Explore the Undersea World of Michael Patrick O’Neill

Just imagine being an author and underwater photographer willing to travel the globe in search of the sea’s unique creatures. Imagine swimming in the bluest, cleanest water in the world with 200 feet of visibility. Imagine swimming with sharks and seeing eight different species. Imagine fishing in the Amazon. Imagine considering the opportunity to photograph a 30-foot whale shark as a Christmas present. Now don’t imagine, but believe this can be accomplished. If you can do that, you are getting a glimpse into the life of Michael Patrick O’Neill.

Winner of the 2002 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition – one of the highest awards in the field of nature photography - Michael Patrick O’Neill communicates the delicate balance and beauty of the Earth’s oceans through his books, photographs and presentations.

Born in Brazil, Mr. O’Neill has been a South Florida resident since 1991. While working on his MBA from the University of Miami and pursuing a corporate career, he began photographing the marine life off the Florida coast. Now for more than 14 years, Mr. O’Neill has traveled to places like Fiji, South Africa, the Bahamas and many others, recording and preserving on film Earth’s incredible sea life. His photographs have been featured in a variety of media, some of which include BBC Wildlife, Dive, National Geographic Explorer, Newsweek, Nickelodeon Magazine, The Palm Beach Post, Popular Science, Smithsonian, and many others.

In 2003, his first children’s book Fishy Friends was released with a “splash” and supported with positive reviews by the editors of Ranger Rick, BBC Wildlife Magazine, and the Smithsonian Magazine. The reader explores a coral reef and its inhabitants with the help of a narrator, Charlie the crab. In 2005, Michael O’Neill released a new series of books titled, Let’s Explore and spent the end of the year making over 40 presentations to more than 5,000 people. This series encourages children to become interested in the world of science and awakens their awareness of endangered species and conserving and protecting the Earth’s resources and ecology.

In June, Michael Patrick O’Neill will be visiting the different branches of the Palm Beach County Library System to talk about the unique creatures he has photographed. He will provide an up-close and personal view of the marine life photographs for which he has become world-renowned. A demonstration of the scuba gear and photography equipment will be included in his presentation. Be sure to register early to guarantee a spot at one of the libraries. Want a preview? Check out Mr. O’Neill’s underwater photographs at www.mpostock.com and learn more information about his books at www.batfishbooks.com.