, and, some water inlets, I was entranced. I would have happily spent four hours at a time on the bottom of that pool, breathing in every last drop of compressed air my tank had to offer.

“When I was old enough to enter the ocean, and my whole world evolved, this influx of life, and dance of colours suddenly filled the lens of my mask. From that day forth there was no question in my mind that I would end up somehow working in the ocean, doing what fascinated me, and playing with my obsession.”

Scott’s show has a collection of shark photographs, all taken in the Bahamas.

“My favourite living creature is the shark, the drastically misunderstood graceful beauty of the deep,” he said.

Scott became a certified diver at a very early age and at 18 visited Indonesia for an extended period diving at Raja Ampat.

The following year he returned to Indonesia to dive in Cenderawasih Bay with the whale sharks.

His dive experiences in Indonesia were magical.

“Now that I am back in my homeland, I love being able to go diving in the Bahamian waters,” he said.

Scott will happily kneel on the bottom of the sea for an hour waiting for a moray eel, or a tiny Spider-shrimp, to come out and pose for him.

His photographs capture the magic beneath the sea.

“Photographing sharks is my all time favourite pastime, but my love for all things marine is very deep, I am steeped in awe and respect for the amazing world that lies beneath the sea.”

Scott Aranha’s show is tonight (Thursday December 5) at Jacaranda House on Parliament Street, from 5pm – 9pm and is open to the public.