BIO

BIOGRAPHY

Álvaro Herrero, a.k.a Mekan, is originally from Spain and has always had a fascination with nature in all of its forms. At the age of five his grandfather gave him his first set of fins, mask and snorkel and he never looked back. Since then, he has always had a deep connection with the water.

He started experimenting with photography when he was eight years old using his father’s old camera.

Mekan has been diving for over 18 years. He has worked as a diving instructor, commercial diver, diving equipment repair and maintenance technician, boat skipper and underwater photographer. He is also an underwater photography coach at all levels and has taught underwater photography masterclasses around the world.

He has been trained as a technical diver with the JJ-CCR rebreather, Advanced Mixed Gas and full cave CCR diver with the Kiss Sidewinder. He is also trained as a DPV cave diver.

He has experience in other fields. He has been trained as a free diver, has dived in high mountain lakes and has practiced ice diving. He also has other skills such as caving and SRT techniques. He was a mountain guide and perfectly masters the techniques of climbing, ice climbing, rappelling and skiing.

Mekan has worked as an underwater photographer in Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Maldives, Egypt, Spain, Polynesia and Mexico in dive centers, resorts, liveaboards and expeditions.

He is proud to be an ambassador for brands such as Isotta Underwater Housings, BigBlue Dive Lights and TDS (Technical Diving System).

He has published photos in various journals including those of a scientific nature, collaborated with government and environmental organizations and NGO´s, and has been featured in different magazines. His work has been recognized on Nat Geo, BBC and CNN, among others.

He has been awarded in prestigious international photo contests such as GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Underwater Photographer of the Year, Ocean Photographer of the Year, Siena International Photo awards, Asferico International photo contest, Luca Memorial and Red Bull Photo Illume among others.

He took his deepest picture at 110m in Lombok Strait, Indonesia and now is working in Mexico as a cave photographer.

Many people do underwater photography, but very few have Mekan’s skills, training and the relentless spirit.