Fellow Explorer Club NY – www.explorers.org

Fellow International League of Underwater Photographers – www.ILCP.com

 Michael AW is the founding director of OceanNEnvironment, a charity organization listed with the Registrar of Environment Australia. The mission of OceanNEnvironment promotes and initiates preservation projects as well as endeavors to document the status of coral reefs, bio-diversity and the impact of man-made pollution through research programs, and measurable conservation projects. With OceanNEnvironment, he has initiated the Napoleon wrasse protection program in the Maldives, turtle nest adoption program in Indonesia and Say No to Shark Fins campaign in the South East Asia. As founder of Asian Geographic and publisher of Scuba Diver from 1998 to 2005, he used the magazines to support the conservation efforts of OceanNEnvironment. Taking conservation and education of the ocean to the next level, in 2007 Michael convened an editorial board comprising of Stan Waterman, David Doubilet, Emory Kristof, Gerry Allen PHD, Carden Wallace PHD, Alex Mustard PHD, Doug Perrine, Jennifer Hayes, and Christopher Lee to launch the hallmark of publication for the sea – Ocean Geographic.

Pursuing the art form of documentary photography, Michael AW is well known for his saturated colour imagery. His work on environmental issues and natural history, have been featured in BBC Wildlife, National Geographic, Asian Geographic, GEO, Underwater GEOGRAPHIC, Nature Focus, Action Asia, Scuba Diver, Smithsonian magazine, Ocean Realm (USA), Times, Asia Week, DIVE, Unterwasser, Tauchen, and Aquanaut, to name but a few. His photographs have received more than 50 awards from several international organizations including the prestigious Nikon International Photo Contest on three occasions.

Michael has won eight times at the World Festival of Underwater Pictures in France; in 2009, his 27^th book of the sea – Philippines, Heart of the Ocean won the Palme D’or International Book of the Year and his audio visual presentation – Wonderful World won the Silver Diver statue. In 2002 he won Best Music Adaptation for Video, the Gold Diver statue for Best Black & White print in 2005 and the Bronze statue for Portfolio the most prestigious category of festival in 2006. In 2008, he won the Silver Diver for Best Music Slide show and as well as the Bronze statue for Best Portfolio.  He is also a recipient of two awards from the Natural History Museum BBC Photographer of the Year Wildlife Competition in 2000 and in 2006 he won the Best Winner award in the underwater category.   

 Over 28,000 of his images have appeared in various publications and exhibitions worldwide including the Australian Museum and Queensland Tropical Museum.  Michael has presented lectures and slide presentations on marine life and underwater photography to the Australian Museum Society, the Australian Maritime Museum, the Oceanographic Centre in Valencia, aquariums and private organizations in the pacific-rim countries including the world renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. He has produced and directed two 24-hour photographic documentaries of corals reefs in the Australian Great Barrier Reef and the Maldives in 1995 and 1999 respectively. These extended sojourns have been encapsulated in books and a broadcast video documentary for National Geographic.

 His first book, 'Beneath Bunaken' about the marine park in Sulawesi received the accolade of being the Presidential 'Gift of State' for Indonesia at APEC 1994. Subsequently in 1996 he produced for the Maldives – “Dreams from a Rainbow Sea”, which was used as official gift for the president, fishery and tourism offices. The Four Season Resort Maldives also used this title as premier gift for their guests. He was the co-author and photographer for TANAH AIR, bio-diversity of Indonesia. He has authored 25 natural history books about fishes, corals, invertebrates and he has also contributed to the Encyclopedias of Malaysia and Indonesia. He has collaborated with Dr. Carden Wallace in one of the most definitive book about the staghorn corals of the Indo-Pacific. His recent accomplished include the launch of “Celebrate the Sea” and Underwater Jungles both high quality case-bound collectors edition published in 2002.   In 2003 he completed “Richest Reefs – Indonesia”, a visual extravaganza from some of the most beautiful reefs in the world – this book is adopted by the Indonesian government as an official gift of state.  A feature documentary of the same title was also produced in 2003. His most recent work is ‘Beneath North SulaweSea’ released in October 2006 with a world wide launch in Birmingham, London, Antibes, Orlando and Singapore. Michael Aw was awarded the prestigious 2008 Peter Benchley Shark Conservation Award by SRI president Stan Waterman at 2008 Celebrate the Sea Festival in Manila. The award honors the memory of the late Peter Benchley is awarded for Michael’s a highly-effective and unrelenting campaign against shark fin soup consumption in the Asia Pacific region.  www.michaelaw.com

MILESTONE 

In 2002, with the launch of his book he founded the first Celebrate the Sea Festival in Singapore. His vision was to inspire nations and countries to take a day each year to celebrate the sea.  A day like New Year, birthday, Christmas day set aside to celebrate the beauty and splendor of our ocean. In September 2007, he lobbied to Usec Cynthia Carrion and in March 2008 he wrote officially to Her Excellency Gloria Arroyo, President of the Republic of Philippines. On 13 May 2008, President Arroyo made an official proclamation declaring June as Celebrate the Sea month and every 2^nd Saturday of June as Celebrate the Sea day.  This is his personal milestone and he wish move forward to make celebrate the sea day a global event.

