http://www.lesleyrochat.travel/, http://www.lesleyrochat.com/, http://lesleyrochat.photography/

Lesley Rochat, Shark Warrior Adventure Centre at Seaforth Beach, Cape Town (2026)

07/05/2026

Back in the underground hide, one of my favourite ways to photograph wildlife.

Positioned right on the water level, the hide creates an intimate perspective that would be difficult to achieve otherwise.

I made the most of the elephant that came to drink while getting to know the Sony A1II at the same time - these are some of my first captures, and WOW, this camera is incredible - the Animal Eye Detection Autofocus just 1 feature I’m blown away by! Can’t wait to share more!

Later I turned my attention to the other life around the dam, including the resident terrapins.

Join me on one of my next photographic safaris, welcome to DM me for details.

Explore. Immerse. Protect.

01/05/2026

I didn’t have to go far; right below the guest house in Isla Carenero in Bocas del Toro I found a thriving little ecosystem all of its own.

While popular reefs close by were disappointing for me - more about that later - this little spot kept me playing in the shallows for hours: pipefish, schools of fish, rays and juvenile nurse sharks cruising past (missed the shot!), and a small coral restoration project under the pier by guest house owner, Mandy, were wonderful subjects.

Explore. Immerse. Protect.
Photographic journeys above and below the waves, details in my bio.

23/04/2026

Happy Earth Day from Bastimentos Island!

I celebrated our beautiful blue planet by slipping into the water just off the quiet shore of this beautiful beach, finding myself surrounded by a swirling shoal, constantly shifting in unison, swaying, rolling, alive with movement. Moments before, a small shark had been hunting through them, but I was a little too late to capture it - still, the energy of it all was enough to keep me mesmerised.

Moments like this, in places like this are a reminder of why I fight to protect our precious planet - why we all need protect our Mother Earth, spirit Gaia, that never ceases to give us so much - that gives us everything.

18/04/2026

Time in the water with sharks, from tiger sharks to great hammerheads, and 4 other species, a selection of moments from this past expedition.

I’ll be leading a shark diving photo expedition from 10–18 November 2026, with 4 spaces open, details are in my bio.

11/04/2026

I’m back in the USA, but only briefly before setting sail for the underwater world of sharks!

The next few weeks I’m on an underwater photography expedition starting with sharks and more sharks, photographing and freediving with tiger sharks, great hammerheads, lemons, nurse, bulls, and reef sharks in the idyllic crystal clear, warm waters of Bahamas.

My first shark liveaboard on the famous Dolphin Dream was in 2011 and I’ve returned every year since, each trip as special as the last - feeling blessed to experience this again. Can’t wait to share my journey!

07/04/2026

Sometimes losing sleep can be fun!

I was recently in the Cederberg, a stunning area free of light pollution, perfect for astrophotography.
After setting my camera up I got to bed after midnight. The moon was way too bright and only setting after 3am. A quick few hours of sleep then up, working in the dark to trigger the camera - then back to bed and up again at 5am to retrieve my camera. And then back to sleep - hoping it all works out!

If you’d like to try something like this, here’s the process I used:

1. Set up the shot
Tripod locked off, composition ready, exposures set, and focus set.

2. Capture the sequence
Using an intervalometer:
240 shots | 30 sec exposures | 3 sec intervals
Settings: ISO 2000 | f/2.8 | 14mm (Nikon 14–24mm lens.

4. Post-processing
Adjusted files in Camera Raw, then stacked in Photoshop to create the star trails.
Composite foreground lighter image with star trail (remember to paint in the foreground with a torch for this shot).

It’s a mix of planning, patience, and a willingness to lose a bit of sleep… but when it comes together, it’s always worth it - hope you think so too!

Save this if you’d like to try capturing star trails yourself.

07/04/2026

Sometimes losing sleep can be fun!

I was recently in the Cederberg, a stunning area free of light pollution, perfect for astrophotography.
After setting my camera up I got to bed after midnight. The moon was way too bright and only setting after 3am. A quick few hours of sleep then up, working in the dark to trigger the camera - then back to bed and up again at 5am to retrieve my camera. And then back to sleep - hoping it all works out!

