Gabriel BARATHIEU

Born June 2nd 1983, Gabriel Barathieu spends his childhood alongside the Atlantic ocean in the family house located in the Landes, steps away from the ocean. It’s in 1999, on the Reunion Island, that he discovers the wonderful underwater world. 10 years later he decides to make it home. Once back, he rediscovers the beauty of scuba diving getting his level 1 and 2 certifications along the way. Very quickly he feels the indescribable needs to share those hidden treasures hiding under the water through his lens. He first invested in basic material: a small Canon compact camera with a housing. Still not very at ease with the photography part, he senses quickly that underwater photography his becoming a second passion. Perfect sequel to discovering the underwater world. A year later, Gabriel invests in professional material:Several hundred dives and a few thousand pictures later he became a rebreather certified diver and discover bubble free diving in 2013. He then gets his Trimix Normoxique certification that allows him to dive up to 70m. Sadly, he suspends his deep diving activities in 2015 after the death of a friend and instructor in an accident. Backstage_a_100_m A dream: a passion to a career Following the tragic accident, Gabriel quit his job in the public work sector and totally focus on photography. He then participates in prestigious photography competition and gets recognition very quickly. He is also published in various specialized magazines like Plongez, Tauchen, EZdive, Practical Photography, Science et Vie, GEO or National geographic. Forced to resume his former job after 2 years, Gabriel decides to set camp on the island of Mayotte and its magnificent lagoon. In 2017 he won the Underwater Photographer of the year This very coveted title by all the underwater photographer of the world motivates him like never to live his passion: Underwater photography