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My First Underwater Filming Experience

Written by Egno Ndunguru, September, 2025

My name is Egno Gerald Ndunguru, and I serve as the Marine Programme Communication Officer for WWF Tanzania. As a certified open-water diver, also known as a Blue boy I spend much of my time close to the ocean, but on 23 September 2025, I experienced something truly unforgettable: my very first underwater filming during an octopus reef opening in Jojo Village, Mafia Island. What started as a routine assignment soon transformed into a deeply personal journey, leaving me in awe of the ocean’s resilience and the remarkable power of community-led conservation.

Ready for a dive

My motivation came from witnessing octopus being fished every day. I wanted to understand how they were caught, what the fishers experienced, how long it took to catch one, and how the octopus reacted during the process. It was a truly hands-on experience where the camera, passion, and conservation all came together.

As I descended beneath the turquoise waters, camera in hand, a whole new world revealed itself. Schools of colorful fish darted past me, seagrass swayed gently in the current, and healthy corals stood like guardians of the reef. But the star of the day was, of course, the octopus known locally as Pweza. Observing fishers harvest them felt like witnessing the intersection of tradition, science, and hope.

Deep dive

For the communities in Jojo, the reef opening is no longer an experiment but a well-established practice. Over the years, they have embraced seasonal closures as a proven strategy to restore marine life while securing better livelihoods. With support and training from WWF Tanzania through various marine programmes, including the Fishcon under EU,Kigali project, MACP 2, and the Blue Action Fund (BAF), this approach has become a way of life, strengthening both the ocean and the people who depend on it. The practice was first adopted after learning exchanges in the Songo Songo Islands, where fishers witnessed firsthand how reef closures could revive marine ecosystems and lead to bumper octopus harvests.

The results are astonishing. After three months of closure, the reef reopened, and more than one ton of octopus was harvested in a single day. The excitement on the fishers’ faces told the story better than any words could: pride, relief, and joy. For them, this wasn’t just about the catch; it was about the return of balance to the ocean. Speaking during the event, Abrahaman Juma, the secretary of the BMU (Beach Management Unit) of Jojo Village, said, “When it comes to octopus fishing, on the day we open the reef, our octopus reef, we gain 100% of the benefits. We have moved from harvesting just 2–3 kilograms to reaching 2–3 tons. Other benefits include the recovery of coral reefs, which have improved greatly. If you visit today, you will be amazed to see how healthy the corals inside the ocean have become.

The crew

I was struck by how much has changed beneath these waters. Where once overfishing and habitat destruction posed serious threats, now biodiversity is thriving again. Coral reefs are healthy, seagrass meadows are spreading, and lobsters and other species are making a comeback. It felt like witnessing a living testimony of what’s possible when communities take ownership of conservation.

Filming this moment underwater was not just about capturing images; it was about capturing a story of resilience. The camera lens became a bridge between people and nature, showing that when communities, science, and conservation come together, both livelihoods and ecosystems flourish.

As I surfaced and looked back at the horizon from the deep water of Jojo Village, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. This first experience reminded me that conservation is not just about protecting nature; it’s about protecting culture, identity, and the future of generations to come.

Egno Ndunguru, Communications officer - RUMAKI + Seascape