Can a Photograph Change How We See the Ocean?
29th June
At just 14 years old, Youth Ocean Ambassador Pari is using underwater photography to help others discover the wonder of the ocean—and why it’s worth protecting.
Most people will never dive alongside a humpback whale.
Many will never dive beneath the surface of the ocean.
But through his underwater photography, 14-year-old Pari hopes to bring people a little closer to the ocean and change the way we think about the natural world.
The Ocean Ambassador programme inspired Pari to create Pay Back to the Ocean, a photography exhibition designed to help people connect with the marine world through his lens.
Seeing the Ocean Differently
Pari has loved the ocean for as long as he can remember. “Before I even understood much about marine life, I already knew how the ocean made me feel,” he says.
When he started diving, he discovered an entirely new world beneath the surface—one that many people never get the chance to experience.
Photography became his way of sharing it.
One of his favourite images captures the encounter with a humpback whale in the wild.
For Pari, it represents more than a successful photograph. It represents a moment of connection. “Seeing a humpback whale was one of those moments that felt bigger than yourself,” he says.
One of the biggest lessons Pari has learned through diving is how different reality can be from perception. It changed how he thinks about marine life.
Like many people, Pari once saw sharks as dangerous predators. Then he encountered them underwater.
“I realised they are not monsters, but beautiful animals that help maintain the ecosystem.”
It is exactly this kind of shift in perspective that Pari hopes visitors experience when they walk through his exhibition.
Giving Back Through Photography
The idea for Pay Back to the Ocean came from a desire to give something back to a place that has given him so much.
“The ocean has given me unforgettable experiences and endless opportunities to learn,” says Pari.
Rather than telling people what to think, he hopes the exhibition encourages visitors to slow down, look closely and discover their own connection with the ocean.
Why It Matters
Conservation often starts with connection.
Before people protect nature, they usually need a reason to care about it.
Through photography, Pari is helping others see the ocean not as a distant place, but as a living world worth understanding and protecting.
What You Can Do
✓ Share a photo or experience that changed how you see nature.
✓ Discover something new about the marine world.
✓ If you can, spend time in the water and observe the marine life that surrounds you.
✓ Subscribe for more stories from the next generation of ocean changemakers.
Photo Credit: Panitbhand Paribatra Na Ayudhya
“You don’t need to be an expert, and you don’t have to wait until you’re older. Sometimes simply sharing what you love can inspire other people too.” Pari, Ocean Ambassador 2025
