Monday 17 / March / 2025
Muscat: Omani photographer Maisa Al Hooti’s love of photography and marine life has won her a global award that recognised her naturally vibrant photographs, bursting with colours that can only be revealed through a special underwater lens.
The underwater photographer has been honoured with the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) in the category of ‘Instagram Photo’ for her picture of marine life in Anilao, Philippines.
Taking underwater photos is tricky, according to Al Hooti. The season, weather and location must be taken into consideration. She said some shots require only 15 minutes, while on certain days, she even has to leave empty handed.
Al Hooti began pursuing underwater photography three years ago. While she always managed to stay safe, Al Hooti strongly believes in safety and responsibility as she always dives with trained professionals and prepares well before embarking on a dive. For Al Hooti, underwater photography is both, her passion and her calling.
“Underwater diving is something that opened my eyes to the magnificent beauty our creator has bestowed on this world. My talent in photography allows me to share this experience with most people. The combination of the two provides a sense of purpose – one to inspire people and educate everyone about the importance of protecting the environment,” Al Hooti said.
This is not the first HIPA award for Al Hooti. In 2015, she was a finalist in another HIPA competition. Regardless, she considers every award equally important just as she considers every photograph equally significant to her life.
“I have always been an avid follower of HIPA. Even during the days where I was still starting out as a photographer, I used to look up to the photographers who HIPA recognised and featured. Having been recognised by HIPA, a highly regarded award-giving body in the field of photography, somehow validates the hard work I have been doing for all my projects,” she added. Al Hooti hopes to spread awareness and give people an opportunity to truly value ocean life and fight to protect it.
Single message
“I would like to tell everyone that every underwater photograph conveys one single message. They let us appreciate a world that we often take for granted, a world which is unseen.
“We, as underwater photographers, are given the resources to witness these magnificent creatures first hand and share our wonderful experience with everyone.
“Let us make sure that the beauty of the underwater stays on for the next generation for them to appreciate and learn to love it. Let us protect the ocean and the whole environment as we are given this one earth to live in harmony with all creation.”
