What do you most enjoy filming underwater?
"I like big fish and really enjoy filming sharks. People are so afraid of them, but there's not that much to be afraid of when you dive with them."
Some people fear the ocean. Did you initially have any fears and what advice would you give someone to help with overcoming them?
"I don't think I ever really feared the ocean; I have a big respect for it because it can be tough and strong. When you're somewhere in the blue and you know it goes down to 1,000 or 2,000 metres and you can't see anything, I have respect for that and I understand people that fear it. But usually most of the fears are of animals such as sharks, for example. If you know and understand sharks, there's nothing to fear. It's easy to overcome those fears once you learn about them."
You've dived in open seas, lakes and rivers all around the world. Which is your personal favourite place to dive?
"Indonesia was the best scuba diving I've done so far because the reefs are still very healthy and there are a variety of species. It feels like this is what all the oceans around the world should look like. In the protected areas especially, that's how I imagine it could be everywhere if the ocean was left alone."
How important is conservation to you?
"The importance has grown bigger and bigger. I'm doing quite a bit of work with underwater cameraman and marine biologist [and fellow Canon Ambassador] Robert Marc Lehmann, who is a big conservationist. He now has his own non-governmental organisation (NGO) and while working for that, as well as making films together, you gain more and more knowledge. I was never this big environmentalist, but once you work with all of these people and document what's happening [to our seas], that's also the sad part. Because of all of these things I became a vegetarian."
