I very rarely go to Facebook these days. But last night I did.

I was horrified to discover that you had passed …..Oh my god, what happened? Cancer? stroke? But you were so young! two years younger than me….

We moved to France in 2010, bought a little farm and turned a page. My camera equipment is still in its big black box but I promised myself I will one day dive in the pond below the orchard to see what is in there…

You were one of those people larger than life, who changed my life when we met and I had such fond memories and huge affection for you, like a lot of people in the diving community.

We met after I saw your little ad at the bottom of a page in a diver’s magazine. The ad was so small I could have easily missed it: you were going to the Caribbeans for 10 days with your underwater camera and a bunch of people for a price that was worth thinking about it.

I rang you. You invited me to an introduction to underwater photography in a pool near you in Bournemouth, something you did before taking people on. It allowed you to assess the new people who were interested in going with you and decide if those people would fit in with the rest of your small group.

I had been a diver for a short while but I had no camera equipment what so ever. You said I could borrow some from a mate of yours, another great diver and great underwater photographer with a few published books and a shop in Devon.

Before putting the phone down, I had to check on something. Are you good? I haven’t got much money and I don’t want to waste it. The next few years and during every trip together there were always a moment when we were eating or socializing when you shared it: And guess what Martine said the first time we spoke? She asked me if I was any good? Which never missed to bring so much laughter to the party….

I met Annelise on that first trip. She was a young and full of fun marine biologist.

Both being single participants on your trips, sharing a room made financial sense. We got on like house on fire and always shared our accommodation every year after that first trip to Bonaire.

Our slides were processed the same day and we spent hours framing them and searching for a winning shot for the competition on the last evening. The jury was any body that had been involved in serving us: dive guides, dive boat drivers, waiters and waitresses, hotel staff cleaners and cooks…it was so much fun!

We had to book in advance, sometimes even 2 years in advance if we didn’t want to miss out. Your groups were popular and you only took on a dozen people max.  Small group were perfect, we all got to know each other really well and the intimacy was so enjoyable.

With you I went to Bali, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, Egypt, Wakatobi and more…unforgettable trips. You had such amazing communication skills and all those people that you coached and that followed you around the world, year after year, all became your friends.

“Martin Edge. One of the best underwater photographers in the UK and unrivalled in his skill and generosity as an educator of underwater image making.”

My heart goes to Sylvia. Good bye Martin.