Habitat, Auliston Point, Sound of Mull, Scotland

Anthony (Tony) Michael Howells

Commonly known as Tony, I am interested, if not obsessed with wildlife, all my life as far back as I can remember, I’ve loved wild places, listening to the wind, the birds, observing the ordinary, that most people don’t even notice, I’ve had a very lucky life!

An engineer by profession, I always wanted to share what I see with those less fortunate than myself and with luck inspire those who do the things I do to do the same. As a young man I was inspired by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, completely enthralled by his Sunday shows on British TV, likewise with Hans and Lotte Hass, I was transfixed to the programmes and always inspired to learn more.

My journey into scuba diving started nearly 50 years ago, with a dive on the 1st January 1982, in the North Sea from the mouth of the River Tees, in North East England, I’ve never looked back and quickly became a trained diver! By accident I started underwater photography, soon after I realised that was it, I’d found a way to share what I loved with the world, family and friends.

Today I make films from a unique perspective, many in places where films of this type have never been made before, I am severely dyslexic and see the world in pictures and sound, every aspect of production is down to me. Fortunately my underwater footage has made it onto National Geographic, UK Channel 4 and lately the BBC country file, with Operation smash, the very place where I was first inspired.