My name is Pier-Luca, a 29 year old diver based in Switzerland. I discovered diving years ago in warm waters, during vacations with my father. Those first dives shaped my relationship with the underwater world, moments of calm, curiosity, and shared exploration. My father has since passed away, but diving remains closely connected to those memories.
For a long time, I stopped diving. Cold water scared me. Lake diving had a reputation I didn’t recognize myself in. And in Switzerland, the diving community isn’t very visible, especially for younger people. Still, the passion never disappeared.
Eventually, I understood that if diving was going to remain part of my life, it had to be here. Locally, in cold water. I decided to dive in Swiss lakes and continue this journey. What I found wasn’t a lesser version of diving, but a more demanding and meaningful one. A practice built on presence, learning, and respect.
Meditative Buoyancy © Pier-Luca D'Arman
"Diving is not only about what happens underwater, but also about the people, conversations, and shared moments around it."
The freshwater shark © Pier-Luca D'Arman
Alongside diving, I work in communication, photography, and video production. I come from an academic and professional background in marketing, and I’m deeply passionate about visuals and storytelling. I understand how to build narratives, how audiences engage, and how to create content that feels real rather than manufactured.
Today, I believe diving can, and should, be a passion for younger generations. Not as an exclusive or intimidating activity, but as something rooted in exploration, discovery, fun, and community. Diving is not only about what happens underwater, but also about the people, conversations, and shared moments around it. This project is my way of reconnecting those ideas, and opening the door to a new generation of divers.
Gliding in the dark © Pier-Luca D'Arman
Proudly Swiss © Pier-Luca D'Arman
A light in the dark © Pier-Luca D'Arman
On the moon © Pier-Luca D'Arman
The blood-red mysid invasion © Pier-Luca D'Arman
Heading down below © Pier-Luca D'Arman
Pier-Luca's Gear
Canon EOS R5 II in the Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 Lens
Additional Viewing
River Junkie: Underwater Photography in the Freshwaters of Switzerland
Customer Photos | Fritz Liechti from the Fresh Water of Switzerland
Diving into the Verzasca River, Switzerland [VIDEO]
Canon R5 II FIRST RESULTS Underwater in the Pacific Northwest [VIDEO]
Freshwater Underwater Camera Settings and Technique
River Photography Underwater in Switzerland [VIDEO]
Pier-Luca D'Arman is a Swiss underwater photographer and communications and content production specialist. He is passionate about making diving accessible to a new generation of divers and that good diving doesn't always have to mean warm waters and remote destinations. Pier-Luca shoots with the Canon R5 II in the Switzerland and beyond. You can follow Pier-Luca on Instagram @swiss.aquanaut. Visit his website to learn more, www.pierlucadarman.com.
