Tara Panton's Cape Nudibranchs
Text and Images by Tara Panton
Nature has always played an integral role in my life growing up. Time spent in nature fostered a deep appreciation for all of its forms. My father introduced me to an entirely new dimension of nature. In 2014, he suggested we try a Discover Scuba experience together, envisioning it as another bonding adventure. This sparked an immediate fascination with the underwater landscape and propelled us to complete our Open Water Diver certification. As we immersed ourselves in the Cape Town dive community, our shared passion led us to explore another avenue of underwater exploration - freediving. These experiences paved the way for the years ahead.
My interest in the underwater world continued when I pursued a Marine Biology and Oceanography degree. On my very first day, I stumbled upon the university’s dive club. This vibrant community of like-minded students are eager to dive at any and every opportunity, even if that means diving in terrible visibility. In the ensuing years, I led the club’s freediving portfolio. It was an incredible role to have. I had the opportunity to introduce students to a whole new underwater discipline. It brought me so much joy to see them experience the same excitement I had when I first discovered scuba and freediving.
Nature has always played an integral role in my life growing up. Time spent in nature fostered a deep appreciation for all of its forms. My father introduced me to an entirely new dimension of nature. In 2014, he suggested we try a Discover Scuba experience together, envisioning it as another bonding adventure. This sparked an immediate fascination with the underwater landscape and propelled us to complete our Open Water Diver certification. As we immersed ourselves in the Cape Town dive community, our shared passion led us to explore another avenue of underwater exploration - freediving. These experiences paved the way for the years ahead.
My interest in the underwater world continued when I pursued a Marine Biology and Oceanography degree. On my very first day, I stumbled upon the university’s dive club. This vibrant community of like-minded students are eager to dive at any and every opportunity, even if that means diving in terrible visibility. In the ensuing years, I led the club’s freediving portfolio. It was an incredible role to have. I had the opportunity to introduce students to a whole new underwater discipline. It brought me so much joy to see them experience the same excitement I had when I first discovered scuba and freediving.
As my passion for diving continued to grow, so did my desire to capture the wonders we were witnessing. I jumped on the Olympus TG bandwagon. In search of fascinating subjects to photograph, I found myself spellbound by the whimsical world of nudibranchs. Each dive became a treasure hunt, an adventure fueled by finding a new species to capture. My diving took on a newfound purpose as my lens captured their vibrant hues, intricate patterns, and delicate sizes.
My identity as a diver took hold; it began to manifest in the form of t-shirts, books and a plethora of dive stickers decorating my laptop, bottles, and car. However, amidst the array of dive-themed stickers, there was one glaring omission - a nudibranch sticker. How could it be that these mesmerizing creatures, which are the object of fascination for many divers, were nowhere to be found on a sticker?
My identity as a diver took hold; it began to manifest in the form of t-shirts, books and a plethora of dive stickers decorating my laptop, bottles, and car. However, amidst the array of dive-themed stickers, there was one glaring omission - a nudibranch sticker. How could it be that these mesmerizing creatures, which are the object of fascination for many divers, were nowhere to be found on a sticker?
I enthusiastically embarked on a mission to find a nudibranch sticker, but my searches yielded no results. Fueled by my determined and creative nature, I created one of my own. Armed with art supplies and a reference photo, I began drawing my first nudibranch sticker. What I thought would be a fairly simple project was more challenging than I expected. Feeling somewhat disappointed with my artistic skillset, I pinned my drawing on my wall, where it sat for several weeks, reminding me of my lost nudibranch sticker dream.
Determined not to admit defeat, I decided to seek help from an expert to bring my failed nudibranch design to life. Turning my idea into a reality came at a cost - several hundred rands to be exact, which seemed a lot for what I thought would be a little side-project of mine, destined for display on my possessions only. Yet my eagerness to possess a nudibranch sticker outweighed any financial concerns. I believed in my little sticker so much so that I suspected I could sell a few to make up for the money I had spent.
With the first 25 stickers freshly printed, I excitedly announced to the world that Cape Nudibranchs had been born. To my genuine surprise, the response was overwhelming - they sold like hotcakes! I soon discovered that I wasn't the only one out there looking to showcase my madness for nudibranchs.
The success of my initial sticker design took me by surprise, and as the stickers sold out and I doubled my investment, I knew I had stumbled upon something special. Fired up by the support and demand, I continued to print and sell my first design through Instagram while simultaneously investing in new designs. With each launch of a new sticker design, my small business flourished. What started with just one design quickly expanded to a collection of 14 beautifully illustrated nudibranch stickers, with many more in the pipeline.
As word of my vibrant creations spread, I received messages from fellow nudibranch lovers across the country, all eager to get their hands on some stickers. This newfound momentum inspired me to take the next huge step. I reached out to some of my favourite dive centres to see if they would be interested in stocking my stickers. To my delight, the response was positive, and today, Cape Nudibranchs stickers can be found in more than 10 dive stores around the country. What began as a simple passion project has blossomed into a thriving business, uniting divers and nature lovers alike in their love for these captivating sea creatures.
The success of my initial sticker design took me by surprise, and as the stickers sold out and I doubled my investment, I knew I had stumbled upon something special. Fired up by the support and demand, I continued to print and sell my first design through Instagram while simultaneously investing in new designs. With each launch of a new sticker design, my small business flourished. What started with just one design quickly expanded to a collection of 14 beautifully illustrated nudibranch stickers, with many more in the pipeline.
As word of my vibrant creations spread, I received messages from fellow nudibranch lovers across the country, all eager to get their hands on some stickers. This newfound momentum inspired me to take the next huge step. I reached out to some of my favourite dive centres to see if they would be interested in stocking my stickers. To my delight, the response was positive, and today, Cape Nudibranchs stickers can be found in more than 10 dive stores around the country. What began as a simple passion project has blossomed into a thriving business, uniting divers and nature lovers alike in their love for these captivating sea creatures.
Looking back at the start of my diving journey, I never could have fathomed that it would guide me through university and bring me lifelong friendships. It continues to be a source of bonding with my father, and I now have a side hustle within the diving community. I frequently have pinch-me moments when I spot my nudibranch stickers on cars or receive pictures from friends who spot them out and about. The reach of my little business has exceeded my wildest dreams, with people from places as far as Hawaii, Bali, and Australia reaching out to show me their treasured stickers.
Beyond the joy of seeing my stickers travel the globe, this venture has supported me with incredible opportunities to travel and explore nudibranchs in other regions. I am eternally grateful to each person who has supported my business and shared my enthusiasm for these nudibranchs. Your encouragement has empowered me to turn my ideas into reality.
Connect with Tara
Instagram: @tara_underwater and @capenudibranchs
Email: tarapanton@gmail.com
Beyond the joy of seeing my stickers travel the globe, this venture has supported me with incredible opportunities to travel and explore nudibranchs in other regions. I am eternally grateful to each person who has supported my business and shared my enthusiasm for these nudibranchs. Your encouragement has empowered me to turn my ideas into reality.
Connect with Tara
Instagram: @tara_underwater and @capenudibranchs
Email: tarapanton@gmail.com
Posted in Alert Diver Southern Africa, Underwater Photography
Posted in Nudibranchs, Tara Panton, Cape Nudibranchs
Posted in Nudibranchs, Tara Panton, Cape Nudibranchs
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