In the remote sanctuary of the Revillagigedo Islands lies one very special rock. It’s a magnet for pelagic life, an ecosystem still in balance. Powerful ocean currents bring nutrient-rich water to this distant archipelago. It positively teams with life. Underwater, sheer walls drop away beneath you and everywhere you look there are sharks.

Cave-like indentations pockmark the rocky surface and create resting places for marine creatures. At depth, these volcanic caves and ledges initially appear dull, grey and relatively lifeless. But as soon as they’re lit up, they come alive with such vivid colours that you at once feel as though you’re in a summer garden. This rich tapestry is made up of sponges and algae, barnacles and hard coral. The ledges are especially favoured by Whitetip reef sharks and make a perfect day bed for the times they like to rest.

After a few dives of searching for the ideal spot, I found this amazing grotto with a lone resident Whitetip. I spent the rest of my dive trying to get into the right position, battling the current, being swept repeatedly off to one side before I finally managed to capture the shark and its ‘garden’.

Location: Roca Partida, Revillagigedo Islands, Pacific Ocean, Mexico