Mekan
Álvaro Herrero, a.k.a Mekan, is originally from Spain and has always had a fascination with nature in all of its forms. At the age of 5 his grandfather gave him his first set of fins, mask and snorkel and he never looked back. Since then, he has always had a deep connection with the water. He started experimenting with photography when he was eight years old using his father’s old camera.
Mekan got his cave diving certification in 2008 but has been diving over 18 years. He has worked as a diving instructor, commercial diver, diving equipment repair and maintenance technician, boat skipper and underwater photographer. He is also an underwater photography coach at all levels and has taught underwater photography courses and masterclasses around the world.
He has been trained as a technical diver with the JJ-CCR rebreather, Advanced Mixed Gas and full cave CCR diver with the Kiss Sidewinder. He is also trained as a DPV cave diver.
Álvaro has worked as an underwater photographer in Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Maldives, Egypt, Spain, Polynesia and Mexico in dive centers, resorts, liveaboards and expeditions.
He has published photos in various journals including those of a scientific nature, collaborated with government and environmental organizations and NGO´s, and has been featured in different magazines. His work has been recognized on Nat Geo, BBC and CNN, among others.
He has been awarded in prestigious international photo contests such as GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Underwater Photographer of the Year, Ocean Photographer of the Year, Siena International Photo awards, Asferico International photo contest, Luca Memorial and Red Bull Photo Illume.
He took his deepest picture at 110m in Lombok Strait, Indonesia and now is working in Mexico as a cave photographer.
Some of the most important awards he has received:
- UPY (Underwater Photographer of the Year) 2023 “Hopeless” Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2023 Grand Title https://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com/winners/2023-winners/award-winners/4/
- Ocean Photographer of the Year 2023. 3rd Overall Place
- Siena Photo Awards 2023 “Documentary and Photojournalism” 3rd Classified https://sipacontest.com/gallery/2023/category/1471
- Montphoto 2023 “Environmental Report” Category Winner
https://montphoto.com/website/galeria_arxiu_cat.asp?any=23&id_tema=8
- Aqaba 1st International Underwater Photography Competition 2023 2nd Overall Place
https://www.instagram.com/p/CtmrRNZqBIz/?img_index=1
You can find examples of Alvaro’s work throughout our social media pages and publications. As well as on his personal Instagram page @mekanphotography and at www.mekanphotography.com
Diver Levels:
- SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor
- ACUC Surface Supplied Commercial Diver
- TDI Trimix Diver
- TDI CCR Advanced mixed gas
- IANTD CCR cave diver
- JJ User
- KISS Sidewinder User