Sofia Viegas

Hey there! My lens is my portal to an extraordinary world of vibrant marine life, breathtaking seascapes, and awe-inspiring adventures.

I'm Sofia Viegas from Portugal, and I'm absolutely passionate about the Ocean, the Underwater World and Marine Wild Life

🧜🏽‍♀️About Me:
I'm a photographer, videographer and a storyteller of the hidden wonders that lie beneath the surface. With every click of my camera and frame of my videos, I strive to capture the essence of our underwater planet.

🌎 Meaningful Adventures:
What sets me apart is

my commitment to sharing stories that matter. Beyond stunning visuals, I'm dedicated to showcasing the environmental challenges our oceans face, and the incredible efforts being made to protect and conserve them. Through my work, I hope to inspire, educate, and promote a deeper connection with our precious underwater ecosystems.

🐋 Join the Journey:
Let's embark on this incredible journey together! Whether you're an ocean enthusiast, an aspiring diver, or simply someone who enjoys the beauty of our planet, I invite you to explore with me. Dive into my feed and join the conversation as we discover this wonderful world deeper. What You'll Find Here:
📷 Underwater photography
🎥 Captivating underwater videos
🗺️ Tales of meaningful adventures
🌊 Insights into marine conservation
💡 Tips for aspiring underwater explorers

📢 Stay Connected:
Don't miss out on the latest updates, stories, and behind-the-scenes glimpses. Make sure to hit that 'Follow' button and stay connected with me as we explore the deep blue together. Let's make waves, tell stories, and create a positive impact for our oceans! 🌊✨🩵

26/09/2025

Sunrise in this little corner of Moorea just hits different. The mountains glow with soft, golden warmth as the sun begins to rise, and the lagoon slowly wakes up.

Blacktip reef sharks and stingrays move into the shallows to feed, gliding with the tide.

There’s a rhythm in the ocean here at dawn calm, powerful, and endlessly beautiful and it’s my favorite part of the day. 🌅

17/09/2025

A Close Encounter with Humpback Whales

A rare and special moment when a humpback whale, along with a group of other whales in French Polynesia, decided to swim towards me and attempt a gentle, smooth touch with its long pectoral fin.

From its gaze, it seemed to communicate, giving me the time to create a bit more space while still allowing me to capture the moment.

While the whale on the left in the background was singing, only males sing, and it’s quite rare for them to sing while on the move and close to other males.

The many mysteries of these majestic beings remain unrevealed, keeping us in awe…

Photo taken under authorization ARRETE 4645/VP/DIREN aboard Ninamu Oceanic Tour last year.

10/09/2025

This is our real world, a world full of beauty, alive with nature’s wonders. Here lies our true source of joy, peace, and purpose.

Yet we’ve come to a point where so much of life is being virtualized, lived apart from nature, shaped by appearances rather than essence. And then we witness moments like this multiple whales and dolphins moving in harmony that bring us back to what truly matters.

Life gives us these gifts not only to marvel at but also to realign our perception, reset our priorities, and inspire us to protect the very source of life itself, nature… 🌊✨🐋🐬

Footage taken under authorization ARRETE 4645/VP/DIREN aboard Ninamu Oceanic Tour last year.

04/09/2025

These creatures with their rounded foreheads, short beaks, and curved dorsal fins, gliding side by side, are short-finned pilot whales.

Short-finned pilot whales live in remarkably close-knit pods, bound together by strong social ties.

Sometimes, when we slip into the water, their curiosity brings them close like this male, who passed by with a rather cheeky look.

It’s hard to imagine that a mammal of around 5 m can dive to depths of over 1,000 m… yet that is exactly what they do, hunting squid much like s***m whales in the vastness of blue 🌊🦑

26/07/2025

Whale season is here, and I feel incredibly privileged to witness it as an underwater photographer. 🐋

But it’s a bittersweet feeling, this is becoming a very popular industry, and we all face a choice: we can either be part of the problem or part of the solution.

I truly believe that, when done responsibly, whale watching brings more benefits than harm. It’s up to those of us on the frontlines to lead by example and show that there is a respectful, low-impact way to experience wildlife.

When someone locks eyes with a humpback whale for the first time, something changes. That connection sparks a shift and often, people go home with a renewed sense of care, making more conscious choices to protect the ocean and all its life.

