Examples

Real underwater photos beside FiveMeters restorations—wrecks, wildlife, people, reefs, and difficult water.

Every example starts with a real, uncommissioned photo shared by divers and amateur underwater photographers — not a studio test shot.

Original unedited underwater photograph: GoPro shipwreck dive
FiveMeters restoration of GoPro shipwreck dive: Sand, timbers and yellow fins regain colour from near seafloor to far hull haze.
A diver surveys a shallow underwater archaeology site.Photo by Dwi sumaiyyah makmur · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited

GoPro shipwreck dive

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Harbour seal in seagrass
FiveMeters restoration of Harbour seal in seagrass: Grey coat and spotting separate from turbid green seagrass without tinting the sand.
A harbour seal moves through seagrass in La Jolla, California, on 11 September 2005.Photo by Magnus Kjaergaard · CC BY-SA 2.5 · edited

Harbour seal in seagrass

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Backlit swimmer portrait
FiveMeters restoration of Backlit swimmer portrait: Skin warms across shade and sun glints while the black bikini and blue water stay clean.
A swimmer photographed from below against the sunlit surface.Photo by Nadya Peek · CC BY 2.0 · edited

Backlit swimmer portrait

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Wide reef landscape
FiveMeters restoration of Wide reef landscape: Pale sand channel and ochre corals recover while distant reef cools into blue haze.
A sand channel leads through a shallow coral reef landscape.Photo by Roban Kramer · CC BY-SA 2.0 · edited

Wide reef landscape

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Action-camera reef wall
FiveMeters restoration of Action-camera reef wall: Brown reef and pale sponges separate from blue water without flattening the open background.
An action-camera view across a reef wall into open blue water.Photo by Robin James · CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · edited

Action-camera reef wall

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Divers at 30 metres
FiveMeters restoration of Divers at 30 metres: Faces and hands regain warmth while black suits, grey jackets and deep blue water stay distinct.
Two divers pose in open water at more than 30 metres in the Galápagos.Photo by Waltermera182 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited

Divers at 30 metres

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Diver on the Eastern Ark Rock wreck
FiveMeters restoration of Diver on the Eastern Ark Rock wreck: Encrusted wreck growth and diver gear separate from muted yellow-green low-visibility water.
A diver works beside the Eastern Ark Rock wreck in low visibility.Photo by Peter Southwood · CC BY-SA 3.0 · edited

Diver on the Eastern Ark Rock wreck

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Sea turtle and swimmer
FiveMeters restoration of Sea turtle and swimmer: Shell plates and pale rubble warm up while distant white fins and open water stay clean.
A sea turtle crosses shallow rubble beneath a distant swimmer.Photo by 須賀次郎 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · edited

Sea turtle and swimmer

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Kelp forest at the Umhlali wreck site
FiveMeters restoration of Kelp forest at the Umhlali wreck site: Pale sand channel and yellow-green blades recover through a dense, hazy kelp stand.
A sand channel disappears into kelp at the Umhlali wreck site.Photo by Peter Southwood · CC BY-SA 3.0 · edited

Kelp forest at the Umhlali wreck site

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Distant eagle ray
FiveMeters restoration of Distant eagle ray: A small eagle ray becomes readable against a darker reef without harshing open blue water.
A common eagle ray glides through distant blue water.Photo by Marta Terry L. · CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · edited

Distant eagle ray

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Diver on the Aster wreck
FiveMeters restoration of Diver on the Aster wreck: Yellow hose and orange gear pop against black suits and brown wreck growth in deep blue.
A diver approaches the wreck of the Aster in deep blue water.Photo by Peter Southwood · CC BY-SA 3.0 · edited

Diver on the Aster wreck

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Snorkeller among jellyfish
FiveMeters restoration of Snorkeller among jellyfish: Golden jellyfish regain distance-dependent colour while the snorkeller’s skin and dark rashguard stay natural.
A snorkeller swims among jellyfish in shallow green water.Photo by tata_aka_T · CC BY 2.0 · edited

Snorkeller among jellyfish

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Diver over the Varadero wreck
FiveMeters restoration of Diver over the Varadero wreck: Neutral metal tank and tan wreck growth return while distant structure stays cooler and softer.
A scuba diver explores a shallow wreck off Varadero, Cuba.Photo by Patty Ho · CC BY 2.0 · edited

Diver over the Varadero wreck

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Fan worm close-up
FiveMeters restoration of Fan worm close-up: Pink-and-cream crown filaments become readable without staining the pale rock below.
A Mediterranean fan worm photographed at close range.Photo by Javier · CC BY 4.0 · edited

Fan worm close-up

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Harbour seal close-up
FiveMeters restoration of Harbour seal close-up: Neutral grey-brown coat and whiskers strengthen while green seagrass stays green around a flash hotspot.
A harbour seal photographed in La Jolla, California, on 11 September 2005.Photo by Magnus Kjaergaard · CC BY-SA 2.5 · edited

Harbour seal close-up

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Fish around submerged lines
FiveMeters restoration of Fish around submerged lines: Silver fish stay cool while ropes and encrusted structure regain warm brown and olive.
Fish gather around submerged lines at Lady Elliot Island.Photo by Russell Charters · CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · edited

Fish around submerged lines

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Swimmer beneath a boulder overhang
FiveMeters restoration of Swimmer beneath a boulder overhang: Skin and blue-white shorts separate from a green freshwater bed of grey and ochre stones.
A swimmer enters a narrow freshwater passage beneath boulders.Photo by GerryT · CC BY 2.0 · edited

Swimmer beneath a boulder overhang

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Original unedited underwater photograph: Camouflaged flatfish in seagrass
FiveMeters restoration of Camouflaged flatfish in seagrass: Brown-olive flatfish mottling becomes readable without defeating its camouflage in dark grass.
A camouflaged animal rests in seagrass at Puerto Morelos, Mexico.Photo by Kimon Berlin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · edited

Camouflaged flatfish in seagrass

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