DEVOTED TO THE CONSERVATION.

how to protect our oceans?

From a series of experiences Bernardo Sambra tells us how he came to discover the oceans from different perspectives throughout his life. These experiences led him to discover the importance of knowing what is below the sea surface as a first step in protecting the oceans.

For the past 25 years, Bernardo has engaged in extensive diving expeditions around the globe, exploring coastal and Amazonian ecosystems in search of images and innovative approaches to conserving the natural world and its inhabitants. He is convinced of the immense potential of Amazonian indigenous communities to safeguard their forests and cultures, and of photography as a powerful tool to evoke emotions and connect with people. Today, he devotes his full energy to lead two non-profit conservation initiatives, The Living Oceans and Amanatari.

  • SPEAKER.

    Raising our voices in favor of the oceans and the care of our planet is a task that corresponds to all of us who have the privilege of living in this incredible blue sphere called earth. Interviews in the media, visits to schools and special events are unique spaces to raise our voice, as important, however, as small conversations with the people around us and that, added together, can achieve enormous changes.

  • PHOTOGRAPHER.

    My intention as a photographer is to put into perspective the unique nature of the inhabitants of the submarine world, presenting them as extraordinary, creatures, which are close to us and have their own personality. I want to establish an emotional link through every image in the hope that it will awake in the viewer an interest to discover this as yet unexplored world. A world, which at the same time is in urgent need of being understood, cared for and protected. ​​​​​​​

  • EXPLORER.

    Since I was 8 years old my fascination with the underwater world has never stopped. Exploring oceans around the world became my passion and making them known and promoting their care in my purpose.

  • FOUNDER.

    It all begins with an idea. To show the unparalleled beauty and majesty of the oceans and at the same time their vulnerability and frailty, have been the main purpose of every initiative that The Living Oceans has undertaken since its foundation. Our vision, philosophy, and motto are integrated in a single phrase: “protecting through images”.

Bernardo Sambra is a conservationist AND A photographer who specializes in wildlife and the submarine world.

His work tries to bring the onlooker to the undersea world from an intimate and personal angle.

His intention is to put into perspective the unique nature of the inhabitants of the submarine world, presenting them as extraordinary, creatures, which are close to us and have their own personality. He strives to establish an emotional link through every image in the hope that it will awake in the viewer an interest to discover this as yet unexplored world. A world, which at the same time is in urgent need of being understood, cared for and protected. ​​​​​​​

In 2004, Bernardo and his wife Valerie Crousse founded The Living Oceans, a non-profit initiative, with the purpose of revealing, educating and generating consciousness about the beauty and fragility of the undersea world and its inhabitants, through photographic imagery. Under the motto of “Protecting through images”, The Living Oceans has managed, through books, talks and international exhibitions, to show the work of the world’s most prominent underwater photographers in an unprecedented photographic crusade.

As founder of The Living Oceans, Bernardo has led various undersea photographic expeditions, has been the official spokesperson of the Hora del Planeta organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and has spoken at prestigious venues such as Celebrate the Sea in Singapore, TEDx Conference and the United Nations Global Climate Summit in Peru.

His images and articles have received various awards and have been published in important international publications. His work has been included in exhibitions as: Fragile: United Nations Global Climate Summit, Océanos Expo, Celebrate the Sea Festival, Masters Image Maker’s Gallery, Reflejos Submarinos, and Oceans: A World to discover, among others.

For more information about The Living Oceans please visit: www.thelivingoceans.org

For more information about Amanatari please visit: www.amanatari.org

“We CAN ONLY PROTECT WHAT WE KNOW.”

— Bernardo Sambra | Co-Founder The Living Oceans & Amanatari