Thomas Van Puymbroeck is a Belgian photographer specialising in underwater and nature photography. His passion for the underwater world arose almost 20 years ago. Although he initially graduated as a graphic designer, he chose to follow his heart and worked as a zookeeper in an Antwerp public aquarium. Here he obtained his diving licence and soon discovered that he wanted to capture this beautiful world below sea level.

His work has been recognised worldwide and published in renowned media such as National Geographic and the BBC. You will also regularly come across his articles and photos in the Dutch-language magazines dive and hippocampus. In addition, he is an ambassador for brands such as OM System (formerly Olympus) and Mares. Thomas is regularly invited as a jury member for competitions such as the ONK, lowlands photo festival or the German underwater photography championship. He also organises underwater photography trips, inspiring others to discover the beauty of the ocean through the lens.

Thomas has collected numerous national and international awards during his career. In 2022, for example, he was Belgian Underwater Photography Champion and named Photographer of the Year. He also won several medals at both the Belgian and Dutch Championships and won the Zeeland Underwater Photography Championship. But he also regularly takes the podium in foreign competitions. From America ( trough your lens ) to the Czech Republic ( Paf Tachof ), he is a regular guest in competitions. He also scores well in competitions that do not focus exclusively on underwater photography, winning the underwater category of the Lowlands Photo Festival and winning several Green Camera competitions. 2 prestigious nature photography competitions.

He has already had the opportunity to represent Belgium three times at the World Underwater Photography Championships once as an assistant and twice as a photographer. He achieved several top 10 rankings. His highest ranking was a nice 5^the place.

In addition to his photographic achievements, Thomas is an ambassador for nature and is often seen as one of Belgium's shark ambassadors. He is committed to the conservation of sharks, animals crucial to the balance in marine ecosystems. Through his photos and stories, he tries to raise awareness of the need to protect these often misunderstood animals. When he is not underwater, you can therefore regularly find him on various stages talking about the wonderful underwater world. From a small living room to a festival with 1000 children ( nerdland festival ), Thomas talks enthusiastically about photography and conservation.

He therefore continues to be not only a visual but also an educational ambassador for the ocean with his camera and passion, aiming to share the beauty and fragility of the underwater world with a wide audience.