DIVE BRIEF

 A professional concert violinist, 

Kirtley Leigh prefers to spend  her offstage time underwater. Her exuberant nature shines  underwater as she is in love with the ocean. Easy to spot suiting up on the dive deck in her signature red suit , Leigh  loves the challenge of diving with an  understanding of the  quartet of elements that bring each underwater modelling  experience to life: the model, the photographer, the animal and the elements.

 

 She has worked in close partnership since 2005 with International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame member, legendary underwater photographer and  diving pioneer  Bob Halstead   (www.halsteaddiving.com) .  From her earliest scuba initiation  in raging currents at  the infamous “Washing Machine” dive in Milne Bay, PNG, to the 3m surge above shipwrecks  at  Ashmore Reef, on to racing with schools of Barracuda and donating some blonde tresses to a hungry and curious green turtle,  the diving has been  fast and furious.  Bob clearly believes in  coddling his models.  Having made hundreds of dives,  Kirtley Leigh is still captivated on every dive by the glory and majesty of the underwater world.  Leigh has yet to be attacked by sharks, bitten by venomous sea snakes,  brushed by jelly fish tentacles, or crushed by a giant grouper. Bob is working on it, as he still needs that perfect shot…    

 

Her favourite dive? The next one… (but the sea snake caress, night dive with sharks brushing past,  potato cod dance, bull ray friendship, leopard shark encounter  and manta introductions rate very high!)  She finds Minke whales inspirational,  and cherishes the underwater memory of an ancient  shipwreck discovered and those first early-morning exploratory dives.  The oceans are a continual source of wonder, as  reefs and critters on  every dive bring joy and awe.  Leigh is equally at home in any water environment:  freshwater, ocean, snorkelling, scuba, swimming, spa baths… and even breath- holding for pool shots- (but not too long!)  She is nitrox certified and has dived to 62 m… (but not without her lipstick and handbag.)

 

She feels fortunate as , with the Great Barrier Reef at her doorstep, there are no plans to surface anytime soon.