Age: 48 

How long have you been a shooter: Lifelong; seriously for 15 years 

How long an ­underwater shooter: Since my teens; more seriously for about five years 

How long diving: Since my teens 

Day job: Owns a Texas bed-and-breakfast 

Favorite underwater camera: Nikon D850

Most unforgettable moment underwater with a camera: My first dive trip after a 20-plus-year hiatus was to the Socorros, where my main goal was to encounter a humpback. At Roca Partida, we were greeted by a mother, calf and escort that hung out with us for a day and a half before a pair of orcas took the baby. It was a heartbreaking moment, but one I will never forget.

Next underwater photography trip: Next month I’m ­heading to the Cayman Islands and will be on Cayman Aggressor V. I’m looking forward to focusing on macro photography. It will never replace my love of big animals, and it certainly isn’t my usual subject matter underwater, but I’m always up for a challenge.

No. 1 bucket-list dive destination: I have to pick just one? My list is constantly changing as I tick off locations and quickly replace them as I learn of new destinations. My never-ending list currently has at the top the sharks of Fakarava, sperm whales in Dominica, more orcas anywhere, giant Pacific octopuses in the Northwest, and leopard seals in Antarctica.

Advice for shooters entering their first photo contest: Be original, find unique angles, and get creative. Submit photos that make the viewer think. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t win — an image that is successful in one contest might not get any recognition in another.