Florida photographer John Starrett captures springs, sea turtles, and the quiet beauty beneath coastal waters.
Beneath the surface of Florida's springs and coastal waters, sunlight filters through crystal-clear depths, sea turtles drift on Gulf currents, and an entirely different world comes alive. For John Starrett, the most beautiful moments often happen underwater.
Born in Fort Walton Beach and raised in Navarre, Starrett's connection to Florida's waterways began long before he picked up a professional camera. Growing up on the Gulf Coast, water was simply part of life.
A lifeguard, an injury, a GoPro
Before photography became his profession, Starrett spent years as an American Lifeguard Association-certified lifeguard in Destin and on Navarre Beach, surfing whenever he had the chance. When an accident left him injured, he was forced to step away. He recovered and moved into a very different role as an operations manager for a mitigation company. The change altered his path temporarily, but it never diminished his connection to the water.
"I've always had a deep curiosity about photography. But it didn't really become a passion until 2014, when I got my first GoPro and started taking it with me on freshwater and saltwater dives."
What began as a way to unwind became something more. He upgraded his equipment, invested in underwater housings, and spent countless hours documenting the environments he loved most.
A pivotal moment came when the National Aquarium in Baltimore reached out to buy a print of one of his sea turtle photographs. "That's when I realized I could turn my photography into a career," he said. He has worked as a full-time professional since 2016.
"Whether it's capturing the light and shadow dancing on the limestone bottom of a Florida spring or a sea turtle effortlessly navigating the saltwater tides, I'm always happy to be immersed in the underwater environment."
The rainbow snake
Some of his most memorable moments have come unexpectedly. During a dive at Florida's Cypress Springs roughly a decade ago, Starrett encountered an elusive rainbow snake, a secretive species seldom seen in the wild. The sighting was significant enough that he documented it and reported it to wildlife officials. Photographs from that encounter now hang in an office of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
For Starrett, moments like that represent more than a rare photograph. They reinforce an appreciation for the fragile ecosystems that support it all. His work increasingly reflects a desire to photograph, in his words, "anything within the realm of conservation," especially environments that may be at risk.
"The more we love something, the more we want to save it."
That mindset extends beyond the camera. He's concerned about growing pressure on Florida's natural resources, particularly the aquifers feeding the state's iconic springs. Yet his images don't dwell on controversy. They invite you to experience the beauty of these places for yourself, on the theory that appreciation leads naturally to stewardship.
Above the waterline
While underwater work remains his greatest passion, much of Starrett's professional work today involves tourism and outdoor adventure photography across the Southeast, documenting everything from Florida's waterways to mountain biking trails, rock climbing, and motorcycle adventures.
Motorcycles have been part of his life for years, shaped by a family of riders that includes his father and uncles. After his injuries forced him away from surfing, he bought a Harley-Davidson and found a new form of freedom.
"A motorcycle is more than a machine. It's an American lifestyle."
Music occupies a similar place. He laughs at the challenge of explaining exactly why he loves it, appreciates nearly every genre, and treats it as part of life's soundtrack. Those varied interests find their way back into the photography. Whether he's documenting a spring, an outdoor adventure, or a lifestyle moment, the common thread is telling an authentic story.
He thinks creativity is often misunderstood. "Sometimes people think you just grab a camera and go shoot," he said. "When creating, we need time to conceptualize. We need to vibe with it and put some love into it."
Starrett references a favorite line from Napoleon Hill: "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." He applies a similar approach to his own goals. "You have to put what you want out into the universe," he said. "But be specific, because if you're vague, the universe reciprocates vaguely."
He credits his family for making the career possible. He and his wife are raising a 12-year-old son while cheering on their 20-year-old daughter, who shares an interest in photography, and who appears in some of his frames hiding among the manatee grass at Merritt's Mill Pond.
Through his lens, viewers are reminded that some of the most extraordinary, fragile, and biodiverse places are not always obvious from the shore. They're waiting just beneath the surface.
Adapted from "Water Bound" by Susan Gunn in Beach Happy Magazine, Summer 2026, Issue 25. All photographs by John Starrett unless otherwise noted. Portrait of Starrett in the Gulf courtesy of the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Office; additional portrait by Addison Starrett.
