Born in Switzerland, Franco Banfi is a technical and recreational diver, freediver and snorkeler. He is a professional photographer, specialized in underwater and wildlife images. He gained international recognition in 1992, when he won the CMAS Underwater Photography World Championship and he works as full time photo pro since 2000.
A passionate diver having dived as far north as Greenland, as far south as Antarctica, and almost all the oceans in between, Alpine lakes and rivers, Russian and African lakes, and Pantanal rivers.
He is known worldwide for his versatility. Through the evocative power of his images, he was able to raise a veil over a lot of remote locations and uncommon animals, especially cetaceans (Southern Right whales, Sperm whales, Grey whales, Blue and Bride whales, Humpback whales, Killer whales), cephalopods (Humboldt squids), reptiles (Leatherback turtles, Green anaconda), freshwater fish (freshwater stingrays) and amphibians.
Together with his partner Sabrina, he is fond of documenting responsible and respectful in-water interactions among wildlife and careful people. Sabrina and Franco are co-founders of Wildlife Photo Tours, a full-service agency driven by a deep passion for the natural world. Every trip is devised and enriched by firsthand knowledge and gives their customers unforgettable experiences, in addition to being more conscious of conservation focus, resources balance, local communities’ livelihoods. They want to foster a community of responsible like-minded respectful snorkelers, conscious that it is possible to passively interact with cetaceans and pelagic animals and, by doing this, increase a love for the underwater world.
