Darryl Torckler took his first underwater photographs in 1973, the natural culmination of a childhood passion for painting and drawing fish. He has spent many years perfecting his self taught skill, at the same time designing and building his own underwater camera housings. For Darryl, photography has become a continual process of development and he sees infinite boundaries for improvement.

By encapsulating the natural beauty, drama and activity of the marine environment, Darryl has won over 100 major international photography awards, including four first place awards in the internationally prestigious British Gas Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. Darryl is a founding member of the Underwater Photographic Society of New Zealand. Darryl's photography has been widely published internationally and has been featured in many books and magazines.

Gillian Whalley Torckler was introduced to the undersea world in the Middle East in 1987, diving in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea. Gillian is a scientist at Auckland University and accompanies Darryl whenever possible on diving expeditions. Gillian is actively involved with the Oceans Society of New Zealand, of which she has been the chairperson for the last four years.

Darryl and Gillian live close to the sea, surrounded by native forest in North Auckland. Together, they have dived in many tropical locations, but still find the temperate waters of New Zealand hold some of the world's finest natural treasure. Their combined underwater experiences have resulted in the publication of many feature articles, and recently the publication of their first book, entitled " Underwater Wonders of New Zealand "