Lazaro Ruda

Raised in south Florida, my wildlife encounters as a boy were limited to my backyard, a local pond, and my summer vacations in Key West. It was in the fabulous Florida Keys that my unsolicited terror of the unknown ocean world slowly gave in to a whole new level of fascination. Floating below me was an alien world waiting to be discovered.

Over twenty years later this love affair for the ocean has developed into an obsession. Whether I am swimming in the ocean or reading books on its natural history, few things capture my attention with such an invigorating passion. Every time feeling like that small boy who back in Key West some years ago dipped his head underwater for the very first time.

It is through this web site that I hope to share with you the fascinating and beauty of this amazing world as I see it. My hope is that through my images and writings you will come to understand our amazing ocean planet a little better and that same passion and love I have for the natural world becomes your own.

Allison Knox

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My appeal of the ocean world came about when I was five years old. Thanks to my parents, who made my visits to a local aquarium possible, I was intrigued by all the fishy characters I viewed behind the glass. For my seventh birthday, I was so entranced by the ocean world that I asked my mother to add fish to the swimming pool so I could swim amongst them.

While attending Richard Stockton College in New Jersey I was presented with an opportunity to intern as a reef specialist in the Florida Keys. During this trip I was certain that Florida was where I wanted to be. After graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Marine Science I returned to Florida.

The drive to teach others about this fascinating world lead me to pursue my dive instructor certification. Over five years later I still enjoy introducing the young and young-at-heart to the wonderful world beneath the ocean waves. It is my hope that through my knowledge and enthusiasm I will help others come to appreciate and protect the natural world.