Featured Customers | MJ Algarra Clean This Beach Up

My name is MJ Algarra, ocean conservationist, diver, and storyteller. My journey into underwater photography began in 2021, driven by a desire to create meaningful visual content for the nonprofit organization I founded, Clean This Beach Up. Through my work, I wanted to document both the beauty and the challenges facing our waterways in Florida and around the world. What started as a tool to raise awareness for conservation quickly evolved into a deep passion for underwater storytelling.

"My hope is that through my work as a diver, conservationist, and photographer, I can continue to inspire people to see the ocean differently, not just as a place to visit, but as a world worth protecting."

Gentle Giants Rising © MJ Algarra

Being in the water has always felt natural to me. As a diver and conservationist, I spend countless hours exploring marine environments, witnessing incredible moments that many people never get the chance to see. Underwater photography became a way to share those moments with the world to bring people closer to the ocean and the life it supports. My goal is to capture images that make people pause, feel something, and ultimately care more deeply about protecting our oceans.

In the Presence of Greatness © MJ Algarra

Through my nonprofit work, I have seen firsthand the impact that pollution, plastic waste, and human activity can have on fragile ecosystems. At the same time, I’ve also witnessed the resilience and beauty of marine life. My photography tries to reflect both sides of that story: the awe-inspiring wildlife that inhabits our oceans and the urgent need to protect it.

Beyond the Stars © MJ Algarra

Sharks are my favorite animals to photograph. There is something incredibly powerful about being in the presence of these misunderstood predators. Swimming alongside them is both humbling and exhilarating, and capturing their movement, grace, and presence through a camera lens never gets old. So far, I’ve been fortunate enough to swim with 28 species of sharks and 17 species of rays, each encounter offering a new opportunity to learn and tell a story.

Patterned by the Sea © MJ Algarra

While sharks hold a special place in my work, I love photographing all marine life. Rays gliding effortlessly over the sand, sea turtles moving calmly through the water column, and the gentle presence of manatees are some of my favorite moments to capture. Each species brings its own personality and energy, and every dive feels like stepping into a living, breathing world of endless stories.

Apex in the Light © MJ Algarra

For me, underwater photography is not just about creating beautiful images, it’s about connection. When people see these animals up close, when they look into the eye of a shark or watch the peaceful movement of a manatee, it becomes harder to ignore how important it is to protect these environments.

My hope is that through my work as a diver, conservationist, and photographer, I can continue to inspire people to see the ocean differently, not just as a place to visit, but as a world worth protecting.

Wings Beneath the Surface © MJ Algarra

 

MJ's Gear

• Sony a7 IV inside an Ikelite Underwater Housing
• 28mm Lens
• 28-70mm Lens

 

Additional Viewing

7 Tips for Photographing Florida Manatees

Advice from the Pros // Photographing Sharks Underwater [VIDEO]

Sony a7 IV Underwater Housing Photos and Review

6 Ways You and Your Kids Can Help Save the Sharks

Washed Ashore: Using Discarded Plastic to Save the Sea

MJ Algarra is an underwater photographer and the founder of Clean This Beach Up, a nonprofit organization dedicated to weekly beach cleanups and bringing awareness to the harm of plastic pollution. MJ's photography is both an ode to the beauty of marine wildlife and a reminder of what's at stake if we don't curb plastic misuse. Since she started taking photos underwater MJ has dived with 28 species of sharks and 17 species of rays. MJ uses the Sony a7 IV camera with  28mm and 28-70mm lenses. You can follow MJ's underwater photo journey on Instagram @mj_algarra.