Women Of The Sea: Behind The Lens

Staff photographer, Abbi Hughes, in her element capturing images in the ocean in Portugal. Over the last decade Abbi has worked tirelessly to develop and refine Finisterre's photography and visual language, alongside her own personal work and volunteering for the RNLI Lifeboat crew in her hometown of Falmouth.

An extraordinary meeting between freediving champion Alice Hickson and a solitary bottlenose dolphin. For more than an hour they danced through clear blue water, spinning together, trading glances and sharing a rare moment of ocean connection. Photographed off the south reef of Marsa Alam.

Through rain, wind, and the harsh moods of the seasons, Porthtowan sea pool became our playground. Steph, Finisterre’s brand manager, photographed here as part of a winter swim campaign, is never one to turn down a jump, no matter the conditions.

An ocean portrait of the inspiring Amira Patel. Part of a special project celebrating the launch of Finisterre’s Sea Suit, ten years in the making and still evolving. A piece designed to open greater access to getting in the water for all, and one I was very proud to photograph. Women from across the country gathered as a community at Clevedon Sea Pool to share their stories and immerse themselves in saltwater.

Captured during our early autumn campaign back in 2025, Amy Brock-Morgan dives into deep water from a Cornish Shrimper in the Carrick Roads. As Finisterre’s Head of Repairs, she is one of the many passionate water women who bring authenticity to everything we do. We love to photograph our women actively, doing what they love, true to the spirit of the brand.

Watching Farmy charge this set wave in Madeira was unforgettable. After pulling back on a few heavy closeouts, she fully committed to this wave, made the drop and rode what she later called ‘the biggest wave of her life’. An absolute honour to capture a fellow water women showing complete power and commitment in the water – always with the biggest smile on her face.

In the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea, I photographed Alice and Nara, two freedivers exploring vibrant reefs, diving deep through rays of sunlight. Always curious and playful.

For the women in this series, the sea is more than just a place we swim, it’s a place of freedom and connection. When explored together, the ocean’s power multiplies, and capturing the laughter, playfulness, and relationship between women is what I love to shoot.