A guest post by DIVEVOLK Ambassador, Lorenzo Mittiga.
Aboard the expedition vessel Sylvia Earle, I ventured to the Antarctic Peninsula—one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth—to bear witness to a continent in flux. As an ocean conservation photographer, my mission was urgent: to capture visual evidence, both above and below the icy surface, of a rapidly changing climate reshaping this remote frontier.
A Continent in Flux
Named after the renowned marine biologist, the Sylvia Earle sailed past disintegrating ice shelves and melting glaciers—clear markers of a warming planet. My lens focused on the retreating ice cliffs of the Antarctic peninsula and the newly exposed terrain where wildlife now forages in unfamiliar habitats. Underwater, I photographed kelp forests pushing southward and krill populations diminishing—shifts that reflect broader ecological upheaval.
The once-stable sea ice now breaks up weeks earlier, destabilizing breeding grounds for Adélie penguins whose numbers have plummeted by over 50% in some colonies. Through imagery, I documented not just loss, but resilience—seals adapting to thinning ice, and new algal blooms flourishing in warmer currents.
Each frame I captured was a testament to both beauty and urgency. The Antarctic Peninsula is a sentinel of global change, and its story—etched in melting ice and shifting tides—demands our collective attention.
The DIVEVOLK Advantage in Extreme Conditions
In preparing for this expedition, I knew my professional underwater equipment would be essential—but I also needed a contingency plan. I carried a smartphone equipped with a DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max underwater housing, selected for its full touch-screen control and rugged construction. In the event of a primary camera failure or during quick, unpredictable onshore excursions, this compact backup became a vital asset.
The housing proved fully functional in rain, snow, and temperatures well below freezing, offering total protection against moisture and cold.
What impressed me most was its usability in extreme environments. Even with thick gloves on, the full touchscreen access meant I could operate my phone’s native camera underwater with ease, without needing external power or Bluetooth connections. Testing it while snorkeling in −2°C waters, I found the DIVEVOLK housing exceeded expectations: no condensation, no malfunction, and uncompromised tactile control. In a region where conditions can change in minutes and mobility is critical, this tool served not just as a backup—but as a professional-grade asset, proving that in Antarctica, reliability is survival.
About Our Ambassador: Lorenzo Mittiga
Lorenzo Mittiga is a distinguished professional photographer, storyteller, and videographer from Italy, specializing in marine biology and conservation photography. Residing in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean, he dedicates his work to documenting both underwater and terrestrial conservation initiatives. As an Associate Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP), Lorenzo uses his visual storytelling to foster environmental awareness and respect.
He recently participated in a Climate Change Expedition in Antarctica as one of the official photographers and underwater cameramen for Ocean Geographic. Currently, he is following several conservation projects on the island of Bonaire, such as coral, mangrove, and seagrass restoration; invasive lionfish eradication; and queen conch conservation. He is also writing a guidebook about Mangroves on Bonaire.
He began his photographic career at age 15 and has been a full-time underwater photographer since 1996, collaborating as a Natural History documentarist with major networks like Italian national TV channels, Discovery Channel, Sky TV, BBC, and National Geographic.
As a professional diver with more than 6,500 dives, he has filmed underwater for the film industry on major movie sets (including productions like Walt Disney) from 1996 to 2006. In parallel, his photographic work has earned multiple awards from prestigious organizations including Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic, and Ocean Geographic Magazine. His photographs have been displayed in international exhibitions across cities like New York, Paris, and Dubai, and featured in over 100 published articles, from dedicated scuba diving and wildlife magazines to international newspapers of the caliber of The New York Times.
Lorenzo is an Ocean Ambassador for Aqualung and a brand ambassador for top brands such as Seacam, **DIVEVOLK**, Orcatorch, and Flex-Arm underwater systems. His career is also well-established in fine art photography, where he creates unique pieces through his work. Currently, Lorenzo is producing a documentary on coral larval propagation and continues his impactful photographic work in the Bonaire Mangroves, while also conducting underwater photography workshops at all levels.
More from Lorenzo
Explore more of Lorenzo's incredible work through his website and videos:
Official Website: https://lorenzomittiga.com/
More videos filmed by Lorenzo:
https://youtu.be/nAoCW4GaZzg?si=zAWlyuaXYc9710db
https://youtu.be/oBBsEhIxp24?si=ZTJQteLeBf-4mFX5
https://youtu.be/4WEY232jCos?si=LkHZcjJ70UxlXqFj
https://youtu.be/Zo6xIaTBais?si=-oY8xzxOuYFKi4RA
https://youtu.be/b4wduH4yiLk?si=z_33IN7Tq7OEUP0k
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqZC-TMA5kv/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6HN7vBPd22/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
https://www.instagram.com/tv/COTuFyNjd2b/?igsh=cG44a3J5dmN6Z2Yw
