As a marine ecologist and wildlife photographer, James Monnington’s whole life revolved around being able to dive. So, when he was struck with a bad case of decompression sickness, he thought it was game over. We spoke to James to hear more about his story Freediving with James Monnington, and his journey towards finding freediving.
So, what happened that day, when you got decompression sickness?
I’d travelled to the Philippines to assist on a research project on sharks. About four weeks into the project, after a perfectly normal day’s diving, I was overcome by lethargy and my vision became distorted – classic signs of decompression sickness (DCS). Initially I tried to deny it, knowing that it would mean the end of my trip but eventually I had to give in. I needed a trip to the decompression chamber, known affectionately as “the pot”. Pretty much fixed up, I headed back to the UK to get properly checked out. But all was not well. Doctors explained that I’d suffered Type II DCS, where nitrogen bubbles affect the nervous system which means that remaining scare tissue could be “sticky” for nitrogen bubbles, making a second accident much more likely. I could return to SCUBA diving but couldn’t pursue any aggressive schedules. I couldn’t have a career in SCUBA.
Crestfallen, I moved to Wales to undertake an MSc in Marine Environmental Protection but my principal motivation and passion had been pulled from under me. I tried to rationalise a return to SCUBA despite the risks, but it just wasn’t sensible. When I really thought I’d have to give it up, I came across an article about freediving. Although DCS is still a consideration for freedivers who go very deep, it can be a safer option for divers because you’re not breathing compressed air at depths. I’d found my way back into diving.
One of your biggest motivations for freediving is being able to take photographs. How did you get into photography?
My dad has always been a keen photographer, so he always encouraged me to take photos, teaching me the fundamentals of shooting and developing. I didn’t really get into photography seriously until I got into freediving though. Taking photographs as a freediver, you need to be very comfortable in the water. The biggest constraint on photography during freedives is the time. I can hold my breath for about six minutes, but it’s generally only about 4 if I’m actively swimming around. Short dive times require that you’re immediate, decisive and know your equipment inside out. Sometimes this is a hindrance, but there are so many ways that freediving is also hugely advantageous for photography. Compared to your bubble-blowing, equipment laden counterparts, you’re fast, nimble and silent. Animals generally allow you to approach much more closely, tending to be either entirely disinterested or mildly intrigued by your presence. For me, I think this allows me to get more collaborative images.
Black and white is such an interesting medium for wildlife photography and not one that you see that often. Why do you choose to depict your freediving stories this way and what impact do you think this has on your photography?
I wish I could say I had some sort of cerebral, high-concept rationale for shooting in black and white, but the truth is, it’s never really occurred to me to do anything else. I’ve always loved the aesthetic, and I have a particular interest in war reportage, especially from Vietnam. There’s something about the simplicity, the immediacy and the way that it abstracts the environment, distilling the photo down to its core components.
I’ve never wanted to take those classic well-lit, saturated, colourful and super clear photos you see in dive magazines and competitions. They’re beautiful and require a lot of technical skill, but I find it hard to connect with them emotionally, and they don’t really represent my experience of the ocean, which can be very appealing, but can also be overwhelming, humbling and intimidating. Quite often, it’s a dark, murky, disorienting and surreal atmosphere, which is a side of the experience that I think is important to share as well. Black and white really helps with this. It can also make taking photos a lot easier when there isn’t much light or colour, which is an issue if you are deep and choose not to use artificial lights.
What are your favourite animals/fish to shoot? What have been the most stand out experiences with them, while you’ve been diving?
I really love diving with sea lions. They’re incredibly playful and interactive, and their speed, agility and grace put us to shame. I like to think about how much their high-spirited behaviour at the surface must contrast with the seriousness of their offshore, deep-diving foraging expeditions, where they descend to incredible depths and expose themselves to all manner of predators as they search for sustenance.
One experience that really stands out was in the Galapagos. I watched two juveniles playing with a piece of reed they’d found, passing it back and forth and chasing each other’s tails. After about twenty minutes, they included me in their game, racing up, leaving the reed floating in front of me before careening off, disappearing for a few seconds and racing back to reclaim their toy. It was a really special moment that I’ll never forget.
Pollution of the oceans – particularly plastic pollution – is very topical issue at the moment. Is plastic pollution a problem that you’ve particularly noticed during your dives?
Unfortunately plastic pollution is something I’ve probably seen to different degrees in almost every country I’ve dived in. It’s quite upsetting, but I’m optimistic about the current zeitgeist in relation to marine pollution. This new wave of awareness and passion for reducing plastic pollution is pretty incredible, and I’m amazed at the number of people it has reached. There have been a lot of campaigners working for a long time, but I think we owe a great debt to the second Blue Planet series for bringing the issue to life for so many people.
There are a lot of other marine conservation challenges too, some which people can easily play a role in helping – for instance destructive overfishing. I highly recommend the fish guide apps by Greenpeace and the Marine Conservation Society if you choose to eat fish, but want to do so responsibly. Both organisations are also just generally good sources of information on marine issues and finding out how to help. Even it’s just filling out the odd online petition it’s a worthwhile contribution.
Have you ever had any dangerous or worrying experiences with animals or in general when you’ve been on a dive?
Not really. A long time ago I got in on my own with a male seal and by the time time I’d swum out he started to make it quite clear he didn’t want me in the water with him; barking, circling me and stirring up sand with his flipper. I calmly but quickly exited the water and learnt my lesson.
Have you got any specific dives in mind for the future? Are there any places you’d love to go and explore one day?
I’m going back to Baja at the end of 2018, which I’m really excited about. Next year I’m planning on heading to Tonga to see the humpbacks. They’ve already been photographed extensively, but they’ve always been one of my favourite animals and I’d just love to see them up close and personal. I’m also hoping I can squeeze in a trip to see the Orcas in Norway, but I need to write-up my PhD next year and I have a feeling that’s going to take over the photography for a short while.
Long-term, I’d love to do visit the descendants of the pearl divers in Japan (the Ama) and South Korea (the Haenyeo), who are still using traditional freediving methods to collect shellfish and seaweed. As this subsistence lifestyle becomes increasingly difficult, their populations have dwindled, so I think it would be a real privilege to dive with them before their way of life dies out, or falls victim to tourist-cliches.
In what ways do you think freediving has impacted your life?
It gives me a sense of purpose and identity, and has introduced me to a community of many amazing people. One of the things I love the most is that means that I always travel with a specific objective, which had led me to some pretty odd locations that I would never have visited otherwise, including shark-fishing outposts, military bases, innumerable dead-end towns, abandoned oil rigs, harbours and many more.
And finally, do you have any advice for freedivers who are just starting out?
Find a certified instructor to train with (look for AIDA or SSI certification) and join a local club so you have people to train and dive with (and also to talk about freediving with, because your other friends will get bored of hearing about it!). Take your time, try not to be frustrated if it feels like you have plateaued, you have your whole life to improve. Be safe, respect your body’s limitations and have fun!
To read more about James’ experiences freediving, click here.