Beneath the Surface: Stillness, Presence, and the Art of Underwater Photography
How did you become an underwater photographer and freediver?
I came to it almost by accident, like from another world.
I didn’t travel before. I worked in a factory. I knew nothing about freediving, and I could barely swim. But one thought kept returning: am I really going to spend my whole life here?
In 2022, everything changed. I had to leave my country with no money and no English. I arrived in Dahab, Egypt — and the people from Touchdown Freediving School took me in like a stray kitten. They gave me gear, knowledge, and time.
Step by step, I learned to understand my body and mind. At the same time, I bought a GoPro and started filming our training sessions.
That’s how it all began.
What does freediving photography teach you about stillness and presence?
Freediving didn’t teach me calmness — it revealed it.
The state was already inside me. The water simply became the place where it could exist fully.
Underwater, there is no space for rush. Everything unnecessary disappears. You don’t become someone else — you become a more honest version of yourself.
What is the biggest challenge when shooting underwater on a single breath?
Right now, I don’t feel strong challenges. I’m adapted — the water feels natural.
But there are days when your body tells the truth:
if you didn’t sleep well, if something is off — everything becomes heavier.
Water reflects your condition instantly. It doesn’t lie.
What makes the Blue Hole in Dahab unique for underwater photography and freediving shoots?
The Blue Hole is part of the Red Sea — incredibly clear, transparent water.
Underneath, it feels like a vast natural pool, protected by reefs.
But what makes it truly unique is the energy. Freedivers from all over the world gather there. There’s calmness, support, and a quiet sense of safety in the water.
What was the energy like shooting with Makara Wear founder Gerda Mi in the Blue Hole?
Even though I don’t speak English confidently, everything felt easy and natural.
We understood each other without words.
There was warmth — and that shaped everything.
What makes someone look natural and powerful underwater?
Some people try to fight the water — and that creates tension.
But the magic happens when you stop resisting.
When you surrender, relax, and trust — that’s when true power appears.
How does underwater photography change the way you see the human body?
For me, it hasn’t changed my perception deeply.
It’s more about visual experience — about how the body moves, flows, and exists in water.
How do you prepare mentally before a deep freedive or underwater shoot?
For photography, I don’t need much preparation — I’m almost always ready.
But for deeper sport dives, it’s different.
I take a pause.
Sometimes coffee.
Sometimes tobacco.
Then a light warm-up.
After that, I lie on my back, fully relax, and enter a calm state through breathing.
Only then — I dive.
What advice would you give someone who wants to feel more confident underwater?
There is no shortcut.
“Just relax” doesn’t work underwater.
Confidence comes from adaptation — from being in the water again and again.
And having a good coach who can guide you through fear, step by step.
What is your vision for the future of underwater photography?
This world is growing fast. It’s becoming more accessible.
And I think many people don’t yet realize — just like I didn’t before —
that they, too, can enter this world.
Thanks to Airat, you can learn more about his work and him at this personal Instagram @underwater.withme
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