 Major Awards

• 1985 THE GONG GOLD AWARD – TV Commercial “That’s Life”  Singapore
• 1989 Best of Show, Malayan Nature Society Underwater Photo Competition
• 1989 First Place Best Picture - Photographer of the Year, Malayan Nature Society
• 1990 2nd Place, Wide Angle, Flores International Underwater Photographic Competition
• 1991 2nd runner-up, Animal Life, Flores International Underwater Photographic Competition
• 1992 Finalist, Sportdiving Magazine, "Ultimate Photographic" Competition
• 1992 3rd Place, Close Up, New Zealand Ocean Society International Photographic Competition
• 1992 Highest Commendation, Antibes Festival, France International Photographic Festival
• 1993 Honorable Mentioned and Bronze Medallion, Nikon International Photographic Competition
• 1993 3rd Place - Top Side, New Zealand Ocean Society Underwater Photographic Competition.
• 1994 Silver, Marine Animal Life, OCEAN SOCIETY Photographic Competition, New Zealand
• 1994 Highest Commendation, Aquatic Seascapes, OCEAN SOCIETY Photographic Competition, NZ.
• 1994 First Place, Close Up, 32nd International Underwater Photographic Society Competition. USA
• 1995 Highest Commendation Awards (Seascapes), Ocean Society NZ
• 1995 Best Superb Close-Up Award , Nikon International Photographic Contest
• 1996 People of the Sea - Silver award - Ocean Society NZ 
• 1997 Seascapes - First Place, Ocean Society, NZ
• 1999 Best Music Adaptation for Music Documentary – World Underwater Film Festival, Antibes
• 1999  1^st  Place Open Section Marine Photographic Festival Japan

• 1999 Silver – Ocean NZ People Underwater
• 2000 BBC Photographer of the Year Competition - Highest  Commendation
• 2000 Gold Ocean NZ - Marine Life - Static
• 2000 Silver Ocean NZ - People Underwater
• 2000 Silver Ocean NZ - Video "Rainbow Sea"
• 2000 Bronze Ocean NZ - Marine Topside
• 2001 Nikon International Photographic Competition - Open Section - Highest Commendation
• 2001 Silver Ocean NZ - Plight of Napoleon Wrasse Video
• 2005 Gold Diver: B/W Print - 32th World Underwater Pictures Festival, Antibes
• 2006 Silver Video - Open Category Mediterranean Underwater Film Festival
• 2006 BBC Natural History Museum - SHELL Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2006 competition - Winner: underwater category
• 2006 Bronze Diver - Portfolio: 33th World Underwater Pictures Festival, Antibes
• 2008 – recipient of SRI Peter Benchley Shark Conservation Award – Media
• 2008 Silver Diver -  Slide Show AV 35th World Underwater Pictures Festival, Antibes
• 2008 Bronze Diver - Portfolio: 35th World Underwater Pictures Festival, Antibes
• 2009 Silver Diver – Slide show AV “Wonderful World” 36th World Underwater Pictures Festival
• 2009 International Book of the Year Palme D’or 36th World Underwater Pictures Festival

Published Books - principal author

Michael AW is also the founder of Asian Geographic Magazine – he was the publisher from 1998 to 2005. He also acquired Scuba Diver Australasia in 2001 and successfully launched the title into South East Asia and become the official magazine for the PADI Diving Society in 2004.  

