David Doubilet was born in 1946 and began diving at age 8, spending 13 years photographing the New Jersey coast. His first photo was published by National Geographic in 1972, since then he has authored over 50 ocean life articles. In 2003, over 15,000 people visited his underwater photography exhibition in Lisbon, where he was considered the most famous underwater photographer, showcasing over 100 photos including a National Geographic story from 2002. Doubilet received his first prize, the Underwater Sara Prize from an Italian magazine, and honorable mentions from the American National Press Photographers Association.