James Monnington is a marine scientist and underwater photographer based in London, UK. After getting the bends whilst working on a research project in the Philippines, James turned to freediving as a means of exploring the underwater world without relying on SCUBA equipment. The sport has become the principal focus of his photographic work and the inherent constraints associated with breath-hold diving have a profound influence on his approach. During his career in marine science he has worked on a range of projects, including shark hunting behaviour, marine invasive species spread in North Wales, the impacts of commercial fishing on seabed integrity and the effects of offshore wind farms on marine ecosystems. He is currently working as a consultant in marine energy, focussing on offshore wind farms and other marine renewables.