Sharif Sarwar is a pioneering underwater photographer, photojournalist and marine conservation advocate from Bangladesh whose work connects visual storytelling with deep-sea exploration and environmental awareness. Through years of field experience, he has transformed the largely unseen underwater world into compelling documentation of marine biodiversity, pollution and conservation challenges.

Sarwar began his professional career as a photojournalist in 1997, working with Dainik Provat, The Daily News Today and Prothom Alo. He later served as Chief Photojournalist of Dainik Jaijaidin until 2009 and as Senior Vice President of the Bangladesh Photojournalists Association from 2017 to 2018. His transition into underwater photography marked a significant new chapter in his professional work.

In February 2012, Sarwar undertook his first underwater exploration at St. Martin’s Island. With no previous diving experience and limited equipment, he gradually developed his skills through formal training, fieldwork and experimentation. He subsequently earned qualifications including PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Emergency First Response, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation, Reef Check Eco Diver, PADI Divemaster and Freediver certifications.

His underwater expeditions have taken him across diverse aquatic environments in Bangladesh, including St. Martin’s Island, Sonadia Island, Nijhum Dwip, the Swatch of No Ground and the Bay of Bengal, as well as the Padma, Brahmaputra, Halda and Sangu rivers. He has also explored Tanguar Haor, Hakaluki Haor, Kaptai Lake and Boga Lake. Internationally, his work has extended to Thailand, Malaysia, India and more than 30 islands in the Maldives.

Sarwar’s portfolio captures a remarkable range of marine life, including whale sharks, tiger sharks, manta rays, reef sharks, nurse sharks, stingrays, nudibranchs, seahorses and giant clams. Shipwrecks, underwater caves and submerged geological formations also feature prominently in his visual documentation.

For Sarwar, underwater photography extends beyond aesthetics. His images have become a means of documenting environmental degradation and communicating the urgency of marine conservation. His work has appeared in Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Ittefaq, Jugantor, The Daily Sun, New Age, Bangladesh Pratidin and national television outlets. He has also collaborated with the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute, Department of Environment and UNDP.

Since 2013, he has supported annual underwater cleanup initiatives, documenting plastic pollution, ghost nets and industrial waste. In 2018, he participated in Bangladesh’s first experimental underwater coral nursery project, further connecting photography with practical conservation efforts.

His contributions have also reached the public through solo exhibitions at Drik Gallery in 2012 and Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in 2014, while his work was featured in BAY OF BENGAL: Bounties Untold. In 2026, he conducted workshops on scuba diving and underwater cinematography at the University of Dhaka.

Sarwar has received the National Photography Award, the Bangladesh Photojournalists Association’s “Man of the Year” recognition, environmental journalism awards from FEJB and BAPA, and the Imperial Photo Journalist Appreciation Award 2026.

Looking ahead, he aims to develop a comprehensive, science-based underwater visual database of Bangladesh for researchers, environmentalists, students and policymakers. His work demonstrates how photography can serve as a bridge between journalism, exploration, science and conservation, bringing the hidden underwater world into public view while strengthening awareness of its protection.