Growing up in Salt Lake City, UT, despite being nowhere near the ocean, I still became quickly obsessed with marine life. I began my diving journey in 2020 when I attended U.S. Navy Dive School in Panama City, Florida. After completing my training, I returned home to Hawaii, where I continued to dive professionally for the military. Spending so much time underwater naturally led me to explore the ocean recreationally as well, and that passion eventually steered me toward underwater photography.
My first camera was a simple GoPro that I used to capture the underwater world to share with family and friends. I still remember one of my early dives when I came across a flatworm that fascinated me, but my GoPro couldn’t capture the detail or color I saw with my own eyes. That experience inspired me to upgrade to an Olympus TG-6, which only deepened my appreciation for the incredible diversity beneath the surface. Over time, I moved on to my current setup: an OM Systems OM-1 housed in a Nauticam housing, most often paired with a 90 mm lens, a Marelux Apollo III strobe, and a Marelux LITE snoot.
I am especially drawn to macro photography, focusing on the tiny, often overlooked creatures that many divers swim right past. Nudibranchs in particular hold a special fascination for me, and I’ve been fortunate to have some of my photos included on multiple identification sites. At the same time, I’m always looking to grow as a photographer, recently branching out into wide-angle work to capture the beauty of Hawaii’s larger marine residents such as sea turtles, manta rays, and even the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. I also enjoy the challenge of blackwater diving, which offers an otherworldly glimpse into the lives of pelagic creatures.
Hawaii is my home and being able to share the vibrant and diverse marine life of these waters through my photography is deeply rewarding. I hope that my images not only showcase the beauty and fragility of our oceans but also inspire others to appreciate and protect them.
You can find more of my work on Instagram at @olieturner3 or on my website at olieturner3.myportfolio.com.