Festival Celebrities

Neville Coleman

Underwater Festival Ambassador

Neville Coleman is a multi-award winning photographer, naturalist and author of over 50 books on marine natural history and diving. We are proud to have this underwater pioneer and one of the most passionate diver you will ever meet as one of the major supporters of the Underwater Festival since its inception in 2007. Neville is the judge of his own 'Neville Coleman' critter category as part of the Underwater Festival.

Mathieu Meur

Underwater Photography Workshop - Location - tba

Mathieu Meur is an underwater photographer based in Singapore. He authored a PADI Underwater Digital Photographer Distinctive Specialty in 2001, co-authored An Essential Guide to Digital Underwater Photography in 2004, as well as its sequel An Advanced Guide to Digital Underwater Photography in 2007. Mathieu is a regular contributor to international diving publications, and has been a speaker or judge at numerous international underwater photography events. Mathieu is always happy in the water, be it capturing the beauty of large reef denizens, majestic wrecks, or the tiniest of subjects. Mathieu is also one of the judges of the 2011 Underwater Festival.

Stephen Wong & Takako Uno

Underwater Photography Workshop - Location - tba

Full time husband and wife marine photojournalists, Stephen & Takako’s works have been published in over 20 countries and 100 individual journals & publications, including National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Nature’s Best, Unterwasser & GEO. Their works have appeared in more than 40 photo exhibitions, including Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History & Monterey Bay Aquarium. In 2009, both of them have been inducted as members of the prestigious “Ocean Artists Society”. Their images have received dozens of awards in international photo competitions, including four times in the renowned BBC Wildlife Photo Contests. Takako has discovered four new species of Nudibranchs. Stephen and Takako’s images have appeared in over 70 books, including co-authorship of “Sipadan-Mabul Islands”, “Celebrate the Sea” & “Gorontalo Hidden Paradise”. The couple’s signature publication, “An Ocean Odyssey” - a 240-page wide blue pictorial anthology, has received broad international acclaims. Stepen and Takako are also official judges of the 2011 Underwater Festival.

William Tan

Underwater Photography Workshop - Location - tba

William Tan has been fascinated with the creatures of the sea since childhood. While studying at the Johns Hopkins University (USA), much of his spare time was spent gazing at the extensive marine collection of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. A violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, William earned his scuba diving certification in 1994. Thereafter, without his prized antique Italian violin, he travels extensively between concert seasons throughout the Pacific region photographing marine life for tourism organizations, scientific research groups, dive magazines, camera manufacturers, and resorts. His most recent book, Gorontalo: Hidden Paradise, published under the commission of the Indonesian government, sees him collaborating with Hong Kong's leading underwater photographers Stephen Wong and Takako Uno.

Lawrence Alex Wu

Underwater Photography Workshop - Location - tba

As one of the world’s leading internationally acclaimed underwater photographers with compact cameras, Alex has gained over 18 international awards and recognition from prestigious underwater film festivals and photo contests around the world. His work has been broadcasted, published in magazines and exhibited in countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chicago, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Switzerland at major cities such as London, Bangkok, Athens, Prague, Cape Town and Chicago. All his underwater photography has been produced only from digital compact cameras. Understanding the potential for shooting underwater with compact cameras, he has translated his experiences, expertise and know-how of shooting with digital compacts into workshops which he teaches mainly throughout Asia in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. As well, he continues to strive for the well being of our oceans and to help preserve and improve its conditions.