Two freedivers under the surface of a Cape Town kelp forest

People protect what they have experienced.

I am Gunnar Oberhosel, a photojournalist based in Cape Town. I photograph the sea, publish the print journal Element, and take small groups into the water in False Bay.

A diver at the surface in mask and snorkel

I photograph the ocean and the people whose lives run alongside it, mostly along the South African coast.

The work rests on one idea: people become advocates for the sea once they have felt it. Everything I do, on assignment, in print and in the water, is built to create that moment.

Photojournalism

Stories from the water, told for the people who never go in.

I work as a photographer and writer on marine conservation, coastal communities and the wild edges of southern Africa. Commissions, licensing and assignment work are welcome.

Recent work includes the rabies outbreak in Cape fur seals, a humpback whale wash-up in Simon's Town, marine pollution, wildfires, and an interview with Craig Foster of My Octopus Teacher, mostly for Daily Maverick. I have contributed underwater features to PADI's Dive Magazine, and National Geographic featured a frame from my ongoing kelp forest work.

Alongside journalism I supply imagery and footage to conservation projects, including WWF, the documentary The Last Shark, and Rise from the Cape Flats.

Commission me Read my Daily Maverick work
A freediver under the surface of a kelp forest
  • Finalist, South African Photographer of the Year, 2023
  • Finalist, Andrei Stenin Award, 2024
  • Kelp Forest Award, 2024
Seen in National Geographic Daily Maverick WWF PADI Dive Magazine
Kelp forest in False Bay Fish and a jellyfish in the kelp A Cape fur seal diving beneath the surface Children carrying a tyre off the beach during a clean-up A chacma baboon above the sea Young freedivers before a dive near Simon's Town A Cape fur seal asleep on the promenade A snorkeller clearing her snorkel at the surface An African penguin on the boardwalk at Boulders Sunrise through the boulders at Simon's Town

Latest project

Element

A print journal about the South African coastline. Photography, long-form writing and the people who live at the edge of the sea.

I founded and publish Element. It is made to be kept, not scrolled: heavy stock, generous plates, and stories given the space they deserve. Contributors include Jean Tresfon, Chris Fallows and Justin Fox.

  • Annual print edition
  • First run of 3,000 copies
Visit Element
A copy of Element on a bedside table
A group on the rocks before a dive

Guiding

Get in the water with me.

I take small private groups into False Bay to freedive, scuba dive and explore the coast. No crowds, no schedule you have to keep up with, and no pressure to perform in the water.

Everything is built around the group I have in front of me: the conditions on the day, how confident you are, and how much time you have. I am a PADI Divemaster and freediving instructor, an FGASA marine guide and a wilderness first responder, and I have been diving this coastline for years. If you have never put your face in cold water before, that is a fine place to start.

Plan a day with me
Freediver among kelp and fish

Freediving the kelp forest

From R3,200 per group, 3 hours

One breath, cold water and a forest that moves with the swell. Suited to complete beginners as well as experienced divers who want a guide who knows where to look.

Up to 4 guests. Wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins included.

Scuba diver on the sand in False Bay

Scuba diving in False Bay

From R2,900 per person, shore dive

Certified dives on the bay's reefs, wrecks and kelp. Gear and boat arranged, dives chosen for the conditions rather than the calendar.

Boat dives from R3,400 per person. Certification required.

Sunset over Lion's Head from the mountain

Private group touring

From R11,500 per group, full day

A day or several, shaped around your group. Coastline, wildlife, water and the quiet corners of the peninsula, with time built in to sit still and look.

8 to 10 hours, up to 4 guests. Transport and lunch included.

Two divers back on the beach after a dive
Back on the sand after a morning in the kelp.
Two divers after a harbour clean-up in Kalk Bay
Some days we come out carrying more than we went in with.

How a day works

From meeting point to sauna.

  1. We meet in Simon's Town, about 45 minutes from the city centre.
  2. Gear fitting, then a briefing on the site, the conditions and what lives there.
  3. Short transfer to the site I have picked for the day's wind and swell.
  4. Up to an hour in the water, at whatever pace the group wants.
  5. Back to Palm Rock for the sauna, something to eat and time to warm up.
Do I need experience?
No. You need to be able to swim and be in reasonable health. A 5mm or 7mm wetsuit gives you plenty of buoyancy. Children from 6 upwards are welcome with a parent's consent.
Will I be cold?
False Bay runs between 13 and 20 degrees. You will be fitted with a 5mm or 7mm suit chosen for the day. Bring sandals for the walk down and a warm jacket for afterwards.
What might I see?
Octopus and cuttlefish, pyjama and shyshark, red roman, klipvis and steenbras, sea stars, urchins, sea fans and nudibranchs. Cape fur seals on some sites. Nothing is guaranteed, which is part of the point.
What is included?
Briefing, all gear, guiding, and something warm to drink afterwards. Transfers from the city and photographs of your dive can be arranged.
What if the weather turns?
I pick the site on the morning, based on wind and swell. If the bay is unworkable we move the day rather than put you in bad water.
The sauna at Palm Rock, looking out over False Bay

Part of every day

Palm Rock, Simon's Town

Every dive finishes here, a few minutes from the water. Get warm in the sauna, grab something to eat, and sit in the sun until you have stopped shivering. It is included, not an extra.

  • Sauna looking out over False Bay
  • Somewhere warm and private to change
  • Food and something hot to drink afterwards
  • Rooms if you would rather stay the night
See Palm Rock
Fisherman's Beach and False Bay from Palm Rock Guests around the dinner table at Palm Rock The deck at Palm Rock in late afternoon light

Qualifications

  • PADI Divemaster and freediving instructor
  • FGASA marine guide
  • SAS skipper and powerboat licence
  • Emergency and wilderness first responder

In the media

Good to know

  • Based in Simon's Town, diving False Bay all year round
  • Private groups only, and never more than one booking in a day
  • Wetsuits, masks, fins and weights are all arranged for you
  • Rates depend on the size of the group and the number of days

Let's talk.

Commissions, licensing, Element, or a day in the water.

gunnar@oberhosel.com
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