Larry Hallas is an underwater photographer from Boca Raton, Florida. Larry uses his underwater imagery to help raise awareness of the beauty of our severely threatened oceans and the decline of the delicate coral reefs around the Caribbean. Larry has lived in South Florida for over 35 years and has been a scuba diver since 1995 when he received his PADI Open Water Certification, and then the PADI Advanced Open Water Certification a year later. For over 30 years, he has traveled all over South Florida and the Caribbean scuba diving. Larry bought his first underwater camera, a GoPro Hero 4, and instantly fell in love with underwater photography. Today, he shoots with a Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera in a Nauticam underwater housing.
While scuba diving in South Florida and the Florida Keys, Larry was heartbroken to witness first-hand the decline of the coral reefs. When he started scuba diving in Florida over 30 years ago, the reefs were vibrant, healthy, and home to thousands of species of marine plants and animals. Sadly today, many of the once pristine reefs have turned to rubble. Over the years, Larry has volunteered as a scuba diver in ocean cleanups, coral restoration, and other conservation efforts to save the endangered coral reefs of Florida and the Caribbean. Finally, to raise awareness of the plight of the coral reefs, Larry turned to underwater photography to showcase the incredible beauty of the reefs that he loves, and to campaign for their protection.