WENHAM — Wenham resident Andy Martinez has led a fascinating double life — as a Spanish teacher and an expert photographer of marine life.
A language teacher by profession, Martinez took up diving as a hobby 40 years ago. He was enthralled by what he saw beneath the water's surface, which he began photographing, and he eventually published a field guide in 1994.
Last month the fourth edition of his book, "Marine Life of The North Atlantic," was released, and Martinez will be in Salem tonight for a special program hosted by the North Shore Frogmen diving club.
"Anytime you see anyone trying to ID marine life, 90 percent of the time they'll have a copy of Andy's book," said Dan Hering, membership director for the Frogmen. "It's the quintessential marine book."
The latest edition of Martinez's book includes hundreds of new photographs from the ocean depths, spanning Canada to Cape May, N.J.
"On land you need binoculars and a spotting scope," said Martinez, 64. "Underwater, whether the animals are mating, feeding or defending their little territories, it's right in front of you. You can just lie on the sandy bottom and watch this whole nature film right in front of you."
Martinez's work has appeared in nature, travel and dive magazines around the globe. He retired from his other career as a Masconomet Regional High School Spanish teacher in 2003.
His book signing and lecture is set for tonight at 8 at Palmer's Cove Yacht Club in Salem. Admission is free.
"His work is fantastic," Hering said. "He's brilliant and very informative."
Do you dive locally?
Oh yeah, Cape Ann is a real gold mine. It's most of the stuff in my book. Marblehead, Salem, Beverly and all the way around to Rockport and Gloucester are very, very good, and it gets better the further north you go.
Can you see in the dark New England waters?
If the winds are right, blowing off the land onto the water to flatten the surface, then the visibility becomes pretty clear. There is a very short time the visibility will be as much as 80 feet, but then it gets very cold.
What interesting creatures do you see around here?
For beauty, things like anemones can be the size of a soccer ball and bright red, or red with white or orange, and have all kinds of tentacles. Nudibranch are sea slugs around in the winter that are spectacular, like little pompoms.
When did you become a diver?
I started diving probably 40 years ago. Shortly after that, I did take pictures, but just kind of 'when-you-go-on-vacation' pictures.
When did you make the leap?
It got to the point where you're diving and you never really have a picture of the things you see. On land, you can buy a postcard of the Eiffel Tower, but you can't do that in the ocean. I bought a camera for some of those pictures; one thing led to anther, and I learned a lot about the marine life through the photography.
How did you become an expert?
I've taken a lot of marine biology classes, and marine and vertebrate zoology, to learn about it.
How did you find enough new material to release four editions of your book?
I'm always looking for new creatures. Since I put it to rest and sent it to the publisher (this time), I've probably seen half a dozen things I've never seen before.
What's it like to photograph a creature underwater?
You really zero your view in a real narrow spot. A whale could come by and you wouldn't see it because you've got your nose buried looking at other stuff.
Where else do your photos appear?
I've done the National Geographic kids magazine and posters and all kinds of other stuff; a lot of textbook stuff; and probably 10 or so of the Audubon field guides.
Where else do you dive?
I dive a lot in the tropics, too. I've been to Indonesia three or four times in the last couple years, and the Galapagos, Cayman Islands, Fiji, the Pacific.
Interesting sighting?
Last April I was diving with humpback whales down in the Caribbean — that was very cool. The little babies would just brush up against you. The mothers, at some points, were probably three or four feet away. They're the size of a bus, yet as graceful as a ballerina. It's just really amazing to see that kind of combination.
Do you photograph shipwrecks, too?
Very, very little. There are a lot of wrecks around here — not the three-masted ships with treasure chests and the octopus hanging over it — but they're great in the sense they are large boats with a lot of history to them. I'm more interested in taking pictures of marine life.
Your career was so different from this, no?
I taught high school Spanish, which is completely unrelated. So it was like two worlds, two lives, but it was kind of a nice way to do it.
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Staff writer Amanda McGregor can be reached at amcgregor@salemnews.com or 978-338-2665.
Who are the North Shore Frogmen?
Founded in the fall of 1957, the North Shore Frogmen bills itself as the oldest sport diving club in the world. It has roughly 100 members, both men and women, and takes weekly dives, including an active winter dive schedule.
For more information on the group, search North Shore Frogmen on Facebook.
Andrew Martinez presents "Marine Life of The North Atlantic"
When: Today, 8 p.m.
Where: Palmer's Cove Yacht Club, 74 Leavitt St., Salem
What: Book signing and lecture
Cost: Free
