The Origin of Life

While most people enjoy the sun and the sea by day, a whole new world of life emerges during the night. My photos were taken in my hometown of Hong Kong, as well as in Japan—a world-class blackwater diving location with depths exceeding 6,000 feet.

The ocean covers roughly 70.8% of Earth's surface, but it remains the least explored place in the world. While most people enjoy the sun and the sea by day, a whole new world of life emerges during the night. Blackwater diving is an open-ocean night dive where you drift above water that can be hundreds to a thousand meters deep. It was a truly fascinating experience; floating in the middle of nowhere felt like being in outer space. Watching billions of marine organisms make their nightly journey toward the surface was completely surreal. Tiny plankton, larval transparent fish, and deep-sea creatures rise from the abyss to feed safely under the cover of darkness, some of them are phototaxis and attracted by my light. Many of the pelagic creatures seen on blackwater dives are so elusive that they are rarely documented, largely because they inhabit areas untouched by humans. In fact, you may even discover new species that have not yet been formally classified by science.

Before entering the water, setting up all the gear is essential—especially the camera and strobes—because if a single droplet of water gets inside the housing, the entire setup will be ruined, the visibility of Hong Kong also varies and often gets bad. Because of these challenges, very few divers in Hong Kong practice blackwater diving. We often have to book a private charter to head out into the waves and enjoy these specialized dives, and there are currently fewer than five active female blackwater divers here. My photos were taken in my hometown of Hong Kong, as well as in Kumejima, Japan—a world-class blackwater diving location with depths exceeding 6,000 feet. For safety reasons, it is mandatory to dive with a buddy to look out for one another. In the photos, you can see how these creatures interact with our cameras, how tiny the larval fish are, and how some hide inside different comb jellies.

Another incredible phenomenon that occurs during night dives is coral spawning. This annual event usually takes place a few days after a full moon, when coral colonies release millions of eggs and sperm into the ocean for external fertilization. The pink coral gametes inspired the title of this project: The Origin of Life.

Recording these special moments is truly amazing. It serves as a powerful reminder of how humans and nature are connected, how small we really are, and how vital ocean conservation is to preserving the beauty of our planet.