French Polynesia is doing an incredible job leading the way. By creating the world’s largest marine sanctuary for whales and sharks, and continuously adapting regulations to support respectful tourism. It stands as a powerful example for the rest of the world. 🌊🙌🏽

Let’s keep working to protect what we love, keep our egos in check, and share this magic in ways that inspire action — not impact.

05/07/2025

A Spine-Tail Devil Ray ascending toward the light ✨

Capturing and sharing moments like this gives me hope, hope that someone, somewhere, will feel a spark of emotional connection to the ocean.. and that spark might inspire more conscious choices, every single day, to help protect it.

Nature must be treated with respect, love, and care.

One of the most powerful actions we can take is simple: don’t buy fish unless you know how it was caught.
Bycatch — the unintentional killing of marine life — is destroying populations of rays, turtles, dolphins, and countless other species. I’ve witnessed it myself.. and even if it’s legal, that doesn’t make it right.

has been on the front lines, defending marine life from illegal fishing and protecting endangered species. But they can’t do it alone.

If this image moved you, here’s how you can help:
- Donate or help raise funds to support their missions (link in bio)
- Avoid buying fish from large commercial retailers without sustainable sourcing
- Join beach cleanups or organize your own
- Share posts like this — every voice helps amplify the call

Let’s protect what’s left of our Earth paradise,
so we can all continue to witness these breathtaking creatures in the wild 🌊🌏

underwaterphotografy

26/06/2025

For the first time, I got an open big mouth pointed at my camera. This male sea lion was slowly getting closer, playing cute until it gave me quite a scare! He didn’t make bubbles though, which is usually a sign to get away, but it was definitely a lion roar.. 🦁

08/06/2025

Happy World Oceans Day 🐬

Of all the animals in the ocean, one that brings joy to almost everyone is the dolphin, right? But why is that? And why do we often feel the need to possess or control the things we love, instead of simply letting them be and respecting their freedom? Sometimes, I think we confuse love with self-interest.

That’s why it’s worth reflecting when we call ourselves ocean lovers—what are we actually doing to show that love?

I don’t believe buying a ticket to a marine park is the answer… and hey, we’ve all been there. What matters is that we evolve, rather than point fingers. Let’s do our part to make our love for the ocean a two-way relationship, built on respect and care.

When I started to try to swim with dolphins in the wild, I realized that most of the times watching the dolphins from the bow was far more fulfilling than jumping in and trying to force an interaction. In the end, it should be their choice to come closer, not ours to impose.

Move through life with curiosity, connection, respect and a little bit of play. You will probably do more for what you love than you think 🤍

06/06/2025

Over the past few years, I’ve been trying to find the best way to protect myself from the sun without harming nature — especially the ocean. Many sunscreens contain nano zinc oxide and nano titanium dioxide, which can be extremely damaging to coral reefs and marine life.

Our lives depend on these fragile ecosystems, so it’s up to us to do everything we can to protect them.

That’s why I’m really happy to have discovered BEACH-STREET SKINCARE .Their Algae-Based Formula uses only eco-friendly ingredients, offers long-lasting protection, doesn’t sting the eyes, feels non-greasy on the skin, and comes in plastic-free packaging.

Use the code ‘SOFIASPFB10’ for 10% off (it can be combined with the welcome newsletter discount). Feel free to DM me if you want more details!

If you give it a try, I’d love to hear what you think! 🌿🌊☀️

05/06/2025

There’s something magical about the way childhood and curiosity go hand in hand, like this California sea lion pup, eyes wide, heart open, discovering the ocean one dive at a time 🦭

When we’re young, life feels more exciting because everything is new. Every creature, every shimmer of light, every unfamiliar sound sparks wonder. That curiosity fuels our growth, whether we’re sea lions or humans.

Somewhere along the way, many of us lose that spark. But what if we didn’t? ✨

May we all carry a little bit of that pup within us, fearless, wide-eyed, and always ready to explore.

Stay curious. Protect the wild places where wonder begins.

25/05/2025

“Parata” is the traditional Polynesian name for the Oceanic Whitetip shark. Bold, curious, and endlessly persistent, it’s one of the most respected sharks in French Polynesia 🇵🇫 🦈

22/05/2025

During this season in the Sea of Cortez, thousands of mobula rays form a living vortex of shared leadership and collective intelligence, constantly in motion, yet becoming one. 🌀

What if true intelligence lies not in control, but in cooperation?

Endereço

Lisbon

Website

http://www.sofviegas.com/

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