I’ll start off by answering the question I get asked a lot…why or what is the meaning behind the name finmatt…To give your short answer it’s because I lost a fin (one single fin) while diving at Darwin’s Arch, Galapagos and the hilarious part of explaining to the airport security why I was travelling with a single fin.

My name is Vinay Mathew and I’m an underwater photographer who ocassioanly dabbles with wildlife photography.

My journey below the surface began in 2014 during a holiday in Bali at the famous Tulamben shipwreck, where I did two discover dives and was instantly hooked. I promised myself I would return home and pursue diving seriously, however fate had other plans. It wasn’t until 2017 that I could truly commit to it. A year later, a life changing trip to Raja Amat in the coral triangle deepened my connection with the ocean and introduced me to the power of visual story telling. What began as a simple curiosity and bringing back pictures from my travels to my family slowly but steadily evolved into a lifelong pursuit to document and protect the natural world through photography. Today I’m a CMAS 2* diver and hope to expand my skillset in the coming years.

Today I see underwater photography and wildlife photography as an inseparable part of who I am. I’ve been fortunate enough to explore some of the planet’s most remote ecosystems and capture encounters with extraordinary yet misunderstood species; from the American saltwater crocodiles of Jardines de la Reina, the Orcas of the Arctic, to the hammerheads of Galapagos and the gentle giants the sea-the humpback whales. Whether its animals many would rarely get to see or the animals you find in your backyard, I truly feel a deep connection to the world of wildlife photography both above and below the surface.

Through my images, I hope to inspire and create a sense of wonder for the natural world and a deeper responsibility to protect its fragile balance.

Oh coming back to the finmatt part, the same gang with whom I went to Raja Ampat sometimes call me vinmatt (my personal Instagram handle), or vinny…..which turned to finny or finmatt after I lost my fin.....