1. "Beneath Bunaken" coffee table concept anthology - Accepted as Gift of State by the Indonesian Department of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication and Consulate General Office. - 1993
2. "How to Shoot this Picture"- basic underwater photography training manual 1989
3. 'Tropical Reef Fishes- A marine awareness guide" 1994
4. "Tropical Reef Life - A marine awareness guide"1997  - 2nd Edition 2001
5. 'Layang Layang - Jewel in the Blue Wilderness" 1995
6. " The Great Barrier Reef"- A Pictorial Guide.1995
7. "Tanah Air - Bio-diversity of Indonesia" 1995
8. "Ningaloo Reef - Australia's Best Kept Secret." 1996
9. 'Pohnpei - the heart of the Pacific." 1997 - 2nd ed 2001
10. 'METAMORPHOSEA' 1995
11. ONEOCEAN Portraits - 1999
12. “Dreams from a Rainbow Sea – Maldives” - 1997 - Accepted as official Gift of Republic
13. "24-hours Beneath a Rainbow Sea” - 2000 - Accepted as official Gift of Republic
14. Tropical Reef Fishes - 2000 Edition  
15. In-depth Guide and Sea Life Festival Maldives 2000
16. A Day in the Life of the Great Barrier Reef 2000
17. Acropora - Staghorn Corals - Identification and Marine Awareness Guide - Dr. Carden Wallace / Michael AW
18. Sea Life of South East Asia - New Holland
19. Celebrate the Sea - Michael AW / Stephen Wong
20. Underwater Jungles - Sarawak
21. Richest Reefs Indonesia
22. Journey of Dreams DVD - 2003
23. An Essential Guide for DIGITAL underwater photography - 2004, 2006 editions
24. Richest Reefs Indonesia Special edition 2006
25. Beneath North SulaweSea 2006
26. An Advanced Guide for Digital underwater photography 2007
27. Heart of the Ocean – Philippines – 2009

Books - Major Contributing Author / photographer

1. Dive Sites of the Indian Ocean - New Holland
2. Reef Fishes of South East Asia - New Holland
3. Diving Australia - Periplus
4. Diving Great Barrier Reef Guide - Periplus
5. Marine Life of South East Asia - Periplus
6. Great Barrier Reef - Lonely Planet
7. Encyclopedia of Indonesia - Marine Vol. EDM
8. Encyclopedia of Malaysia - Marine Vol. EDM
9. Faces of Fishing - Monterey Bay Aquarium Press
10. The Enchanted Braid - Ohsa Davidson Gray
11. Dive Atlas of the World - New Holland

Consultancy - Projects

• 1988 member, University of Singapore Coral Reef Survey Team, Singapore off shore islands
• 1988 member, Marine Park Survey, Pulau Tioman, Malayan Nature Society
• 1988 Diving Consultant, Project Battleship, NZ Forces Singapore
• 1989 Master Diver, Americ Marine, Phuket Marine Park Tourism Survey
• 1992 Project Leader, Marine Tourism Potential, Environmental Impact Survey for Indonesian Marine Tourism Federation. Sulawesi and Moluccas
• 1992/93 Chapter Leader- Reef Keeper Projects
• 1992 for the Indonesian Marine Tourism Federation and the Department of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication, led two coral reef survey expeditions to the Moluccas Islands and Manado, North Sulawesi.
• 1992 consult for 'The Serenade' Live-on board diving vessel.
• 1992 consultant for Murex Resort Manado
• 1993 International Consultant for the marine tourism for Maluku Tourism Board- Ambon Marine Festival.
• 1994 Expedition Leader and teacher for the Australian Museum Society' eco-tourism tours.
• 1995 Layang Layang Resort (Malaysia) - Diving management and recruitment consultant.
• 1995 consult for the 'Baruna Adventurer' Live-aboard vessel (Bali) Management and international marketing.
• 1996 Organizer and Co-ordinator for DEMA Asia 1996 - Ocean Futures Photographic Gallery Silent Auction
• 1996 Expedition organizer for David Doubilet of National Geographic to East Indonesia  

• 1997 Derawan Sea Turtle Nest Adoption Project
• 1996 Derawan International Shoot Out Festival - Consultant
• 1997 Derawan International Shoot Out Festival - Consultant
• 1998 Consulting for Pohnpei Tourism Bureau , Micronesia
• 1998 Organiser OceanNEnvironment ‘s Mimpi SEA LIFE WEEK Bali
• 1999 Project Director and Producer – the “24-hour dive” project in the Maldives – management of live web broadcast and film documentary
• 2000 Consult for MSV Wind Cheeteh in the West Pacific
• 2000 Consult for MSV Flying Fish Maldives
• 2000 - organizer - Sea Life Festival Maldives
• 2002 - organiser - Outback Coast Sea Life Festival
• 2002 Celebrate the Sea –
• 2002 President of Jury Team - Video / Marmara Sea Festival - Turkey
• 2003 - Celebrate the Sea Malaysia
• 2004 - Celebrate the Sea  - Malaysia
• 2005 - Celebrate the Sea  - Singapore
• Consultant for MV Odyssea 1 – live-aboard in North Sulawesi
• 2006 – Celebrate the Sea – Singapore
• 2007 – Celebrate the Sea – Manila
• 2007 – explorer member – Inner Space Speciation Project – Celebes Sea, Philippines – a National Geographic, National Science Foundation and NOAA expedition
• 2008  - jury member Festival of Underwater Imagery – Oceanographic Centre – Valencia, Spain
• 2008 – Celebrate the Sea, Manila
• 2009 – Celebrate the Sea, Manila

  Published instructions, programs, courses