Jemma Paradise, 24, was born and raised in coastal Southern California. She grew up exploring the region’s kelp forests and developed a deep fascination for their rich biodiversity. She particularly loved snorkeling during local leopard shark aggregations and, upon bringing a camera to document them, became obsessed with the perfect shark shot – igniting her passion for underwater photography!
In 2024, she graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Global Environmental Politics and a minor in Journalism. Her studies took her abroad to Gump Station in Mo’orea, French Polynesia, where her capstone project photographed the impacts of ecotourism on pink whipray and blacktip reef shark populations. Beyond the classroom, she interned as a Production and Campaigns Assistant for the Oceanic Preservation Society, a documentary production non-profit that works to strengthen conservation initiatives. She also co-founded a magazine called The Environmentalist, focusing on environmental issues in Northern California, and led its photography department.
Upon graduating, she began working as a divemaster for Catalina Divers Supply, exploring Catalina Island’s kelp forests on a near-daily basis. Now a PADI Instructor, she has documented species ranging from tiny California Blue Dorids to endangered Giant Black Sea Bass. Equally, her job gives her a front-row seat to the challenges facing kelp forest ecosystems, driving her to pursue a career in conservation-centered storytelling. She is incredibly honored to be the 2025 Paul L. Schutt Underwater Photography Intern – through this invaluable opportunity, she aims to take her underwater photography to the next level, empowering her to support ocean conservation moving forward.