If you’d like to try something like this, here’s the process I used:

1. Set up the shot
Tripod locked off, composition ready, exposures set, and focus set.

2. Capture the sequence
Using an intervalometer:
240 shots | 30 sec exposures | 3 sec intervals
Settings: ISO 2000 | f/2.8 | 14mm (Nikon 14–24mm lens.

4. Post-processing
Adjusted files in Camera Raw, then stacked in Photoshop to create the star trails.
Composite foreground lighter image with star trail (remember to paint in the foreground with a torch for this shot).

It’s a mix of planning, patience, and a willingness to lose a bit of sleep… but when it comes together, it’s always worth it - hope you think so too!

Save this if you’d like to try capturing star trails yourself.

02/04/2026

Wildlife encounters like this stay with you - this one was very precious.

Photographing manatees in Crystal River is unlike anything else I’ve photographed, slow, quiet, and incredibly gentle. There’s a calm presence to them that naturally slows you down to their pace.

This sweet individual came right up to me, nudging me, very curious. It was a truly special moment - the selfie of us together, one of my favourite.

While the experience feels magical, there’s a more fragile reality behind it. Florida manatees face ongoing threats from habitat loss, boat strikes, and more recently, large-scale seagrass die-offs have led to the starvation of many. Conservation efforts are underway including habitat restoration, protection zones, and rehabilitation programs. But their future still hangs in the balance, all depending on us. I felt a deep sadness for their plight, these gentle souls with no defence.

Experiences like this are a privilege… and a reminder of what’s at stake.

Settings for these shots range:
Lens 16mm f2.8
ISO: 200-500
Shutter Speed: 100-160
Aperture: f/9-16
Lighting: Natural light

25/03/2026

I ran out of air while photographing a whale shark at 17m (56ft)! Let me tell you how come I’m still here to tell the tale…

I was on an underwater photo expedition off the Cocos Island. We had just come up from 40 metres after photographing a large shiver of scalloped hammerheads, and were doing our safety stop when a whale shark appeared out of the blue.

It was a wonderful photo opportunity so I didn’t hesitate.

Slide 2 you can see how hard I’m swimming just to keep up. Problem was when the shark appeared I was close to the end of my safety stop, and low on air…
Ignoring all in favor of getting the shot, including my dive computer’s low air alarm, which I swear I never heard, or recall feeling the air supply becoming harder, I kept swimming and shooting.

Then I took another breath, and well, all I can tell you is that it’s the worst feeling ever - your lungs are empty and you draw on the regulator expecting a breath but there’s nothing, similar to sucking a blocked straw! Lungs empty.

I looked behind me for my buddy… no one, just a vast empty ocean. I had left them behind in the pursuit. The whale shark fading into the blue ahead of me.

For a moment, it was just me, alone in the big blue.

I looked up. About 17 metres (56ft) to the surface. No air, heart racing, tired after the swim… and only one way out, up!

My training kicked in: STOP. BREATH. Umm?? THINK. ACT. No time! Only thing to remember: DO NOT PANIC!
I made the ascent as calmly and quickly as possible. A big gasp at the surface - phew, that was close, I thought.

While I did come away with great images, it was pretty frightening. A sharp reminder of how quickly things can go wrong if you don’t play by the rules when diving. I don’t recommend it! Could have turned out differently for me.

Have you ever pushed the envelop while photographing wildlife? Or run out of air on a dive, or experienced something frightening while diving- would love to hear?

Follow along for more stories behind my photos taken from around the world.

24/11/2025

I’ve returned from an amazing trip, exploring stunning islands across Central America, deep diving the ancient cave of Belize, the Great Blue Hole, and wandering remote islands off mainlands, all the way to the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas aboard the Dolphin Dream liveaboard. I’ve spent hours underwater, surrounded by sharks, sometimes on breath hold, sometimes on scuba diving, always with my camera.

And I attended DEMA in Orlando, connected with fellow ocean lovers, including my sea sisters of Woman Divers Hall of Fame. It’s been a full, unforgettable year of travel, and my wanderlust is satisfied… for now!

As the year begins to draw to a close, it’s time to wrap up something I’ve been quietly working on in between all the adventures. A new phase of my journey is unfolding, and I can’t wait to share it with you soon, watch my space…

Lesley Rochat

07/05/2026

01/05/2026

23/04/2026

18/04/2026

11/04/2026

07/04/2026

07/04/2026

02/04/2026

25/03/2026

24/11/2025

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