Regarding the large animals, what precautions you should take, in terms of image capture?
PV: In the marine environment, whatever the animal in question, but mostly with large we have to respect them. We have to observe their behavior very well, especially when they are mammals, dolphins or seals, particularly if they are young, many are protectors, the same applies to humans, we also protect our children. So if we are to interfere in a space that is theirs we have to have them some attention. If there is offspring we should give space, we must maintain a distance of course and not interfere with their area and all is well. In these twenty years I have never experienced any shark or any other marine animal attack. As long as we respect the animals they take the initiative to approach, because they are naturally curious, we allow them to come to us and are the easiest way to approach.
Did you have any dip that you particularly marked, precisely because of this connection with animals?
PV: I've had several. It is very difficult to pinpoint just one dive. I plunged with millions of sardines, those images you see in documentaries, authentic giant balls and dives with sharks, mantas and seals in general are gracious animals under water and this is very important.
Have you had any unpleasant encounter with some shark? In fact there are several species in the islands and there are no known attacks since the time of colonization, but still did you have some scare ?
PV: There are actually several species of shark in Madeira, I've been in contact with these two species in the water and these fish are fleeing from us faster than the inverse. So far I managed to shoot various types of sharks off the archipelago, the locals species never could.
What are these species that tried to shoot?
PV: The hammerhead shark and Caneja, which is its common name. They exist on the island very close to the coast, two summers ago, in one of our beaches in Funchal three specimens were spotted in the botton, just ten meters deep and nobody ever saw them. They do no harm. Shark attacks happen as a rule, because these predators confuse people with seals that these animals hunt. Divers are at the same level as them, our breathing, the oxygen bubbles, it is as if they were a sonic assault. So they frightened and there is no reason for concern.
What are you looking at underwater images around the island?
PV: I always try to find different looks. Even diving in the same place, there are always different interactions with the various animals and however you immerse in the same spot you end up knowing a given environment rather than the seabed. We can even dive 10 times in the same place and in the 11th we found something we had never seen before, or appeared and before was not visible, like an algae or animals that are hidden in the sand, or only appear at night and soon you find many thing that was unknown. Mere, for example, has photographed them from every angle imaginable and therefore do not seek them, but always give a very beautiful image. I always try to shoot different things, to do the same images with other lenses to show another look, in order to capture a different things from the seabed.
There is some diving you would like to do further?
PV: Several. Like to dive in the Galapagos and other Pacific coasts lines, Indonesia and the Philippines.
