Under the Sea: Maui Naturalist Finds Beauty Below

Photo by John O’Leary.

By Maui Now Staff

Marine naturalist John O’Leary of Maui has a passion for wildlife and photography.  He has combined the two, capturing vibrant images of the world beneath Maui’s surface.

This week he shares his photographs of turtles taken at Puʻu Kekaʻa in Kāʻanapali and Nāpili Bay in West Maui.

Born and raised in Illinois, O’Leary joined the Army, served eight years with two enlistments, and earned a degree in Environmental Biology.

Photo by John O’Leary.

“No one ever believed my stories I told, so I purchased a small point and shoot to document my adventures, and just over time, my photography progressed and improved,” he tells Maui Now.

O’Leary moved to Maui four years ago when he got a job as a marine naturalist, “and now,” he says, “I’m as happy as can be.”

O’Leary studied fishes of the world for his undergraduate program years ago and says, “this is a great place to be because almost 25% of the fish found here are found no where else in the world.”

***If you have photos of news happening on Maui, or images that capture the essence of our island home, please send them to [email protected] for us to share. 

Photo by John O’Leary.

Photo by John O’Leary.