Patrick Neumann, underwater photographer & Dive Resort Manager
We chat to the acclaimed underwater photographer and dive resort manager about how he got started in diving, what drew him to UW shooting, and the challenges of managing a dive resort in Southeast Asia.
Photographs courtesy of Patrick Neumann
Q: As we always do with these Questions and Answer sessions, how did you first get into scuba diving?
A: Already as a child. My father is still an active dive instructor in Germany and I got in contact with diving super early. Did my first dive with an age of seven years, but already before that with four or five years of age – my parents have the story of me when I was sucking the air out of the regulator on land when they came back from diving.
Q: When did you first turn ‘professional’ and become a diving instructor, and what was it about teaching others to dive that attracted you to go that route?
A: I didn’t plan to become professional. My CMAS *** I did in 1996 and only ten years later I did the cross over to PADI, did my IDC and became PADI OWSI. 2006 was also the year when I got touched by underwater photography. Thank you Yonathan on the flying carpet.
“As Thailand was only a six-month job and didn’t allow me to save much money, I decided to move to Egypt together with my girlfriend Anna and work there as cruise directors”
Q: You had a ‘normal’ job working in credit insurance, but jacked all that in back in 2007 to go and work in Asia as an instructor and guide – what made you make this epic lifestyle change?
A: Well, living the corporate 9 to 5 lifestyle was not bad. Everything I could ask for were there, but still I was not really happy in doing what I did. I asked for a sabbatical, but that was not common at that time, and got refused. So I resigned with six-month’s notice. Best decision of my life! Even though it was little money in the beginning, I enjoyed and still enjoy what I am doing and at the end of the day being really happy.
Q: You set up your photo business Art Design Photography by Patrick Neumann in Germany in 2010, and as well as writing for diving magazines, you also began earning a reputation for your underwater photography workshops. Tell us more about that.
A: At that time I was working in Thailand on a liveaboard as a cruise director every year from November to April for the Similan Islands season, but needed to earn money for the rest of the year. So I set up Art Design Photography and started taking photos of babies diving. Like on the famous Nirvana album cover and sold the images to the parents. That was a one-man show and taught me a lot on how to run a business as I had to do everything by myself. During that time I also started to write for diving magazines and doing underwater photography workshops. I am still doing two photo workshops a year in Lembeh.
Q: You were back on liveaboards from 2018-2020 in the Egyptian Red Sea. What drew you back to life on the water?
A: As Thailand was only a six-month job and didn’t allow me to save much money, I decided to move to Egypt together with my girlfriend Anna and work there as cruise directors. We told the managers in Egypt right away that this will be only be an intermediate step and that our final destination would be Asia for sure.
Q: Since 2020, you have been a general manager with Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts, specially managing the Solitude Lembeh Resort in North Sulawesi. You are also the resident photo pro. What is it like being based right in the ‘critter capital of the world’?
A: Finally we were back in Asia! As an underwater photographer it is like a dream to be based right in the critter capital of the world. I couldn’`t ask for more. Additionally the warm friendly people of North Sulawesi that make me feel like having a second family. I am happy here and have a mission to make Solitude Lembeh Resort successful.
Q: Tell us more about the Real Focus underwater shootout that takes place each year at your Indonesia resort, and also at the Solitude Acacia Resort in Anilao, the Philippines.
A: The Real Focus underwater shootout is different from other underwater photo competitions. First of all, there is no help from the dive guides allowed. No assisting in lighting, no poking of animals, or any manipulation, which is quite common in underwater photography.
We are looking for the best underwater photographer, not for the underwater photographer with the best dive guide. Additionally, Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts set up a three-year species study (which already started) on iNaturalist together with the well-known marine biologist Dave Harasti, who takes the lead of that study. That study will help to understand the world beneath the surface better and therefore help to protect it.
Q: What is your most-memorable diving experience?
A: Uff, that’s difficult. There were so many great dives and that makes it hard to pick only one out of the 5,000-plus dives. Manta rays are always great, but also photographing small critters is great. Most recently the exploration of the dive sites outside of Lembeh Island that we did during the pandemic was a highlight. We found some great dive sites that can compete with Raja Ampat or Komodo. That was a great experience.
Q: On the flipside, what is your worst diving memory?
A: To be honest there were not many bad experiences as diving is always great. There was one that stayed in my mind. Me and my buddy were diving a little bit outside of Koh Tao, Thailand, back in 2009 or 2010. Anyway, when we were doing our safety stop under the boat, suddenly the engines turned on and the boat was leaving. Without us. They turned around and picked us up after some minutes, but we changed the dive operator after that experience.
Q: What does the future holds for Patrick Neumann?
A: We are happy where we are. Indonesia, the Lembeh Strait and the Indonesian people are great and Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts is a great company as well with values and principles. Solitude is not there to bring the owners another Porsche, but to change the life of almost 200 employees and their families for the better.
“Most recently the exploration of the dive sites outside of Lembeh Island that we did during the pandemic was a highlight. We found some great dive sites that can compete with Raja Ampat or Komodo”
FAQs
Who is Patrick Neumann?
Patrick Neumann is an acclaimed underwater photographer, PADI instructor, and the General Manager of Solitude Lembeh Resort in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
What is the “Real Focus” underwater shootout?
It is a unique photography competition at Solitude Resorts that prohibits dive guide assistance or animal manipulation, focusing purely on the photographer’s skill and marine conservation.
Where is the best place for critter diving?
Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi is widely considered the “critter capital of the world,” offering unparalleled macro photography opportunities for rare marine life.
How do I become a professional underwater photographer?
As Patrick Neumann suggests, it often involves gaining dive instructor certification (like PADI OWSI), practicing extensively in diverse environments like the Red Sea or Thailand, and potentially starting a specialized photography business.
What is the Solitude Lembeh species study?
In collaboration with marine biologist Dave Harasti, Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts conducts a three-year species study on iNaturalist to better understand and protect the marine biodiversity of Indonesia and the Philippines.
This article was originally published in Scuba Diver Magazine
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Last month we just had the pleasure to dive with Patrick at the Solitude Resort in Lembeh and cannot say enough good things about him, his wife, Anna, and the resort. We look forward to joining them again underwater.
Thank you David. It was a pleasure to meet you & jennifer. You guys are very good people! See you somewhere, sometime again 🙂