Unique Experiences

Item Description

Nick Calyonis — Director/Producer, Photographer & Naturalist

Catonville, Maryland

After graduating with a degree in Zoology from the University of Maryland in 1973, Nick began his Post-graduate work with Eugenie Clark, Ph.D. In 1974 he was awarded his first grant to study and film “sleeping” shark behavior with Eugenie off Isla Mujeres, Mexico. There, he worked with, and was mentored by Ramon Bravo, who taught Nick the fundamentals of life underwater. It was here he learned how to film wild pelagic sharks for Hollywood without injury to humans or sharks. These experiences would later inspire Nick in his career as an extraordinary underwater filmmaker.

Over a span of 30 years, Nick's artistry has been honored with numerous awards, including an Oscar and Primetime Emmys. He has directed and produced films for National Geographic and Discovery Channels, has filmed for IMAX and Hollywood screens and still continues to collaborate with marine scientists not only to record their work, but to help them make their groundbreaking discoveries. Also an accomplished underwater photographer, Nick’s still pictures have appeared in over 100 national and international publications and books. In 2011, Nick was inducted into the Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences.

Nick was the first ever to encounter, film and photograph Greenland sharks under Arctic waters, in 1995. Before then, no one had ever thought of documenting these little-known creatures in their Arctic environment; there were only three obscure mentions of greenland sharks found on the web and these referred to dead specimens. His underwater visuals sparked much research in these bizarre creatures.

An avid conservationist, Nick has used his visuals to help in lobbying for protection of sharks, the creation of undersea parks, sanctuaries, and for protective laws (e.g. Ras Mohammed Park in the Red Sea and a seasonal sanctuary for mating nurse sharks in the Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys).

Nick’s company was instrumental in raising several million dollars to help (the highly successful Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative) increase marine habitat areas  by placement of artificial reefs in waters of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

                                                                www.nickcaloyianis.com/