Serge Melesan

I am a French underwater photographer, filmmaker, and environmental storyteller based in Antibes, France.

For more than fifteen years, I have explored the oceans through photography, documenting marine wildlife across the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific. My work focuses on the fragile relationship between people and the marine ecosystems they depend on.

Every dive reminds me that we are part of the same living world. My images are an invitation to slow down, observe, and reconnect with nature through emotion rather than spectacle.

My projects have been published by international media including Oceanographic Magazine, Earth.org, National Geographic Poland, Exame (Brazil) and other conservation and wildlife publications.

Over the years, my photographs have received recognition from competitions such as the National Geographic Traveller Photography Awards, Underwater Photographer of the Year, Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year, Siena Awards, and have been exhibited internationally.

Alongside my photographic work, I develop educational and conservation projects with local communities, believing that protecting the ocean begins by learning to understand it.

Whether documenting sea turtles in Mayotte, coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, or marine life in the Mediterranean, my goal remains the same:

to create images that inspire curiosity, respect and a deeper connection with the living world.

Selected Publications

• Oceanographic Magazine
• Earth.org
• National Geographic Poland
• Exame (Brazil)
• Faune Sauvage
• 1x Magazine

Selected Awards

• National Geographic Traveller Photography Awards – Portfolio Winner (2023)
• 100 for the Ocean – Contributor (2024)
• Underwater Photographer of the Year
• Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year
• Siena Awards
• Montier-en-Der Nature Photography Festival