Mark Strickland’s life-long interest in the sea has included over 10,000 dives and careers as an ocean lifeguard, boat captain, and diving instructor. His passion for underwater photography began as a teenager in Florida, and subsequently led him to many of the world's best diving areas, including Thailand, where he spent 17 seasons as Cruise Director / Photo-Pro on the live-aboard vessels “M/V Fantasea” and “Ocean Rover”. Strickland now resides in California, where he is trying to adjust to cold water diving. An avid marine naturalist, Mark has discovered several nudibranch species, including his namesake, Halgerda stricklandi. He is also a dedicated environmentalist, devoting considerable time and effort to various marine conservation groups, including the Ocean Artists Society. 

Mark's photos and articles have appeared in magazines and books around the world, including Action Asia, Asian Diver, BBC Wildlife, Blue Planet, Calypso Log, Conde Nast Traveler, Diver, Dive, Geo, National Geographic World, Natural History, Ocean Realm, Outside, Scuba Diving, Skin Diver, Sport Diver, Sportdiving, Sub, Tauchen, Undersea Journal, Unterwasser and many others.  He’s also primary photographer and co-author of Lonely Planet’s award-winning book, “Diving and Snorkeling Thailand”. Currently, he leads several dive trips each year to his favorite destinations, while working on a career-spanning pictorial book. Mark is represented by several stock photo agencies including his own, Mark Strickland Photography.