What makes the pictures even more unique is that he only picked up a camera two years ago - and doesn't use scuba gear. In 2014, Matt Draper, originally from New Zealand, decided to move on from his life as a carpenter and focus on documenting the fascinating underwater world right on the doorstep of his new home - a small beachside community in Byron Bay, Australia - and in other exotic locations.

His pictures have proved so mesmerising that he's managed to clock up 70,000 followers on Instagram. 

Draper's work showcases his encounters with great white, tiger and hammerhead sharks, humpback and pilot whales, common and bottlenose dolphins, seals, turtles and manta rays - all captured while holding his breath.

Draper told MailOnline Travel: 'Ever since I can remember I’ve had a fascination with the ocean.

'I have always wanted to capture dramatic scenes from the ocean that encourage a certain emotion.' 

The explorer said this location provides the perfect chance to capture some of the ocean's most feared creatures in their natural habitat.

The 30-year-old confessed: 'I love the silence underwater. To interact with such large, wild apex predators with no noise being exchanged is something that truly needs to be experienced.

'Most people have a vision in their head of swimming with a shark to be fearful, but to me it’s the complete opposite. Very calming.'

The artist's priority is to spread awareness about environmental issues as well as replacing fear of the ocean with fascination.

He's had a few scary moments, though.

Despite photographing dangerous sharks, one of his most nail-biting encounters occurred when he came face-to-face with a humpback whale. 

He said: 'I was once interacting with a very curious female humpback whale calf that was getting extremely close to me. 

'I had to be very aware of the whale’s actions and try my hardest to keep distance between her powerful tail and me.'

And it's not just keeping safe around large sea creatures that's tricky, the timing is, too.

'I will spend an hour or two patiently timing each time I dive down,' he said. 'Sometimes I will stay underwater for over three minutes holding my breath.'

Most of his work, which is mainly captured on a Canon 5D MKIII and a 15mm fisheye lens inside an Aquatica dive-rated housing, has been taken in Australia but he has also ventured to Hawaii, the Kingdom of Tonga, back to New Zealand and to Indonesia to snap sea creatures.

(www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3546046/He-s-got-underwater-photography-nailed-former-carpenter-gave-job-takes-breathtaking-images-marine-life.html#ixzz46LZTlMFj)