While starting in a cold and dark lake in Switzerland, he was diving without any certification until he discovered the Maldives in 1986. Jean-Claude Monachon from Switzerland started diving at the age of 14. In 2015, he was selected as one of the “102 most enlightening underwater photographers worth knowing in the world” by the famous diving magazine “ScubaDiver”. He is the author of “The Elves of the Sea” (Published by Electronic Industry Press, 2015), and won the First Prize for Excellent Science Works of the Chinese Science Writers Association. His works have been included in the “Chinese Yearbook of Photography Art 2012”, “Ultimate Beauty – China National Geographic Books” and other albums. He has been engaged in diving and underwater photography activities for nearly 20 years, and has traveled all over the world and won many awards in international underwater photography competitions. He has worked for world-class advertising companies for many years and serves world-renowned brands. He graduated from Peking University and has studied in Japan and the United States. Invited as the general advisor and judge for “China Underwater Photography Competition” for many times invited as the judge of “Underwater Photo Challenge UWPC” for many times. Olympus and Sony (China) Certified Underwater Photographer. Member of Chinese Photographers Association member of Chinese Art Photography Society member of China International Marine Photography Association Director of Beijing Photographic Art Association.

The Invitation by Dawn Kohler