I’ll start off by answering the question I get asked a lot…why or what is the meaning behind the name finmatt…To give your short answer it’s because I lost a fin (one single fin) while diving at Darwin’s Arch, Galapagos and the hilarious part of explaining to the airport security why I was travelling with a single fin.

I started my adventure under the surface of the ocean back in 2014 in Bali at the famous Tulamben shipwreck while I was on holiday with two of my close friends. I did 2 discover dives while they sat ashore and I was instantly hooked to the sport. I was determined that as soon as I get back to India I’ll be back again to do my certification. However, fate would have other plans. Few years later in 2017 I decided to do a solo trip to the Andaman Islands which is where I got certified for Open water as well as Advanced Open Water.

Fast forward to 2018 September I joined a fun bunch of people (who were complete strangers to me but have now become like family) on a trip to the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat. Prior to this trip I had no interest in photography . We were joined by a professional underwater photographer and a few really good amateur photographers and seeing the pictures they came up with, something in me said this is something I need to do. As soon as I got back home I bought my first ever camera, a Fuji XT-2 with a kit lens which expanded into few specific lenses and I haven’t looked back since. Today, those equipments have expanded to further aid in my goal of making better images, which quite often leaves a dent in my wallet

Today, I see photography, filmmaking and scuba diving as something very close to my heart; though I’m just starting out and have a very long way to go I feel this is my calling. I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity to travel to some of the remote parts of the planet to document magnificent and misunderstood species like the American Saltwater crocodiles of Jardine de la Reina, Cuba, Orcas of the Arctic, Smooth hammerhead sharks of Galapagos & Tiger sharks of Fuvahmulah to name a few. I hope to continue this journey of being able to film and photograph animals in their natural ecosystem and to inspire others to protect the voiceless.

Oh coming back to the finmatt part, the same gang with whom I went to Raja Ampat sometimes call me vinmatt (my personal Instagram handle), or vinny…..which turned to finny or finmatt after I lost my fin.....