The Hidden Shame of the Mediterranean: A Photographer’s View Beneath the Waves

As an underwater photographer based on the stunning French Riviera, I have the privilege of diving beneath the sparkling surface of the Mediterranean Sea, a place that many associate with breathtaking beauty, pristine beaches, and azure waters. But beneath this picture-perfect façade lies a harsh reality that’s not visible from the shore—a reality that has become all too clear to me as I explore the underwater world with my camera.

In recent dives around Nice, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and Cap d’Ail, I have captured countless images of trash floating and settled in the Mediterranean waters. What should be a vibrant and thriving marine ecosystem is instead littered with plastic bags, discarded bottles, food wrappers, and other man-made debris. It’s heartbreaking to witness, and even more painful to document. These images tell a story of negligence and disregard for our natural world, a story that’s unfolding beneath the waves for those who care to look.

The Magnificent Mediterranean—Under Threat

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most biodiverse marine environments on the planet. It’s home to thousands of species of fish, marine mammals, and underwater flora—many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Yet, it’s also one of the most polluted seas, with an estimated 8 million tons of plastic entering its waters every year. Much of this waste ends up washing ashore, tangling in seaweed, or drifting out of sight beneath the surface.

It’s not just deep-sea dives that reveal this problem; it’s everywhere, right by the shorelines where people swim and sunbathe. Each time I set out with my camera, I’m struck by how the currents gather debris, creating pockets of floating trash just meters from the beaches where tourists flock to enjoy their holidays.

A View Through the Lens

From the perspective of an underwater photographer, the problem is more than just a minor inconvenience; it’s an environmental tragedy unfolding in slow motion. The plastic pollution I see is not just a collection of objects—it’s a symbol of the harm we’re causing to an environment we claim to love. It’s the grocery bag drifting near a school of fish, the plastic bottle caught in the tentacles of a jellyfish, the colorful food wrapper tangled around delicate seagrass. It’s the slow, invisible suffocation of a beautiful ecosystem.

These images are my attempt to make the unseen seen, to show that the pollution in the Mediterranean is not just a distant problem but a local crisis—one that affects all of us who live here or visit.

The Impact of Plastic on Marine Life

This pollution is not merely an eyesore; it has real and devastating consequences for marine life. Sea turtles often mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish, one of their primary food sources, leading to deadly blockages in their digestive systems. Fish ingest tiny plastic particles, which then work their way up the food chain—ultimately impacting human health as well. What may look like a single plastic bottle floating innocuously in the water can break down into microplastics, which persist for centuries, contaminating every level of the marine ecosystem.

A Call for Change—From the Shores to the Depths

It’s easy to think of this pollution as someone else’s problem or to assume that it’s being handled by local authorities and environmental organizations. But the reality is that this problem is only getting worse, despite efforts to clean up and raise awareness. My hope is that my images will serve as a reminder that our actions have consequences, and that every piece of litter carelessly discarded can end up in these waters.

I believe change starts with awareness. It starts with individuals, with communities, and with a collective commitment to protecting our seas. Simple steps—like reducing single-use plastics, participating in local beach clean-ups, and supporting legislation aimed at reducing pollution—can make a real difference. These actions might seem small, but they matter, and they’re the first step towards reclaiming the Mediterranean’s beauty for future generations.

Turning the Tide

As an underwater photographer, I feel a responsibility to document not just the beauty of the Mediterranean but also its challenges. These images of floating trash may not be what people want to see, but they are what we need to see. They are a visual reminder that the Mediterranean is not just a summer playground but a vital, living sea that needs our protection.

I encourage everyone who visits these shores to look beyond the sun-drenched beaches and take a moment to consider what lies beneath. We all have a role to play in preserving the Mediterranean—whether through individual action, supporting conservation efforts, or simply by refusing to look away.

The sea is a mirror, reflecting not just the sky above but our collective impact. Let’s make sure that what we see in that reflection is something we can be proud of.