Inspiring Shark Biologist and UW Photographer – Aliah Banchik
- tiani dun
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
I met Aliah just a few months ago at the Go Diving Show, Sydney, and experienced what I could only describe as a "love-at-first-coffee" kind of connection. I watched her deliver a fascinating talk about shark and ray biology and I found Aliah to be inspiring in not only what she does and the knowledge she shares, but also in her (seemingly contagious) zest for life! So when she agreed to be featured on our blog, I was stoked, not only for you (our loyal readership), but also so that I, myself could get to know her story on a deeper level.
Hi Aliah! Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a marine biologist, underwater photographer, and shark–ray scientist originally from the Upper West Side of New York City. Since leaving home at eighteen, I’ve bounced around a bit — New Orleans for uni, then Miami Beach for what was supposed to be a temporary COVID move that turned into four years, then Hawai‘i, and eventually Australia, where I live now in Sydney.
I co-founded The FINstitute, which started as a student-led shark and ray conservation initiative and has now grown into an international nonprofit supporting elasmobranch research around the world. I’m also the founder of Naked4Nature, my graphic art and underwater photography brand where I blend conservation with bold, creative visuals.
Most recently, I was featured on Netflix’s All the Sharks, where I somehow became the “ray expert,” which I absolutely loved because rays deserve way more attention than they get. My research background is in the feeding ecology of juvenile giant shovelnose rays — one of the most endangered elasmobranchs on the planet — so giving them a spotlight felt really meaningful.
Outside of science, I’m a neurodiversity advocate. I have dyslexia and ADHD, which I talk about openly because they’re a huge part of how I see and interpret the world. I wrote and illustrated a children’s book, My Best Friend Lexi, about dyslexia, and I’ve given a TEDx talk on reframing learning differences as strengths.
Overall, I’m someone who loves bringing art, science, and storytelling together in ways that help people fall deeper in love with the ocean.
What inspired you to first start your journey as a marine biologist and underwater photographer?
Believe it or not, I grew up terrified of the ocean. My mom and dad were scuba divers and made my brother and I get certified when we were 11, and I absolutely hated it. I clung to him the entire dive and swore off the ocean for years.
Everything shifted in 2019 when I did a semester abroad in Australia. I ended up on a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard getting my Advanced certification, and that trip completely rewired me. I met the onboard underwater photographer, and something just clicked. Seeing her swim around documenting the underwater world — and seeing how present she was while doing it — made me realise that photography could be a way for me to experience the ocean more deeply, especially with ADHD. Having a camera in my hand gives me focus and this incredible sense of grounding underwater.
I went home and jumped straight into an internship with the Coral Restoration Foundation. I did over 100 scientific dives, earned my Rescue certification, and later became a Divemaster and Assistant Instructor. Somewhere along the way, I realised that marine science and underwater storytelling were the perfect combination — that visuals can often reach people faster and more emotionally than facts alone ever could. That’s what set everything in motion.
Can you share one of your most memorable experiences while diving?
One of the wildest dives of my life happened while I was working in Hawai‘i, leading manta ray night dives. We dropped down to the “campfire,” where the lights draw in clouds of plankton and the mantas swoop in to feed.
That night we had about ten mantas circling overhead — already an incredible show — when suddenly we started hearing this intense clicking. Out of nowhere, two massive bottlenose dolphins came racing through the dive site, weaving between us and the mantas literally inches from our faces. And then, as if that wasn’t enough chaos for one night, a critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal (also huge) cruised straight into the party.
It was FULL ON — mantas, dolphins, a monk seal, twenty divers losing their minds underwater. Easily one of the most magical, unrepeatable moments I’ve ever had.
What challenges do you face as a shark scientist/underwater photographer, and how do you overcome them?
I’ve definitely had a non-traditional path into shark and ray science. I came from a psychology background, so breaking into elasmobranch research wasn’t straightforward. I got my foot in the door by offering the skills I did have — filmmaking, communication, design — in exchange for field opportunities. That’s literally how I ended up doing my first stingray research project.
ADHD is also a blessing and a curse. It gives me energy, curiosity, and creativity — all the things that help me thrive in this field. But it also means I tend to say yes to everything, which has led to burnout cycles. I’m still learning how to set boundaries, protect my rest, and be more intentional with what I take on.
Then there’s the dyslexia, which people often underestimate. But honestly, my brain’s visual wiring has been one of my biggest strengths. My Excel sheets are color-coded to the nines, I process information visually, and it makes me a stronger communicator, designer, and storyteller.
Shark conservation especially is complex. Nothing is black and white. I care deeply about protecting these animals, but you can’t ignore the human side of the equation. Balancing both can be emotionally heavy, but it’s also where some of the most meaningful work happens.
How do you stay updated on the latest techniques in underwater photography?
Honestly, through constant practice. Every dive is an experiment for me, especially with ADHD keeping me hyper-present underwater. I learned so much in Hawai‘i shooting with freedivers, and then even more through science diving and fieldwork.
I study the work of photographers I admire — the woman on that first GBR liveaboard shaped so much of my approach — and I pay close attention to how people use light, motion, and color. But the biggest growth happens in the editing room. That’s where I evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and how I can push myself differently on the next dive.
For me, editing is the classroom and underwater is the lab.
Can you share any tips or advice for aspiring marine biologists or underwater photographers?
Don’t wait for permission — ask to tag along, offer your skills, volunteer, create your own opportunities. My whole career started because I wasn’t afraid to ask, “Can I come with you?”
Lean into your creativity. Science desperately needs people who think differently. My dyslexia, ADHD, and art background aren’t things I had to “overcome” — they’re the reason I communicate science the way I do!
And protect your energy. It’s so easy in this field to say yes to everything because it’s all exciting and meaningful, but burnout is real. Rest is not the enemy of ambition.
What are your favorite locations or dive sites and why?
Moorea in French Polynesia is hands down the most magical place I’ve ever been. I went years ago, before I was really into underwater photography, and I’m dying to go back with my camera now. The water, the people, the wildlife — it all felt unreal in the best way.
And Heron Island in Australia deserves a massive shoutout. It’s basically ray heaven. There are SO many shovelnose rays there that I felt like I was swimming through my thesis. It’s absolutely one of my happiest underwater places.
Have you ever encountered any unexpected or dangerous situations while diving?
Hahahaha… yes. Have you seen the Japan episode of All the Sharks? Honestly, that was one of the sketchiest dive experiences I’ve ever had — and it had nothing to do with the animals. It was entirely because of humans. You’ll just have to watch it on Netflix to understand what I’m talking about!
How do you think underwater photography can contribute to marine conservation efforts?
Photography turns scientific facts into feelings — and people protect what they feel connected to. It’s one thing to read that a species is endangered; it’s another to look into the eye of a ray or shark and see a sentient being with presence and personality.
Good imagery also breaks us out of the conservation echo chamber. It reaches people who might not pick up a science article but will stop scrolling for a striking underwater moment. If my photography can make even one person feel something for the ocean they didn’t feel before, then I’ve done my job.
Check out some more of Aliah's work:
Instagram: @aliah.in.waterland
Website: https://www.aliahbanchik.com/
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