French marine biologist and photographer Laurent Ballesta’s passion for the underwater world and his desire to protect the creatures that exist beneath the waves is clear in his current photography exhibition “Planet Ocean.”

Why did you become a marine biologist?

I was born close to the sea and spent all my childhood holidays snorkeling along the beaches of the south of France. I always wanted to be one of the divers of the Cousteau Society, or more precisely, a marine biologist.

What’s your typical working day like?

Well, I mostly work in the ocean, taking photos. I also appear on educational nature programs on TV and teach marine studies at a university. Everything I do is related to the conservation of marine life.

What’s your favorite sea creature?

My favorites are the ones that nobody has photographed before.

Do you have any favorite beaches in Thailand?

One of my very first photo trips was to Phi Phi Island 15 years ago. I was only 19 then! It’s still one of my most memorable trips and actually one photo featured in the exhibition is from that trip.

What’s the best way to stop global warming?

Use cars less and ride a bike instead.

What do you expect the viewers to get out of this exhibition?

I hope that they’ll understand that marine biodiversity is still largely unknown and endangered. And the fact that we are linked to the ocean so much more than they think. For example, oceanic vegetal plankton provides 80% of the atmospheric oxygen we breathe every day.