Q&A with Paul Naylor

PAUL NAYLOR

We chat to the author and underwater photographer about his seminal book Great British Marine Animals, which is now in its fourth edition (the first for ten years) and still represents the ‘go-to’ tome for divers wanting to identify species in UK waters.

Photographs by Paul and Teresa Naylor, and Dave Roswell

Photographing a sizeable lion’s mane jellyfish Paul in a rare photo above water in Brighton

Q: As we always do with these Q&As, how did you first get into scuba diving?

A: I started snorkelling in Norfolk and then Devon as a teenager, and learnt to scuba dive as soon as possible after that so I could spend more time happily submerged.

Q: When did your love affair with marine life begin, and did that become a driving force in your scuba diving?

A: I think it was the first time I put my head underwater! The shore crabs I saw in Norfolk lagoons entranced me and started it all off; they were busy doing stuff and getting on with their lives even though I was watching them. I wanted to see more!

Q: You are well known for your book, but a core element of that are your stunning underwater photographs. When did you first get into underwater photography?

A: Believe it or not, it was when snorkelling for a University project on marine life in a disused Mersey dock that had been turned into a mussel farm. Sounds awful? It was wonderful with calm clear water, courtesy of the mussels, and it helped that my supervisor was very positive about my ultra-grainy results on fast 35mm slide film (remember that!) with a Nikonos camera but no flashgun.

Q: You have a doctorate in marine biology, and obviously that plays a crucial part in the creation of Great British Marine Animals, but how did you come up with the idea for the book in the first place?

A: Yes, my background in marine biology and natural history plays a big part. The idea for the books started with wanting to produce a guide that helped identification and also showcased what incredibly intriguing creatures we’re lucky to encounter around the UK.

I started snorkelling in Norfolk and then Devon as a teenager, and learnt to scuba dive as soon as possible after that

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Sunstar on sea mat

Long-spined sea scorpionfish

Spider crab with seaweed decoration

Grey sea slug eating snakelocks anemone Q: This fourth edition of Great British Marine Animals is by far the biggest upgrade to date, with some 500 new underwater photographs and far more behavioural stories. What was the driving force in the creation of this new edition?

A: It was mainly those behavioural stories, plus meeting more species. The third edition had sold out so it was a case of reprint or upgrade, and the decision was easy as soon as I started to think about all the amazing things I’d observed and photographed over the last ten years.

Q: You – and your footage – have appeared on TV programmes as diverse as The One Show, Coast, Countryfile and Blue Planet UK. What is it that makes you a ‘go-to’ person for these productions?

A: I think it’s the footage I have showing animal behaviour, which comes from patience, understanding the creatures and getting to know dive sites, and sometimes individual animals, really well.

Pair of goldsinny Tompot blenny Buster evicts a velvet swimming crab

I think watching a spider crab moult its armour and a tompot blenny confront a conger, both on dives with my son, Sam, are top of a long list

Q: What is your most-memorable diving moment?

A: That’s extremely hard, there have been so many! I think watching a spider crab moult its armour and a tompot blenny confront a conger, both on dives with my son, Sam, are top of a long list.

Q: On the flipside, what is your worst memory when it comes to scuba diving?

A: These have been mercifully few but near misses I guess, like losing control of an ascent when some idiots hauled up my SMB (fit a clip that releases easily under tension, Paul!) and nearly going overboard with an unzipped drysuit in winter when everyone else was below decks - another lesson!

Cuttlefish warning rivals Q: What does the future hold for Paul Naylor, and Great British Marine Animals?

A: For me, it’s various education projects, conservation work and continued research on the behaviour of tompot blennies and other species, particularly where their markings make individuals recognisable; it’s such a powerful tool for studying them. For the book, it’s ‘getting it out there’ to show a wide audience, including in schools (all ideas welcome) what wonderful-but-too-often-under-appreciated marine life is in our seas and how important it is to look after it. n

Paul with a moon jellyfish

Tompot blenny Bob investigates Paul’s camera

Starfish eating Brighton Pier mussels

Shore crab eating soft edible crab