Brian Skerry: National Geographic photographer.

• Position: FIVE QUESTIONS FOR... - Interview

How did you start diving?

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I began diving at age 15 right here in New England. Since the earliest age I had a fascination with the ocean--this innate desire I couldn't explain.

What are people's greatest misconceptions about diving in New England?

I will acknowledge that diving in temperate colder waters can be intimidating as it does require more effort than in tropical Locations: you have to wear more equipment and the visibility will not be as good. That said, there is a great misconception that there isn't much to see, and that what there is to see is not very interesting. From 35 years of diving I can tell you: it's quite the opposite.

Over your 35 years of diving, what experiences and sights stand out?

I tend to be drawn to temperate waters as they are some of the most rich, life-filled waters on the planet. New England is no exception: there is an incredible array of life in New England's waters. One of my favorite places is Eastport Maine, the easternmost point in the United States. Because of the great tidal exchange in Passamaquoddy Bay, the abundance of marine life there is tremendous. The other thing that rises high on my list would be diving with sharks. When you think of diving with sharks, you think of tropical locations, which are all fantastic, but New England has had a healthy population of sharks for years. Sadly, that population is no longer what it used to he.

What changes have you observed in New England's ocean?

When I started in 1978 or 79, I made dives off the beach in Jamestown and Rockport, and I can recall seeing huge shoals of fish on a much more frequent basis: pollack or herring and other species. I remember seeing lots of that kind of stuff. That was not the...