Underwater Photography by Derek Tarr

A native of coastal Southern California, Derek has never been far from the ocean. Scenes from Jacques Cousteau and the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only" were his first inspiration to scuba dive. After years of waiting, Derek learned to dive in the summer of '85 at the Catalina Island Marine Institute. Since then he has traveled around the world, diving in places like Grand Cayman, the Maldives, Egypt, Fiji, Hawaii, the Solomon Islands, and Southern California.

Derek's goal as an underwater photographer is to present the beauty of marine life to those who haven't yet ventured underwater to see what lives in the ocean. For most people, the ocean is out of sight and out of mind; it stands to reason that so few are actively concerned about how human presence affects the coastal marine environment. Derek hopes that his prints and images will inspire public appreciation for the world beneath the sea, bringing the oceans to sight and mind.