By Mario Delgado Malagon
I’m an Architect that started my diving activities at the end of the ‘70s with the Open Water Diver Course. In the ‘80s marine biology and conservation began to be part of my life taken me to found an ONG in my home country of Dominican Republic to work with the humpback whales and the manatees (on extinction in that moment in DR). It was vey uncommon in those year, but in 1986 we won. The area with the biggest concentration of humpback whales in the world (Silver Bank) was declared a Humpback Whales Marine Mammals Sanctuary in 1986.
One thing is the anemone close and other is open with just small room for the clown fishes. I particularly prefer when the anemone almost closed.
In 1987 I had the opportunity to be part of the crew that design and build the Dominican Republic National Aquarium, finishing the construction in 1990.
All my life as been around diving and conservation. In 1991 I opened a diving and water sports company in one of the Punta Cana Hotels (Palladium), and still own it.
Cousteau dove in Sea of Cortez in the ‘70s and name it the Aquarium of the World. I had the opportunity to be diving there last October 2019, and it really is.
On my free time I travel to the difrerent places to dive and enjoy the marine life. My last liveaboard experience was last October 2019 on Sea of Cortez.
Raja Ampat has the highest marine biodiversity in the world, and for those who has been there, will agree 100% on this. It is amazing.
First time for me to dive with a sea lion, and I can tell you that Sea of Cortez could be one of the best place to do it. There are a few colonies of them and are normally friendly, though not always.
If you have never been with a great hammer head swimming just ahead to you, go to Bimini, Bahamas, and will never forget it. Every winter in Bimini waters you’ll have a great hammerhead migration. Animals between 10 to 15’ long just inches from you.
The underwater world in Raja Ampat is amazing; the corals, visibility, and the incredible marine life. You do not know where to look to take a photo.
I think that this photo do not need to much to explain: The Sea of Cortez Mobulas.
First time for me in the Indo-Pacific and I was crazy to see Nemo’s and family. They are amazing in colors and movements.
In the Caribbean, where I am and live, there are not starts like you can find in the Indo-Pacific. Colors, sizes, combine with the bottom made me to take this shot.
All images Copyright © 2020 Mario Delgado Malagon
Mario Delgado Malagon is an Architect by trade but a diver and conservationist by passion. His underwater work takes him into the waters of his native Dominican Republic and around the world. Two of his underwater photos have been published by National Geographic: one of a Great Hammerhead and another of a Crocodile. Mario uses a Sony Alpha a6000 camera with 16-50mm lens in Ikelite 200DLM/A Underwater Housing # 6910.61. See more of Mario's work on Instagram @mdelgadomalagon.
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Additional Reading
Cousteau's Aquarium | Sea of Cortez with the Nikon Z6
Behind the Shot: Swirling Mobulas in Southern Baja Mexico
Planning a Trip to Tonga to Swim with Humpback Whales
Customer Photos | Laurent Leard a Study of the Reef
Customer Photos | Douglas Klug in California's Kelp Forests and Beyond
