About

Henley Spiers is an award-winning underwater photographer, storyteller, and expedition leader, widely recognised as one of the leading voices in contemporary ocean photojournalism. An avid waterman, his work spans the full spectrum of aquatic environments—from documenting marine conservation in the cold waters of Scotland to descending 500 metres on scientific expeditions in the Indian Ocean.

Whether swimming alongside hunting orcas or capturing the delicate beauty of minute pelagic species, Henley combines technical skill with a storyteller’s eye to create images that reflect both the wonder and vulnerability of the natural world. In recognition of his narrative approach, he was named the first-ever Storyteller in Residence for Oceanographic Magazine.

Henley began his career in the ocean as a dive instructor, working in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Saint Lucia, before transitioning to full-time photography. Since then, his work has earned international acclaim. He was named Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year (2024) and awarded the Grand Prize at HIPA (2022). His portfolio also includes major honours from competitions such as Underwater Photographer of the Year, Nature Photographer of the Year, Ocean Photographer of the Year, Environmental Photography Award, and British Wildlife Photography Awards, alongside recognition from the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

His photography has been widely published, including in National Geographic, The Sunday Times, Der Spiegel, The Economist, BBC Wildlife Magazine, and The Guardian. A bilingual writer, Henley regularly contributes features and columns to international publications, including Oceanographic Magazine, Terre Sauvage, bioGraphic, and Outdoor Photography.

Henley is the author of two books, including Black is the New Blue Vol. II, a celebration of blackwater marine life, and Guide to Cebu, co-written with his wife Jade, exploring one of the world’s premier diving destinations.

His work has been exhibited internationally at institutions such as the Natural History Museum in London, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and the Australian National Maritime Museum. His solo exhibition at Stadtmuseum Schleswig placed him in the lineage of photographers such as Sebastião Salgado, Steve McCurry, and David Doubilet.

Henley is a respected figure within the photographic community and is regularly invited to serve on judging panels for leading international competitions, including the British Wildlife Photography Awards, WildArt Photographer of the Year, ADEX Voice of the Ocean, the Underwater Photo Challenge (UWPC), and the CMAS World Championships of Underwater Photography.

Beyond photography, Henley is an ambassador for ocean conservation, collaborating with organisations including the Blue Marine Foundation, Mission Blue, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. He is also part of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment programme, supporting global marine initiatives.

A sought-after speaker and educator, Henley leads small-group expeditions to remote marine environments and has mentored photographers who have gone on to achieve international recognition. He is also the founder of The Shot Chat, an online platform exploring the creative process behind underwater photography.

Half British and half French, Henley lives in Devon, UK, with his wife and creative partner Jade Hoksbergen, and their two daughters.

Henley’s work is gratefully supported by:

Each of these companies excels at creating great things whilst caring about the ocean and our planet.

What others say…

“You know, you could look at any one of Henley’s pictures all day long. You’d want to stick them on the wall.”
— Kathy Moran | Former Senior Natural History Editor, National Geographic
“Henley is one of the finest ocean photographers working today. His ability to marry wildlife storytelling with artistic flair is extraordinary. His skillset as a photographer is only bested by his unshakeable pursuit of betterment. He’s restless, always wanting more from his work. That’s why, after many years of collaboration, Henley’s submissions to Oceanographic remain as exciting as ever.”
— Will Harrison | Director at Oceanographic Magazine
“Henley Spiers’ underwater photography is a celebration of life below the surface—radiant, colourful, full of wonder, and infused with a rare sense of joy. His images don’t just depict marine creatures; they dance with them. With a palette that shimmers and compositions that surprise, Henley brings a playful, uplifting energy to his work that feels both spontaneous and deeply intentional.

His photographs reflect not only the extraordinary beauty of the underwater world but also his own warm and easy-going spirit—curious, creative, and endlessly fascinated by the creatures he meets. It’s this lightness and authenticity that make his visual storytelling so distinctive and deeply engaging.”
— Sandra Bartocha | Nature Photographer & Vice President of the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT)

Backstory

I am completely and utterly in love with the sea. As a child, I quickly developed a passion for the underwater world through snorkelling and freediving. At twelve years old, my dad needed a dive buddy and I was roped into doing my Openwater course. My scuba diving adventure had begun and, looking back, it’s one of the best things my parents ever did for me! I went down a fairly conventional route for a while and spent a few years in the corporate world as a marketing consultant. I suppose things were looking good on paper but I didn’t feel fulfilled. On the slow days I would daydream of being a dive pro. Soon enough, this dream would come true as I took a trip to the Philippines and qualified as a Divemaster. I had found my calling and had never felt happier. Over the next five years I lived and worked as a dive instructor in the Philippines, Bali and Saint Lucia. I experienced some of the best diving in the world - it was a life-affirming time which radically changed my outlook and path.

On Sky News to speak about his winning images in the British Wildlife Photography Awards.




Diving

I believe diving is much more akin to meditation than a sport. Being underwater is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a different world and get close to some fantastic wildlife. The ocean drew me in first, far before photography, from marathon childhood snorkel sessions to abandoning a conventional career path for life as a dive professional, and then underwater photographer. Submerged is when I feel most at ease, filled with immense calm, and wonder at the life below. It’s a hard feeling to convey in words, and taking up photography was a way of transmitting the beauty of the marine world where words failed.


Photography

Photography honed my appreciation of beauty, slowing me down to the point where I’ll happily spend hours observing a single fish. The most human reaction to beauty is to want to share it with others, and I’m lucky to share this passion and career with my wife, Jade. To adequately translate these feelings of wonder, technical knowledge was required to create some semblance of what my naked eye witnessed, through the camera. Initially I focussed on freezing moments, but as time went on, experimented more and more with slow frames, capturing motion underwater. For me, nature is art, and the ultimate ambition is to create imagery which embraces the beauty and art inherent to nature. Using motion captures the dynamism of life underwater, and creates separation between a beautiful subject and its background.

Ocean Challenges

Earth, as Arthur C. Clarke pointed out, is an unusual choice of name for our home planet, as Ocean would be far more befitting. Life, both on Earth and in water, perpetually moves forward, whether it be for better or worse, and photography can create the illusion of ever-present beauty. Even on a heavily dilapidated reef, a photographer can still showcase that one small corner of exception. For all the beautiful images, remember they represent only one part of reality. The ocean is at its most precarious tipping point in human history, with threats from over-fishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and global climate change placing it under immense strain. To prevent it from buckling, it’s time we changed our habits and started taking better care of the greatest presence on our planet.

To speak more with Henley about engaging his services, please contact:

thephotographer@henleyspiers.com 

Appearance on the Alan Titchmarsh Show to discuss his winning image in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

 Selected Media Coverage

Qualifications:

  • PADI IDC Staff Instructor

  • TDI Trimix Diver

  • TDI Advanced Wreck

  • AIDA 2* Freediver

  • Technical Rebreather (Pelagian unit)

  • RYA Yachtmaster Offshore