matthew david kaplan

ocean filmmaker | dive expedition leader

Matthew David Kaplan is an ocean filmmaker, dive expedition leader, and activist dedicated to protecting and restoring the ocean through storytelling, education, and action.

His work captures both the beauty of the ocean and the forces driving its collapse, with a particular focus on coral reef decline, overfishing, sewage pollution, and weak enforcement of “protected areas.” Through film, education, and advocacy, he aims to expose what is being lost and help drive meaningful action.

As a Divemaster and expedition leader, Matthew leads dive experiences around the world that help people connect more deeply to the ocean and each other, while supporting conservation efforts alongside local partners.

In 2026, he launched a long-term project in Indonesia focused on helping build Actual Protected Areas: marine areas that are truly protected and enforced, not just protected on paper. He will document the progress, resistance, and lessons along the way.

Matthew is a member of the Sea Shepherd crew, a monthly contributor for Discovery, a SurfEars Ambassador, an Only One Ambassador, and a member of the Scubapro Global Dive Team. He has also spoken at international forums, including COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

“We owe it to future generations to give the ocean time and space to heal so it may again thrive as it has for millions of years prior to the introduction of its biggest threat… humans. I am profoundly grateful to be able to dive in so many incredible places and to share what I encounter with all of you. I want my grandchildren to be able to witness the wonders of the underwater world by diving in pristine coral reefs around the world, not only by watching the videos I had filmed 50 years earlier."

Subscribe to his YouTube channel and follow him on Instagram to stay updated on his latest projects. For more information about his work or to discuss collaboration opportunities, please reach out.

as featured in

Alor Dive Expedition

October 21 - 29, 2026

Alor is a hidden gem on Indonesia’s eastern edge, celebrated for its vibrant coral reefs, abundant marine life, and unique local culture. Each day, we’ll explore a variety of dive sites, from colorful reef systems teeming with fish to dramatic walls, caves, and volcanic sand slopes where warm bubbles rise straight from the seafloor.

Alor’s strong, nutrient-rich currents bring in large schools of fish and chances for pelagic animals, including hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, mola mola, whale sharks and even blue whales. The region is also a paradise for muck divers, offering chances to find rhinopias, pygmy seahorses, frogfish, mandarin fish, and a wide variety of other rare and fascinating critters.

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