Kelvin Pung is a disabled underwater photographer whose pieces are able to show the prowess of both disabled people and Singapore’s marine life. Despite only one functioning arm, he has been able to dive into depths even abled people cannot manage, all while also being constrained with the need to operate his camera. As a Singaporean, small city nation located in Southeast Asia, he has also managed to showcase the rich biodiversity of its native marine life.
This is an element of life in Singapore that often goes unnoticed and underestimated, which has meant that it has often been neglected as seen in how Singapore’s Wildlife Protection Act does not include the protection of shellfish and other invertebrates. Hence, Pung’s work, which helps to share Singapore’s rich marine biodiversity to the public, is also helping to further advocate for their protection and conservation. This is why the work that he does is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Life Below Water and Reduced Inequalities.
In an interview with Channel News Asia, Pung shares how he has been an avid marine photographer since 2014, despite losing control of his left arm in a serious road accident back in 1996. He even shared that for him, swimming and photographing with one arm is “very easy.” This is because he is able to use the water to compensate for the weight of the camera. “It makes it easier to operate with one hand,” he said.
One of Pung’s most frequent subjects has been a series of nudibranch species that can only be found in Singapore and its neighbouring waters in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. These elusive critters are only 2 millimetres to 10 centimetres long, which Pung believes is why people think that there is nothing in Singapore’s waters as most of its biodiversity are very small in size. Pung has been sharing his photographs in a Facebook page he founded back in 2015, which has amassed over 2,000 members today including scientists and researchers who have been able to use his photographs to aid their studies.
Kelvin Pung’s underwater photography highlights both the resilience of disabled individuals and the rich, often-overlooked biodiversity of Singapore’s marine ecosystems. Despite having only one functioning arm, Pung’s ability to dive and operate his camera in challenging conditions showcases his extraordinary skill and determination. Through his striking images, particularly of nudibranch species unique to the region, Pung draws attention to Singapore’s vibrant marine life, advocating for its conservation in a country where such ecosystems are frequently underestimated and underprotected.
Find out more about underwater photography and other initiatives by Kelvin Pung on his Facebook page or his Instagram @kelvinpung.