by Bernard Eaton,
Editor in Chief DIVER Magazine, England

deutsch
 

Swiss-born Kurt Amsler has one thing in common with many another diver: he was inspired by that great pioneer, Hans Hass. The year was 1956 when Hans was making diving history, Kurt was 10 years old at the time. "l read this book called Amongst Corals and Sharks he says, and from that moment on everything revolved around diving".
The problem was that Kurt lived in landlocked Switzerland and had no money. There was no diving gear to buy there anyway.
But he was not to be deterred from following in the footsteps of his idol. "We climbed, my schoolfriend and I, into Lake Zurich with home-made equipment. Teachers, schoolmates and family friends all thought we were insane".

Kurt's father, a photographer and a mountaineer, took another view. There must be something special to see down there, he thought. Something that possesses enormous attraction.
Kurt was encouraged, but the day when his dreams of travels and diving expeditions came true were still a long way off, with many years of education and training as a photographer ahead.
In fact, it was not until 1965, at the age of 19, that he felt he was ready to start "the great adventure". With 300 dollars in his pocket, a sailor's bag and diving gear, he made his way to the Red Sea, sometimes hitch-hiking, at other times travelling by train and ship.
He was to spend eight decisive months in Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba.
"I realised then that diving and photography had not just been youthful whims, and I made up my mind to make underwater photography my life" he says.
Kurt went on to earn four diving-instructor qualifications and to travel the world shooting pictures under water professionally for the advertising, fashion and other industries, for scientific purposes, and for journals, books and television.
He has won more than a hundred prizes and awards for his outstanding works and did publish several books. Two of its became honoured with the ,, Underwater Woldprize".
All this has happened in the 30 years since those first days in the Red Sea, but his calling has not ceased to fascinate and satisfy him.
''On the contrary'', he says. ''Many of my experiences are more profound than ever and I feel the underwater world is part of my living space".
''I want to express all that I feel with my pictures, with shots of the underwater landscape, ambiance, light, animals, divers, activity. But I also want to document the destruction and senseless killing of marine life, such as the sea turtles, sharks and sea cows which are now threatened with extinction. My aim is to publicise an acute problem". This is so important. "I want my pictures to show people who do not dive themselves what wonders are concealed under the water's surface. Also lead them to respect those wonders and to act, if action is required, to protect and preserve the sea and its inhabitants".
At the beginning of his career, Kurt used to take his teacher's Leica camera into the water in a rubber football bladder with a sheet of glass in the front!
Since then he has used several systems from the classic "Calypso-Phot" an the famouse Rolleimarin to Bronica and Hasselblad.
In 1980 he changed permanently to the 35mm format, using only NIKON cameras in housing, as well the amphibian NIKONOS an NIKONOS RS cameras.
"To me, it is always fascinating to photograph quite simple objects over and over again in new ways. Nevertheless, I am always seeking new challenges. One is the application of my own new cameras and techniques. But even bringing off a difficult advertising shot under water, one that demands time, training and expense, can be an enjoyable job".
Basically, though, photography has remained an artistic activity to Kurt. "For that reason", he says, "I try, whenever possible, to organise and compose my pictures and to be creative with my use of lights".

 "When I look through my archives for pictures to supply to agencies, publishers and advertising companies, the film of how the shots in front of me came to be rolls before my eyes".
"Memories come alive. Memories of adventures, stress, privation, friendship, foreign countries, technical problems, fun, defeat, success".
"True, my childhood dreams have been fulfilled. But I dream of other things all the time".
"There are still many shots I would like to accomplish and many new techniques I would like to develop".
"What am I saying ' I would like to' ? I shall do it as well".
 

Kurt is one of this men who’s not only „profits“ from the Oceans and their inhabitants - he also but something back in it! In 1980 he establish his own SOS-SEATURTLE organisation and start PR for this endangered animals throughout all the media, diving and travel industry. He was running PROJECT WARE by PADI Europe, for seven years and leading several actions and campaigns,  as well banning  the  shark fishing in 7 Maldivian Atolls.  He supply his pictures free of charge to all organisations and environmental groups involved in ocean and animal protection. In collaboration with the Swiss organisation  OCEAN CARE, he achieve to close Knie's Dolphinarium  near Zuerich.

2003, Kurt receive the TAUCHEN Award for the first SEATURTLE Bali Campaign and became a member of Honour by the German “SHARK-PROJECT”.

 PS:

Kurt Amsler has had many triumphs in his life, but in the winter of 1984 he experienced what he considers to be the high point of his career.
He served as cameraman and actor in the making of a film called The Maldives - Paradise Transformed in collaboration with the man who inspired him - Hans Hass!
 
MAIN AWARDS FOR UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY   PREMIO SARRA, Italy. TRIDENTE  D'ORO, Italy. GRAND MASTER PRIZE, England. NIKON NPCI, Japan. BBC WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, England. CMAS WORLD TROPHY. PRIX MONDIAL DU LIVRE, France. CAMERA LOUIS BOUTAN, Germany. UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, USA. GOLD AWARD PACIFIC JAPAN UW-FESTIVAL. WORLD PRIZE  FOR THE BEST UW-FOTOGRAFIE BOOK 1997 France.