Jayne Jenkins
Born and raised in Wales, Jayne learnt to dive in the chilly waters along the rugged Welsh coastline before moving to Australia in 1973. As an avid diver and underwater photographer, Jayne is actively involved in many facets of the diving industry and have been for over three decades. Jayne has worked as a safety diver and researcher for various underwater film, television and photographic expeditions focussing on diving in the Pacific, including the cave diving spectacular Sanctum.
Jayne’s passion and skill for underwater photography, for which she is best known has won her many awards and she remains a regular editorial contributor to Ocean Geographic Magazine. With a love for many of the Ocean’s most threatened inhabitants such as sharks, whales and seahorses, Jayne donates her photographs to ocean conservation projects in the hope her images will help to raise funding and awareness to protect these creatures for future generations.
As Vice President and Board of Director member of the OWUSS in Australasia (Our World Underwater Scholarship Society - a scholarship sponsored by Rolex for young underwater enthusiasts) for the past ten years. Jayne has been a mentor to scholars and would like to think she has played a significant part in their lives. In the words of a previous scholar: “The time and effort Jayne devotes to the society has been fundamental in seeing many of us scholars flourish and grow within the diving industry.”
Jayne loves to introduce scholars and friends alike to her much loved dive spots around Sydney. Even with a love for travelling overseas and having dived many of the worlds most famous and stunning dive sites, Sydney remains one of Jayne’s favourite areas. “We are so lucky in Sydney to have such great diving so close to hand and easily accessible. You will be hard pushed to find me in the water around Sydney without my camera in hand!“
Jayne is currently the resident photographer /consultant with The Ocean Agency, former Catlin Seaview survey. This is fast becoming a game changing creative scientific project. Using specially designed technology, the Catlin Seaview Survey recorded and revealed the world’s oceans and reefs like never before, in high-resolution, 360-degree panoramic vision. This independent, baseline, scientific study of the world’s oceans will enable the global public to see change over time and start planning for the future.
To be involved in such significant work gives Jayne much pleasure and she believes combining science and creativity is key to helping protect the oceans.
Jayne feels privileged to be one of three Australian females inducted into The Woman Divers Hall of Fame and Jayne is also proud to be a Fellow International of the world famous Explorers Club. Recently Jayne was one of the photographic judges for the highly acclaimed World Ocean Day International photo contest run by United Nations.
Jayne hopes her drive and enthusiasm for the ocean has inspired countless individuals to take up diving and to appreciate and protect the oceans.
