Honorable Mention Underwater Art
Alexandre St. Jean
“Light Beam”
The Story: Cenotes are sacred places to the Mayans. They are doorways to Xibalbá – the Mayan Underworld. On an expedition through the Yucatan Peninsula, Professional Freediver Carlos Coste and I were brought to a very beautiful and remote Cenote by our friend and local guide, Pedro Castillo. There, we were privy to a beautiful, clear and unoccupied Cenote. As we got our gear on, a light beam appeared in the water from above. For a couple hours each day, the sun peaks through the hole of the Cenote and shapes the light into a perfect tube.
Needless to say, we used every second of light to capture photos of this wonderful phenomenon in order to show its mystical beauty. The sense of awe and tranquility felt in Cenotes are enrapturing. You can definitely feel the energy of Xibalbá.
Location: Mérida, Mexico
Equipment Used: Canon 5D Mark IV, Aquatica A5D4 Housing, Canon 17-40mm Lens
Settings: F6.3, 1/80, ISO 1250
